#United States #Columbia #Pickleman's #Gourmet Café #Jim Morey

Pickleman's Gourmet Café Welcomes Jim Morey to Executive Advisory Board

In an exciting move aimed at boosting its expansion plans, Pickleman's Gourmet Café has announced the addition of industry veteran Jim Morey to its executive advisory board. Morey, known for his impactful roles in significant food chains like Wawa, Outback Steakhouse, and McDonald's, is set to leverage his extensive expertise in multi-unit operations and brand development to help drive Pickleman's growth.

Background of Jim Morey

Jim Morey has spent over a decade at Wawa, Inc., where he held various senior management positions, including Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing/Brand Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer. His diverse experience spans across marketing, store operations, and corporate strategy, providing him with a holistic view of business management.

Before his tenure at Wawa, Morey served as Vice President of Finance at Outback Steakhouse and worked as a Senior Financial Director at McDonald's Corporation. He holds an MBA in Marketing Strategy from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Illinois State University. His impressive track record and success in brand building will be instrumental for Pickleman's.

Vision for Growth

Morey expressed enthusiasm about joining Pickleman's team, sharing, "I think this brand can catch fire; it's got everything it needs." His confidence stems from the potential he sees in the brand's unit-level economics and the quality of its offerings. He emphasizes that if each location operates effectively and provides solid returns, it sets the stage for further growth across multiple locations.

During the announcement, Morey highlighted the importance of operational excellence. By focusing on a successful individual store model, the company can ensure that everything else will follow suit. He stated, "The products have integrity—better-for-you quality—and when executed according to plan, the unit economics work. That combination is where the magic happens."

With a target of opening 10 to 30 new locations annually over the coming years, Morey elaborated on Pickleman's franchise opportunities. He assured prospective franchisees that they could run their businesses without needing to reinvent the wheel. Morey's insights are backed by a well-structured operational playbook authored by CEO Doug Stritzel, which emphasizes attentive management and fostering a robust company culture.

Doug Stritzel's Endorsement

Doug Stritzel, the founder and CEO of Pickleman's, expressed his excitement about Morey's appointment. He warmly welcomed Morey on board, pointing out that his considerable experience in finance, operations, and branding would greatly benefit the company’s ambitions. Stritzel stated, "Jim's done the job at scale—finance, ops, and brand—and he's laser-focused on store-level returns. His experience turning organizations into legacy brands is truly some of the best in the world. This is exactly the kind of operator-first mindset we want guiding our next stage. We're fired up to have him on the team."

About Pickleman's Gourmet Café

Established in 2005 in Columbia, Missouri, Pickleman's offers a fast-casual dining experience, celebrated for its fresh sandwiches, soups, salads, and pizzas. The brand's commitment to using responsibly sourced ingredients and maintaining consistent unit economics has fueled its growth, which now spans over 30 locations across Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Indiana, Nebraska, and Texas.

Looking ahead, Pickleman's intends to solidify its presence in the Midwest and South, aiming to become a household name synonymous with quality fast-casual dining. Jim Morey's addition to the advisory board marks a significant step in realizing this goal, with a concerted focus on scaling the brand while maintaining the core values it was built upon.