{"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":"Bob Wright, President & CEO of Potbelly Sandwich Works – Bread Winners: How Potbelly's sandwiches are transforming fast-casual dining","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1829,"description":"At a time when everyone is paying more for a lot less, and service is in decline, today's guest is leaning in to added value, and it's paying off in spades. \nWe're sitting down with Bob Wright, who has been President and CEO of Potbelly Corporation since July of 2020. The stock trades under the symbol PBPB. Bob has over 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry, most recently serving as Executive Vice President and COO of the Wendy's Company, where he ran operations for over 6,000 company and franchise restaurants located throughout the US and Canada.\nBob has a strong record of business transformation throughout his career where he has leveraged brand strengths to revitalize top line sales and profit growth through marketing system-wide service standardization and quality initiatives. In addition to Wendy's, Bob has served in leadership roles with other restaurant brands, including Charlie's Philly Steaks, Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, and Domino's Pizza.\nHighlights:\nBob's journey to his role at Potbelly (2:44)\nBob gives us a history lesson on Potbelly's origins (4:03)\nWhat makes Potbelly unique among the competition (5:06)\nPotbelly's recent menu pivot and the inspiration behind it (6:13)\nCurrent plans for franchise development and growth strategy (8:47)\nBob explains his outlook on the balance between franchising and company units (11:30)\nPotbelly's current projects and goals for 2024 (13:18) \nBrand digitization and new tech (14:53)\nBob highlights current brand challenges (15:45)\nHow Potbelly manages their margins alongside inflation and labor issues (16:58)\nBob describes the menu features bestsellers (19:26)\nThe team at Potbelly and work culture (21:52)\nFuture expansion plans and locations (24:06)\nBob's personal philosophy on leadership (27:25)\nLinks:\nBob Wright on LinkedIn\nPotbelly Sandwich Works on LinkedIn\nPotbelly Sandwich Works Website\nICR LinkedIn\nICR Twitter\nICR Website\nFeedback:\nIf you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd...","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}