Famous Toastery's Leadership Team Embraces Women Taking the Lead for R&D, Training and Marketing; Launches a New Partnership with a Female-Founded Brand

Famous Toastery, the 25-plus unit better breakfast, brunch and lunch franchise, has a mantra of “Be Famous,” which applies to everyone that touches the brand, including customers, franchise owners and those on the corporate team. As a part of this approach, Famous Toastery aims to be a supportive environment for the growth of women leaders, with the company's R&D, Training and Marketing departments all currently led by women.

Recently, the Famous Toastery team announced a systemwide partnership with another female-led company — local North Carolina favorite Abby’s Better Nut Butter. Famous Toastery will leverage this new partnership to by diversifying the use of Abby’s Better Nut Butter within its current recipes, in addition to adding new recipes inspired by the nut butter.

Women in Leadership

Lorna Martinez, Director of Marketing for Famous Toastery, says this partnership was really brought to life through the women on the team.

“We have a powerhouse of women on our team right now, and I love that Famous Toastery allows everyone to have the opportunity to take the lead on exciting initiatives like the new menu and Abby’s partnership,” said Martinez. “In a meeting the other day, I was in a room with all of these brilliant women who have a shared goal of continuing the evolution of the Famous Toastery brand and have a mutual passion of showcasing how our brand strives to ‘Be Famous.’”

Although the Abby’s Better Nut Butter partnership is just kicking off, Martinez says it has been in the works for a while. “Abby’s Better Nut Butter is headquartered in the town over from where we started in North Carolina,” said Martinez. “When we were recently going through and updating our menu, we knew there was a great opportunity to bring Abby into the process.

We have always had peanut butter, which is great, but this partnership allows us to offer an elevated option that provides a unique point of differentiation. At the same time, we wanted to make sure to stay true to our roots and offer a product our customers are looking for, combining locally-beloved flavors and a community-oriented approach to our menu.”

Abby's Better Nut Butter

Raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, Abby’s Better Nut Butter Founder Abby Kircher has always been invested in her health and creating a healthy lifestyle. Kircher started the company at just 15 years old, making an array of nut butter flavors and bites to create what is known today as Abby’s Better. The products proved to be a hit, and today, just a few years later, Abby’s Better Nut Butter is a nationwide success.

Kircher says she met Famous Toastery CO-Founder Robert Maynard back when Abby’s Better Nut Butter first started through a mutual colleague. “We instantly connected,” she said. “From day one, he was so amazing and supportive, and it was great to work alongside another local business.”

As Abby’s Better Nut Butter grew, Kircher says they started moving more into manufacturing, selling wholesale for different companies. “Robert had followed along and seen where we were, and we met to brainstorm on how Abby’s and Famous Toastery could collaborate,” she said. “We thought it’d be great to use our nut butters in the development of their new menu. They have an amazing team who tried a bunch of our products, mixing and matching and developing different recipes.”

Famous Toastery Director of Training Ann Eley is one of those team members who helped spearhead the partnership. “I was able to sample a bunch of the products, and we all worked together on recipe ideas for the Fall menu,” she said. “I love Abby’s Pumpkin Butter, so I am really a fangirl myself and am so excited to continue developing new flavors and recipes.”

Eley says she also feels lucky to be a part of such an amazing team of women. “I am extremely supported, and I love that about Famous Toastery,” she said. “In the restaurant industry, you often have to earn your place at the table as a female because it is such a male-dominated industry. I never once had that feeling with Famous Toastery. I’ve never worked on an all-female team before, and it's been so great developing this menu. It makes me feel like I am famous for being part of this amazing team.”

Famous Toastery Chief Culinary Officer Jen Brulé is another one of those team members who helped lead the Abby’s Better Nut Butter partnership. She says the experience has been incredibly inspiring and supportive.

“We're all really impressed with each other, and we work well together and are generous with each other's time and ideas,” said Brulé. “There are more women than ever in leadership roles at Famous Toastery. When I was coming up, women were not treated equally in the industry, so it is a very welcome change.

It is very refreshing to have been hired and to be valued because of my expertise and experience. I don’t have to overly prove myself just because I am a woman. As a single mom raising four daughters, the idea of women in leadership is very personal to me and something I am passionate about.”

Brulé says that is part of the reason why she was so excited to help organize and roll out the Abby’s Better Nut Butter products across the Famous Toastery system. **“**I’ve known Abby since she was a teenager selling butter at the farmers market,” she said. “It's been so amazing to watch her grow into a very astute businesswoman committed to delicious products.”

Rebekah Shelpman, the Famous Toastery Branchview Kitchen Manager, is another one of the women who helped develop the new recipes and menu items.

“The Famous Toastery team approached me and asked me to incorporate the Pumpkin Pecan Butter into the new menu,” said Shelpman. “I do a lot of testing products for the Famous Toastery system, finding areas where we can improve. I love that role, and I love helping out anywhere I can. Overall, Famous Toastery is a very supportive brand — there is always someone there willing to help out.”

Future Plans

Looking ahead, Martinez says the team is planning to utilize their partnership with Abby’s to roll out seasonal menu items moving forward. “We want this to be a recognizable and long-lasting relationship, not just a one off,” she said.

For example, Famous Toastery just launched the “Not Your Basic Fall Menu” this year in partnership with Abby’s. The Fall menu includes new drinks, such as the Spiked Warm Apple Cider and Apple Cider Mimosa, as well as new food options, such as the Autumn Bisque, Harvest Salad, Carrot Cake French Toast Casserole and more.

“From the second we started working with the Famous Toastery team, there was never an atmosphere of me feeling like the underdog or the inexperienced one,” said Kircher. “There was such an atmosphere of respect, and I felt like an equal to these incredibly experienced people who have been in the business longer than me. I felt very much involved in the process and knew my opinions were valued. That has made for a healthy and successful partnership, and I am so excited to continue working with other women in the business of food and growing the relationship.”

Eley says the Famous Toastery and Abby’s Better Nut Butter partnership can be an example of how other companies embrace women in leadership. “For all the women out there: dream big,” she said. “As a kid growing up and wanting to be in the industry, I know how inspiring these stories can be. If you work hard, you will achieve your goals.”