--- title: "Mokas Coffee, Created by the Biggest Freddy’s Franchisee, Continues Growth Push in Core Markets" url: https://burnaze.com/article/56268d7e-e377-47fb-a904-6941ebc39b32 source: "Franchise Times" original_url: https://www.franchisetimes.com/franchise_development/mokas-coffee-created-by-the-biggest-freddy-s-franchisee-continues-growth-push-in-core-markets/article_2a029f7b-eafd-4513-965d-8f4f80bd37a5.html author: "Matthew Liedke" category: "Coffee & tea" industry: "Restaurants" segment: "Coffee & tea" published: 2026-10-29T12:13:00.000Z modified: 2026-10-31T13:15:34.351Z image: https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/franchisetimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/3b/83be206c-d6c6-4127-932a-842c9ae87254/6ada67b209ab3.image.jpg?crop=1500%2C788%2C0%2C61&resize=1200%2C630&order=crop%2Cresize --- # Mokas Coffee, Created by the Biggest Freddy’s Franchisee, Continues Growth Push in Core Markets **TL;DR:** Mokas Coffee, founded by Jason Ingermanson, has signed a multi-unit agreement for the Kansas City market as part of its growth push in core markets. The brand, which started franchising in 2024, has a growth strategy that prioritizes establishment of a regional foothold in and around Kansas through multi-unit agreements. *By Matthew Liedke, originally published in Franchise Times on 2026-10-29. [Read the original](https://www.franchisetimes.com/franchise_development/mokas-coffee-created-by-the-biggest-freddy-s-franchisee-continues-growth-push-in-core-markets/article_2a029f7b-eafd-4513-965d-8f4f80bd37a5.html).* ## Key facts - Mokas Coffee signed a multi-unit agreement for the Kansas City market - The brand has five company stores and one franchised location - More than 40 prospective franchisees are interested in signing deals ## Story As head of JRI Hospitality, Jason Ingermanson is well known as a major operator with Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. The Kansas-based entrepreneur got his start as a business owner in the coffee industry, though, and it’s a category he’s been in consistently since 2005, when he launched his own brand. Today, he’s not only a franchisee, but a franchisor, as Mokas Coffee & Eatery started franchising in 2024. ## Mokas coffee growth Mokas signed its first franchise agreement in early 2025, for six units, and the first of those shops opened at the end of September. Now, it has another multi-unit agreement with a pair of entrepreneurs for the Kansas City market. Brice Turner and Jeff Bennett are the latest franchisees with the coffee brand, with plans to open six on the Missouri side of the metro, and three across the state border in Kansas. The two intend to have their first Mokas open next year, and bring a mix of professional experience to the ownership role. Turner, a U.S. Army veteran who served in active duty for eight years and another two in the Reserves, became a business owner of several companies after leaving the military. Today, his portfolio includes an aerospace inspection company, a car dealership and a business that takes expired aerospace carbon fibers and repurposes them. Bennett, meanwhile, had nearly 15 years of experience in real estate, primarily in construction and land development. He also invested in franchise concepts, including Great Clips and Re/Max. While he had stepped back a bit from business ownership to get involved in ministry, Bennett said he still wanted to find a concept to continue his entrepreneurial career. “I had driven by Mokas quite a few times and was becoming more interested in it,” Bennett said. “I popped in and started seriously considering it, and when I looked at the attention to detail with the operations, I just really fell in love with it.” Turner, meanwhile, was aware of the brand both because family members were big fans of it, and he’s known Ingermanson from the Kansas business community for years. In the time knowing Ingermanson, Bennett said he’s been impressed with the intentionality of how JRI Hospitality has operated its Freddy’s locations and developed the Mokas brand. “As business operators, you want to look under the hood and behind the scenes to see the process and kitchen layout, as well as the quality control for following the process,” Turner said. “At Mokas, their processes didn’t come by accident. It’s happened with a lot of forethought and planning, and we appreciate that about Jason’s team.” ## JRI hospitality background Ingermanson launched JRI Hospitality in 2011 and the company operates more than 150 restaurants across the country. Along with Freddy’s and Mokas Coffee, the company is also parent to Chompie’s Restaurant & Deli, and The Original Grande Tacos and Burritos. For the better part of JRI’s 15-year history, Ingermanson said the focus has been on growing its Freddy’s operation, so the development of the Mokas franchise system was put off until recent years. But in the 2020s, he said the time was right to move forward with growth efforts for the coffee and cafe brand. ## Growth strategy Mokas Coffee has five company stores and a single franchised location. Ingermanson said the growth strategy is one that prioritizes establishment of a regional foothold in and around Kansas through multi-unit agreements like those signed so far, and a slow, but steady pace of openings. “When you talk about connecting guests to a brand and maximizing recognition, it’s really important to focus regionally and grow out from there,” Ingermanson said. “I’ve said from the beginning that our brand was built on connection, so it only makes sense to stick with regional growth. It’s also important for quality and consistency. The regional approach allows us to support our franchisees.” Ingermanson said Mokas has another two corporate stores set to open in 2027, while more than 40 prospective franchisees are interested in signing deals. He said the brand will likely only sign with one or two new operators in the next year, with up to 10 locations per deal “I’ve been a franchisee for a long time, and I remember seeing brands with hundreds of locations sold and development agreements signed,” he said. “But you can really spread yourself out in the early days trying to help everybody at the same time. When that happens, none of those folks get their locations open and they get behind on deals. We’re focused on how we do it, versus how fast we can do it.” Ingermanson said it’s a higher priority to make sure owners have the tools they need, and refining the systems to make sure the franchisees are finding success. The advantage Mokas Coffee has as it onboards those franchisees is it already has successful infrastructure to back up its owners. “We bring a support team that a normal franchisor starting up wouldn’t be able to provide at the beginning,” Ingermanson said. “We have departments of folks that will be able to support restaurants and can help our Mokas franchisees.” Mexican fast-casual concept **Qdoba** is following up a multi-unit agreement signed earlier this year in California for openings in Ventura and Santa Barbara with a development deal for San Diego County. The agreement is with Hyperion Brands, led by CEO Cesar Shih, a multi-unit owner and operator with Habit Burger & Grill. Qdoba has 875 locations in 45 U.S. states, plus Canada, Puerto Rico, Japan and South Korea. Emerging concept **Mike’s Red Tacos,** based in San Diego, is adding to its development pipeline with a 15-unit agreement for markets in Michigan. Leading the development is Michael Khalil, whose career began in accounting before he became a franchisee, now operating 11 Little Caesars locations and 14 Jersey Mike’s locations in California, Indiana and Michigan. Founded in 2020, Mike’s Red Tacos began franchising earlier this year. It has three locations in California and recently received an investment from NBA star LeBron James. **Lola Beans** signed a pair of development deals to open 11 locations of the drive-thru coffee brand in Florida and Delaware. In Delaware, the development is close to home, as Lola Beans founder Donny Bradley’s brother, Jay Bradley, signed on to open six locations. Jay Bradley, who brings experience in the medical space as a trainer for a spine biologics company, is opening the locations in partnership with his wife Beth. **VIO Med Spa** is set to enter South Carolina with a three-unit agreement for the Charleston market. Behind the deal is Ted Loya, who brings 23 years of experience in CVS Health in the company’s pharmacy benefits business. Launched in 2017, VIO Med Spa has 65 locations across 20 states. In the Sunshine State, **Lola Beans** inked a five-unit agreement to expand in the Miami market. Opening the shops is Joangel Lopez, who brings experience in revenue management and analytics for automotive services company Driven Brands. Lopez is opening the locations with business partner Daniela Gonzalez. Launched in 2020, Lola Beans began franchising in 2025 and has been steadily signing deals to grow beyond its two locations. **Primrose Schools** is set for additional locations in several markets under a new deal with an existing franchisee group. Pathlight Learning, led by Sarah Albahadily and backed by private equity firm Taurus Capital, signed an agreement with the brand to acquire four Primrose Schools Omaha, Nebraska, and develop 11 more. The nearly dozen schools will open in Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio, bringing Pathlight Learning’s total to 18. Founded in 1982, Primrose Schools has more than 570 locations in 36 states and Washington, D.C. The deal comes not long after the brand updated its C-Suite team. Dirty soda brand **Swig** continues to sign multi-unit agreements, with the latest setting up development in Denver. The 11-unit deal is with the group Denver Day Makers. While the brand declined to share the names of the franchisees, it noted the group has extensive experience in commercial real estate. Founded in 2010, Swig has grown to more than 150 units in 16 states. **Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes** is expanding its Utah presence with a six-unit agreement. The deal is with existing Mooyah owners Art and Nick Depole, who operate four locations in Utah. The two intend to open their next location by summer 2027. Established in 2007, Texas-based Mooyah has 80 globally. In 2025, the concept rolled out a new prototype to spur growth. **Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers** is building its footprint in Arkansas and Texas with an eight-unit agreement. The brand declined to share the name of the franchisee. The fast-casual concept, established in 2002, has grown to more than 580. In September 2025, the brand was acquired by Rhône Group. **Breadless,** a Michigan-based fast-casual concept founded in 2020, signed its first franchise agreement. The deal, for five locations across Michigan and Illinois, is with entrepreneur Jonah Smith of Third Coast Harvest, who brings leadership experience from IBM and the Kraft Heinz Company. Breadless has four locations in and around Detroit. Sports bar concept **Twin Peaks** signed an area development agreement for southern Texas counties Cameron and Webb. The deal is with Peaks and Pints, an affiliate of the company InnJoy Hospitality led by Nitin Kasan. The company has a mix of hotels, restaurants, mixed-use developments and retail assets. The group plans to open Twin Peaks in three markets in the two counties. Founded in 2005, Twin Peaks has more than 115 locations in the United States and Mexico. After the bankruptcy of parent company FAT Brands, a group of Twin Peaks franchisees is taking over operations of the brand. **The Big Biscuit,** a breakfast and lunch concept, is teaming with its original franchisee to forge new growth. Steve Zahn, the owner of seven locations, signed a deal to open an additional two units in Oklahoma markets. Established in 2000 and franchising since 2019, The Big Biscuit has 32 locations in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. ## Entities - unit expansion (topic) - QSR (sector) - franchise growth (topic) - Franchise Times (publication) - Kansas City (location) - coffee industry (topic) - Jason Ingermanson (person) - JRI Hospitality (company) - Mokas Coffee (company) - Matthew Liedke (person) - Brice Turner (person) - Jeff Bennett (person) --- Originally reported by Matthew Liedke, Franchise Times (https://www.franchisetimes.com/franchise_development/mokas-coffee-created-by-the-biggest-freddy-s-franchisee-continues-growth-push-in-core-markets/article_2a029f7b-eafd-4513-965d-8f4f80bd37a5.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/56268d7e-e377-47fb-a904-6941ebc39b32).