From QSR
James Walker, SVP of Nathan’s Famous, recognized opportunity out of COVID as countless brands have. One of America’s oldest chains and most recognizable retail lines, started as a nickel hot dog stand in 1916 in Coney Island, New York, Nathan’s has ample equity to drop into any market in America and attract consumers.
And so the ghost kitchen rage came calling. Nathan’s has three main partners—Franklin Junction, REEF, and Kitopi. But the fastest-growing piece, Walker says, is the independent operator. Unlike the real estate wait-and-see game, though, this isn’t about flooding venues left behind. “We want to strengthen the independents, not take their spaces,” he says.
