HOA Brands, the franchisor and operator of Hooters and Hoots Wings, has appointed Michael Arrowsmith as new Chief Development Officer in a move to bolster growth and fuel rapid development. Arrowsmith will oversee the domestic and international growth of corporate and franchise locations of Hooters and Hoots Wings by Hooters.
Arrowsmith brings over 25 years of experience developing companies and creating strategies that foster impressive growth. He has held executive positions with franchise concepts such as Captain D’s, Denny’s, Diedrich Coffee, and Checkers & Rally’s. Most recently he served as Chief Development Officer for Pinch A Penny Pool Patio Spa, and now returns to the restaurant business with big plans. In this role, Arrowsmith will recruit franchisees, identify new real estate sites and manage development services such as building design, construction and facilities, plus brand standardization before the operations phase of the restaurants.
“Returning to the restaurant industry and working for a global food service brand has been a goal of mine,” says Arrowsmith. “By joining the HOA Brands team, I’m able to flex my skills and ramp up unit growth for our concepts as well as work with our leadership team, motivate multi-unit operators, and others who are interested in expanding these concepts both domestically and internationally. We are driving the HOA Brands forward by partnering with the right franchisees.”
Most recently, Arrowsmith has revamped and led Pinch A Penny Pool Patio Spa to grow outside of Florida into new markets in Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. The pool retail brand’s new locations over the past three years have had the highest opening average unit volumes since the inception of the brand.
Notably, Arrowsmith established a franchise program for Captain D’s and built the development organization from scratch, resulting in a pipeline of more than 100 locations, with consistent annual double-digit openings, primarily from new multi-unit franchisees. Arrowsmith brings a financial background to his new role on the HOA executive leadership team, which is helpful as he demonstrates why Hooters and Hoots Wings by Hooters are great investments for future franchisees.
“Our brands are experiencing unprecedented, industry-leading growth and strong performance,” says Sal Mellili, CEO of HOA Brands. “With a robust track record developing leading concepts, we will benefit significantly from Arrowsmith’s leadership and experience in guiding our vision for continued growth and success for years to come.”
Hooters is well-established and Hoots Wings is rapidly expanding – both brands provide access to many prime territories available for development. HOA Brands provides a full development support system, including technology and tools to help identify the right territories for expansion, plus expertise in financing, real estate, construction management and field operations, to assist franchisees and multi-unit operators. With over 35 years of experience in helping franchisees thrive with proven sales and operations performance, eager and sophisticated business owners are flocking to the franchise opportunities.
Franchisees who join HOA Brands will enjoy the benefits of hands-on training through the opening process, marketing support, site selection and construction assistance, access to a vast, existing supply chain, and a top-tier POS system. As a thank you for their service to the United States, military veterans receive a 10 percent discount off the franchise fee.
