--- title: "Island Fin Poké Co.’s Worcester, MA Location Sets A New Standard for Success" url: https://burnaze.com/article/aef34d98-4d79-4cbe-8557-8a01d841f70b source: "Franchising.com" original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20230428_island_fin_pok_cos_worcester_ma_location_sets_a_new_standard_for_success.html category: "Restaurants" industry: "Restaurants" published: 2023-04-28T12:00:00.000Z modified: 2026-11-01T00:52:49.882Z image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1555396273-367ea4eb4db5?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop --- # Island Fin Poké Co.’s Worcester, MA Location Sets A New Standard for Success **TL;DR:** Island Fin Poké Co.'s Worcester, MA location has achieved success by creating a family-like environment for its guests, with owners Jim and Marilyn embracing the brand's values. The location has supported local schools and nonprofits, including CASA, and the brand is committed to giving back to the communities it serves. *originally published in Franchising.com on 2023-04-28. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20230428_island_fin_pok_cos_worcester_ma_location_sets_a_new_standard_for_success.html).* ## Story In the Hawaiian language, Ohana translates to “family” and Island Fin Poké Co. is all about creating an Ohana-like environment. The brand is perceived by its guests as a lifestyle built on family values while offering a special, personalized experience to every guest. This philosophy inspired Jim and Marilyn to embrace these brand values. “We embrace the Ohana experience where our patrons are treated like guests visiting our home and we really want to ensure they are treated as such,” Jim explains. “We know each of our guests have many options in the area to eat at, so we are very thankful to them every time they choose to come to Island Fin for their meals or even just a Dole Soft Serve®.” Located at the Trolley Yard Plaza, the Worcester location is a testament to Island Fin Poké Co.'s commitment to quality service, freshness of ingredients and community. In fact, Jim and Marilyn enjoyed the franchise experience so much that the couple decided to open another location in Smithfield, RI this past November, in Marilyn’s home state. “You need to have a passion for service and making people happy,” Jim reveals as a secret to owning the successful franchise. “This isn’t a side gig job, as the success of each location does depend on the owners being present. Our guests love to say hi to us and we know quite a few of them. Now, if we go out to eat in Worcester, there is a good chance our server will be a guest of ours and we will run into other guests as well, which we really enjoy.” In addition to serving delicious poké bowls and Dole Soft Serve®, the brand is always committed to giving back to the communities it serves. The Worcester location has already supported several local schools and nonprofits. For Worcester’s schools, Jim and Marilyn provide Island Fin swag and gift cards as a prize for their fundraisers. The franchisees also raise money for CASA, the Court Appointed Special Advocate in Worcester. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to advocating on behalf of children with their best interests in mind. Jim and Marilyn participate in their annual fundraiser and look forward to continuing to serve the Worcester community with incredible poké and service for many more years to come. “Jim and Marilyn are the perfect example of what Island Fin is all about,” says Mark Setterington, CEO and founder of Island Fin Poké Co. “The Worcester location is successful because when you combine deliciously healthy food with a family-like, charismatic environment and owners that genuinely live the brand, it’s hard to resist coming back. As a brand, we’re committed to our Ohana and our guests see our dedication to our flavors and our community.” ## Entities - Franchising.com (publication) - Restaurants (sector) - community involvement (topic) - customer experience (topic) - franchise success (topic) - Island Fin Poké Co. (company) - Mark Setterington (person) - brand values (topic) - Worcester, MA (location) - Smithfield, RI (location) --- Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20230428_island_fin_pok_cos_worcester_ma_location_sets_a_new_standard_for_success.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/aef34d98-4d79-4cbe-8557-8a01d841f70b).