Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit
In in the present day’s Speaker Highlight, we’re highlighting Chris Noffze, director of direct franchising and operations at Gong cha Americas, who will likely be sharing chief’s recommendation for operators.
Photograph: Networld Media Group
February 26, 2026 by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Market & Meals Truck Operator
The Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit is coming to San Diego, California from March 16 to 18. This premier occasion is a significant gathering for franchisors and franchisees seeking to be taught from one another and community. In in the present day’s Speaker Highlight, we’re highlighting Chris Noffze, director of direct franchising and operations at Gong cha Americas, who will likely be sharing chief’s recommendation for operators.
On this newly created function, Noffze has labored intently with each homeowners and operators to make sure strong efficiency and branded success. Examine him in in the present day’s Speaker Highlight.
Describe your present function.
I help franchisees from onboarding and retailer openings by means of ongoing operations. In my newly created function, I work intently with homeowners and operators to make sure operational consistency, robust efficiency and adherence to model requirements throughout Gong cha’s increasing U.S. market, whereas serving to franchisees construct sustainable, worthwhile companies by means of hands-on operational steerage.
What was your first-ever profession function and what’s one necessary lesson you discovered from it?
My first profession function within the QSR area was with Domino’s Pizza of their management growth program. One of the crucial necessary classes I discovered there was: ‘when you do not make it, take it, or bake it, you help somebody who does.’ I discovered very early on that each function — irrespective of the division and the way behind-the-scenes — straight impacts the individuals who deliver our manufacturers to life on the frontlines. Whether or not it is coaching, operations or help, the work we do shapes the expertise for each crew members, franchisees and company. That perspective has stayed with me all through my profession, reinforcing the significance of servant management, operational excellence and empathy for the folks making the enterprise run on daily basis.
What impressed you to work in your business?
What impressed me to work in franchise operations is my love for meals and folks, and my profession path displays that zeal. I began in politics, the place I discovered the significance of listening, connecting with folks and driving outcomes. I then moved into QSR with Domino’s Pizza by means of their management growth program, studying firsthand how operations, coaching and help influence the folks making the model come to life. From there, I transitioned to Burger King, deepening my expertise in franchise operations and system-level administration. At present, at Gong cha, I get to mix all these experiences — supporting franchisees, optimizing operations and serving to groups ship an important visitor expertise. It has been a journey of people-first management, operational excellence and a love of making experiences that deliver pleasure by means of meals and beverage.
What do you take pleasure in most about your present function?
What I take pleasure in most about my present function at Gong cha is the chance to affect choices and processes which are rolled out throughout the Americas whereas collaborating with extremely good, proficient folks. Working with franchisees, groups and leaders who deliver numerous views and experience challenges me to suppose in another way, innovate and repeatedly enhance. I’ve additionally been lucky to journey internationally — to Korea, Dubai and the Bahamas — seeing how world markets strategy franchise operations and visitor expertise. Combining these experiences permits me to create repeatable, scalable techniques that help franchisees, elevate operations and ship constant, high-quality experiences for company. On the finish of the day, it is the mixture of influence, collaboration and studying from sensible people who makes this function so rewarding.
What’s a typical false impression folks have about what you do?
A typical false impression is that my work in franchising is straightforward as a result of it could possibly look easy from the surface. Folks see a retailer operating easily and assume it ‘simply occurs.’ The reality is, whereas the ideas — coaching, techniques and operational excellence — are easy, executing them constantly throughout a number of places is way from straightforward. It takes cautious planning, consideration to element and fixed problem-solving to make sure franchisees open efficiently, function profitably and ship nice visitor experiences. If it have been really straightforward, everybody would do it. The problem and the reward comes from turning easy ideas into repeatable, scalable success throughout the system.
Who’s/was your mentor and what’s one necessary lesson you discovered from them?
I have been lucky to have mentors in lots of kinds, together with leaders I’ve met and voices I’ve discovered from by means of podcasts. Listening to specialists throughout industries has proven me that mentorship would not at all times come from somebody sitting beside you. There is a wealth of perception accessible when you strategy others with curiosity, take the time to pay attention and replicate thoughtfully on what you be taught.
What business developments do you suppose are presently over-hyped and why?
One development I believe is usually over-hyped is the concept that know-how alone can repair operational challenges. New platforms, AI instruments and automation get lots of buzz, however with out robust fundamentals—clear processes, correct coaching and franchisee buy-in—these instruments not often ship their promised influence. In franchising particularly, innovation have to be sensible and scalable.
If a system provides complexity or is not intuitive for operators and frontline groups, it could possibly really gradual execution as an alternative of bettering it. I’ve seen that probably the most profitable improvements are those that quietly make each day operations simpler — lowering errors, saving time and supporting consistency. True innovation is not about adopting what’s latest; it is about investing in options that match the enterprise mannequin, help franchisees and drive long-term efficiency throughout the system.
What business developments do you suppose do not get sufficient consideration and why?
One development that does not get sufficient consideration is the innovation occurring in foundational techniques — coaching, onboarding and operational readiness. These areas aren’t flashy, however they’ve the most important influence on franchisee confidence, velocity to profitability and long-term success.
There’s additionally rising significance in treating the pre-opening part as a strategic funding, not only a guidelines. Structured delicate opens, digital coaching instruments and data-driven readiness applications permit groups to check techniques, refine execution and construct muscle reminiscence earlier than the doorways formally open. Lastly, ongoing franchisee engagement typically will get missed. Constant communication, teaching and suggestions loops — supported by the best instruments — are essential to retaining operators aligned and acting at a excessive stage as techniques scale. These developments could not seize headlines, however they’re the improvements that quietly strengthen franchise networks and drive sustainable progress.
What recommendation would you give to somebody simply beginning out in your business?
Franchisee profitability is key to franchising and long-term success. A franchise system solely thrives when franchisees obtain robust, sustainable unit-level economics. Each initiative — operational, technological or strategic — ought to be evaluated by means of its influence on effectivity, scalability, and profitability on the retailer stage.
Spend time understanding the operator expertise and what occurs on the ground day-to-day, as that perception drives higher choices round coaching, know-how and processes. Simply as necessary, construct belief early. Franchising is a folks enterprise, and clear communication, lively listening and sensible innovation are important to supporting long-term profitability and shared success. Lastly, do not forget that probably the most impactful innovation is sensible. If it makes the enterprise simpler to run, improves the visitor expertise and helps long-term profitability, you are on the best path.
Should you weren’t working in your present area, what would you be doing as an alternative?
If I weren’t working in franchising operations, I might doubtless be pursuing one thing entrepreneurial in actual property or finance. I’ve at all times been drawn to figuring out alternatives, bettering techniques and creating worth — whether or not that is flipping properties, managing leases or streamlining operations for a rising portfolio.
What do you do to have enjoyable exterior of labor?
Exterior of labor, I really like spending time in nature, particularly occurring hikes and unplugging at any time when potential. Being open air helps me reset, acquire perspective and are available again to work extra targeted and energized. I additionally actually take pleasure in going to parks with my youngsters — whether or not it is exploring trails, playgrounds or simply being exterior collectively. These moments gradual all the things down in the easiest way and remind me what stability and presence actually imply.
Are you concerned in any charitable organizations that you simply want to inform folks about?
One group that is particularly significant to me is Evening to Shine, an unforgettable prom-night expertise for folks with particular wants ages 14 and older. Annually, on the Friday earlier than Valentine’s Day, tens of 1000’s of people with particular wants are celebrated as royalty — honored for who they’re: distinctive, valued and deeply liked. I function a volunteer lead, guiding a kitchen crew that serves dinner to greater than 200 individuals and their caregivers. What resonates most with me is how intently this expertise mirrors my work within the QSR business. It takes considerate planning, clear processes, robust teamwork and calm execution to ship a seamless, significant expertise at scale.
The place did you develop up and the way did your upbringing influence the individual you’re in the present day?
I grew up in Michigan. My Midwest roots have had an enduring affect on who I’m in the present day. Rising up round a group formed by exhausting work, resilience and delight in doing issues the best method taught me the worth of displaying up, staying accountable and incomes belief by means of motion. That Midwest grit nonetheless guides how I strategy my work in franchising and operations. I imagine in rolling up my sleeves, fixing issues head-on and supporting folks by means of consistency and follow-through.
What’s one fascinating factor about you that even the folks you’re employed with on daily basis most likely do not know?
One factor that surprises folks is that I used to flip mini fridges to assist pay for my faculty textbooks — and this was earlier than Fb Market. I stumbled right into a easy type of arbitrage: shopping for mini fridges cheaply throughout scholar move-out, when provide was excessive and demand was low, then cleansing them up and promoting them throughout move-in, when demand spiked. It was all about timing, understanding the market and creating worth with minimal assets. That have taught me early classes in pricing, margins and operational effectivity — abilities I nonetheless depend on in the present day.
At its core, it is the identical mindset I deliver to franchising and course of enchancment: determine alternatives, cut back friction and construct techniques which are scalable and worthwhile.
Is there anything you want to inform folks about your self or your organization/group?
My favourite Gong cha drink is our Brown Sugar Milk Tea with Pearls and Milk Foam!
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About Bradley Cooper
