Franchise leadership veteran Michael Meche looks to grow a “local legend.”
By Andrew Carlo
MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes reported that it has made a significant executive move.
The food and beverage franchise has appointed Michael Meche as its new president. The company said that Meche will be responsible for leading its next stage of growth, franchise success, operational excellence and people-oriented leadership.
Meche is a seasoned franchise leader who most recently served as chief restaurant officer for sister brands Capriott’s and Wing Zone.
He began his career in the restaurant industry as a team member at Papa John’s before climbing the ranks and eventually leading operations for more than 3,000 locations in North America and Canada.
“Throughout my nearly 30-year career with Papa John’s, I learned what it takes to be a servant leader and carried that throughout my tenure, which included relocating 13 times as I encouraged a winning culture and supporting franchisee success across thousands of stores,” said Meche. “However, the Dallas-Fort Worth area has always been home base for me, so the opportunity to work with a local legend while staying close to family is incredibly meaningful.”
As part of his first 100 days, MOOYAH said that Meche is prioritizing face time with franchisees and team members across the system. This includes several secret-shopper visits to nearby MOOYAH restaurants. In turn, Meche has made it a goal to complete the brand’s in-store franchisee training program to gain firsthand experience in daily restaurant operations.
“Michael understands that everything starts with the restaurant, and his passion for delivering consistent quality every time is really what will continue to enable our franchisees to thrive,” said Anand Gala, founder and managing partner of Gala Capital Partners, the parent company of MOOYAH. “His track record of results across well-loved restaurant brands, paired with his hands-on, servant-minded leadership and deep franchising experience, make him the ideal person to shape MOOYAH’s next phase. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the MOO Crew and are confident that his people-first approach will make a lasting impact on the brand.”
MOOYAH was founded in Plano in 2007 and has grown to about 100 locations in 20 states. The company has also exported its brand to several international locations. The menu at MOOYAH’s, featuring burgers and shakes along with gluten-free offerings, can viewed here.
Regarding his new position at MOOYAH, Meche said, “I’m honored to join a team that values quality, service and franchisee success, and I’m committed to building on the strong foundation that’s already in place. My leadership philosophy is simple: nobody works for me; rather, I work for them. I believe the best way to grow a brand is to support the people behind it and look forward to hitting the ground running.”
Information about franchise opportunities at MOOYAH can be found at mooyahfranchise.com.
