Franchisees play a crucial role in the success of the restaurant industry, helping brands scale their big ideas globally while utilizing other people’s capital. In this week’s Franchisee Spotlight, we had the opportunity to interview Hicham El Abbassi and Isalmou Boussaa, co-founders of DT NOVA, the first District Taco franchisee with an impressive 12 restaurants in their portfolio and recipient of an International Franchise Association Franchisee of the Year award.
Hicham and Isalmou’s journey from immigrating from Morocco to becoming Five Guys employees and eventually successful business owners is truly inspiring. They started at Five Guys as crew members and worked their way up to become managers, general managers, and eventually franchisees with close to 11 stores under their belt. In 2016, they discovered District Taco and were drawn to its energetic atmosphere and simple, yet delicious food execution. After years of waiting, they finally became District Taco franchisees in 2021.
Receiving the Franchisee of the Year award was a great honor for Hicham and Isalmou, who are proud to be the only franchisees for the brand. Their collaboration with District Taco has been mutually beneficial, allowing them to share their knowledge and experience to help grow the brand.
Despite their success, Hicham and Isalmou have faced challenges, with real estate and equipment procurement being major hurdles. However, their secret to success lies in being hands-on owner-operators who are actively involved in their stores. They emphasize the importance of marrying the right brand with dedication to customer service and employee care.
Looking towards the future, Hicham and Isalmou have ambitious goals to develop more stores in the D.C. metro area and expand into Florida between Orlando and Tampa, with a vision of reaching 40 or more locations. They attribute their success to their hard work, dedication, and engagement in their business operations.
In conclusion, Hicham and Isalmou’s journey from humble beginnings to successful restaurant franchisees exemplifies the American dream. Their dedication to their craft, commitment to quality, and hands-on approach have been instrumental in their success. Their story serves as an inspiration to aspiring franchisees and entrepreneurs in the industry.
Source link
