{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Welcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business Leaders","title":"Ricardo Azevedo, CEO, Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming — Canine Coifs: Building America’s largest premium pet brand through a commitment to quality and care","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1830,"description":"Many people view their dogs as more than just pets — they see them as family members. So when they bring them to the groomer, they want to be sure they're well cared for. And many dog owners are willing to pay a premium for that kind of certainty.\n\nRicardo Azevedo is the CEO of Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, America’s largest premium pet brand. Since joining in 2022, Ricardo has led the company from 150 locations to more than 330, adding five to eight new stores every month. \n \nPrior to Woof Gang, Azevedo held senior leadership roles at Restaurant Brands International, where he worked across iconic brands, including Tim Hortons and Burger King. \n\nToday, we talk to Ricardo about how his QSR experience translated to the pet space, what it takes to scale a franchise brand sustainably, and why the grooming industry is ripe for a dominant national player.\nHighlights:\nA decade at RBI (2:15)\nInside Woof Gang (5:14)\nThe white space in grooming (6:55)\nFootprint, growth, and real estate (9:48)\nBuilding the infrastructure (13:26)\nRestaurants vs. services (17:07)\nSelecting franchisees (18:38)\nProtecting brand standards (21:49)\nThe pet industry today (23:49)\nGoals for ‘26 into ‘27 (27:38)\nLinks:\nRicardo Azevedo LinkedIn\nWoof Gang LinkedIn\nWoof Gang Website\nICR LinkedIn\nICR Twitter\nICR Website\n\nFeedback:\nIf you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you’d like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, joe@lowerstreet.co","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/VPbFZOgoHk78hrWlplrfMSrQROUNxI8jcZ2Gv-hyKm4/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9mYmFh/NWFlNGJjY2Y0NGFk/YmM2NWJiMTI4NmVh/OWQ4Yi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}