In taking over the new position, Mr. Goebel identified a two-fold plan for the Mr. Goodcents brands: first, to refresh and reinvigorate the brand and, second, to quickly accelerate unit growth by repositioning the brand as an attractive multi-unit franchise opportunity.
“Mr. Goodcents Subs and Pastas is a great brand with lots of blue sky ahead,” Mr. Goebel said. “While many segments of the restaurant industry are getting clobbered, our consumer research shows Mr. Goodcents continues to score high marks for quality, freshness and value. In this economy, it doesn’t get any better than that.”
Mr. Goebel has more than 30 years of restaurant experience, including seven years with Applebee’s International, where as president and c.e.o. he helped grow the brand to more than 2,000 units, with annual revenues exceeding $4 billion.
Prior to Applebee’s, Mr. Goebel was president of Summit Management, Inc., a start-up company providing strategic planning and executive development to growth organizations. Before Summit Management, he ran his own company, Finest Foodservice, L.L.C., an area developer/franchisee of Boston Market restaurants. In six years, he opened 75 Boston Market restaurants across seven states.
“I’ve worn both hats — franchisee and franchisor,” Mr. Goebel said. “But this — being both at the same time — is unique and ideal. I understand that the relationship between franchisee and franchisor is truly symbiotic — for one to grow and flourish, the other must grow and flourish. And my goal as president and c.e.o. is to ensure both happen, quickly.”
