Chop5's Focus on Franchisees is Key to the Brand’s Growth

Allen Hertzman, Brian Mills, Wade Oney, Patrick Gaunce, Phillip Horn and Donald Bauer spent decades as franchise owners — now they’ve launched their own concept prioritizing the franchisee-franchisor relationship. They opened up about their experience founding Chop5 Salad Kitchen with Franchise Times.

“We’ve all been in the restaurant business for a long time, too long,” Hertzman told FT. “Many years ago, we thought it would be great to start our own concept that was more franchisor-franchisee friendly.”

Every member from the Chop5 founder group is a current or former Papa John’s owner, with Oney, Papa John’s former chief operating officer, currently operating 51 stores. The team took note of the increasing consumer demand for healthy food options and built a menu centered around chopped salads, rice bowls and build-your-own options.

The creation of Chop5 wasn’t only a response to an industry trend, however; the group transitioned from franchisees to franchisors with the goal of keeping the franchisee perspective at the core of all they do.

“The franchise business, whatever it is that you’re doing or franchising, the bigger deal is about the people,” Oney told Franchise Times. “Because there are so many good concepts out there, it all comes down to the people. You have to have good people and good partners.”

The founders have been through the franchisee experience, taking note of the challenges along the way. They hope to address these challenges for their own Chop5 franchisees by offering education, support and ongoing communication.