77 January : February 2014 — CommerCial ConstruCtion & renovation
And now, Tony Gioia, chairman and
CEO of Togo Holdings who bought the chain
from Dunkin' Brands in 2007, wants to
expand the Togo's empire. Today, Togo's
expansion includes a strategy to grow west
of the Rockies, including opening shops in
Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon,
Utah and Washington State. It currently
operates 245 restaurants, including
corporate-owned and franchisee locations,
across the western United States.
Gioia, who purchased Togo's along with
leading equity frm Mainsail Partners, has
a proven track record of business-building
achievements, including stints in the gro-
cery, restaurant, packaged foods, and bever-
age and consumer products industries. For
more than 30 years, Gioia has formulated
brand development and consumer-focused
initiatives with Fortune 100, high-growth,
turn-around, public, and start-up companies.
The secret to Togo's success lies in
Gioia and his company's passion for the
franchise formula. Above all else, he believes
that procuring a slow and steady growth rate
is more important than operating a large
number of average-performing stores.
And his formula is paying off, as Togo's
has posted 11 consecutive quarters of same-
store sales increases in an economic climate
that still is trying to pull itself upward.
I
t's the sandwich shops
of sandwich shops on
the West Coast. Togo's
Eateries, dubbed the
"West Coast Original"
eatery since 1971, serves
up big, fresh, meaty
sandwiches (much larger
than your average deli
shop), in an open and
casual atmosphere.
CCR-JanFeb.14_48-.indd 77 2/7/14 2:26 PM