Dog Haus appoints two Jersey Mike's franchisees to C-suite positions
Dog Haus boosts C-suite with franchisee leadership for aggressive growth plan.
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Dog Haus appoints two experienced Jersey Mike's franchisees to key leadership positions as it aims to open 50 new units in Southern California. The new executives are also franchisees and plan to introduce innovative franchising models aligned with operators’ interests. The brand currently operates 60 units, with plans to aggressively expand towards a target of 1,500 locations nationally.
Why It Matters
This may compress available territories in Southern California as experienced franchisees enter the Dog Haus growth plan, potentially affecting unit economics and competitive positioning in the fast-casual segment.
Dog Haus has appointed Chris Rigassio and Garen Khodaverdian, both former franchisees of Jersey Mike’s, to its executive team in a strategic leadership shift aimed at enhancing franchise operations and development. Rigassio takes on the role of president and chief development officer, while Khodaverdian becomes the chief operating officer. Both executives have also committed to opening 50 Dog Haus units in Southern California through their partnership, High Performance Hospitality.
The appointments align with the vision of Dog Haus CEO Michael Montagano, who is advocating for a reformed franchising model that fosters collaboration between franchisors and franchisees, aiming to eliminate the traditional adversarial relationship. Montagano's goal is to create a cohesive network of experienced franchise operators to drive national growth—targeting an ambitious expansion from its current 60 units toward a robust national presence of 1,500 locations.
Rigassio has a rich background in franchise operations as the founder and former CEO of Prospect Capital Restaurants, which includes 70 outlets across Jersey Mike’s and Wingstop and has plans to retain his role on its board. Khodaverdian has also had notable success in the Jersey Mike’s network, operating 12 locations. His transition to Dog Haus comes as he sells his existing Jersey Mike's units to concentrate fully on his new venture.
