How Lime Fresh Is Making a Comeback | Dr. John P. Hayes - With Patrick Fore: Artwork

The Franchise Hot Seat Podcast with Dr. John P. Hayes - Director, Titus Center for Franchising

Internationally recognized speaker, personal business coach and Amazon best-selling franchise author Dr. John Hayes offers an honest look at everything involved in researching, evaluating and purchasing a franchise business. On this podcast, Dr. John P Hayes interviews Franchisors, Franchisees, and has solo episodes giving valuable advice in the Franchise Industry. Since 1979, John Hayes has worked in the franchise community as a consultant, franchisee and franchisor. He’s one of an elite group worldwide that has actually owned and operated franchises, including serving as CEO of a major American franchisor company, and advised franchisors and franchisees. He is the author of several franchise-related books and countless articles that have appeared in media worldwide. Dr. Hayes has served for many years as an advisor to franchisors, franchisees and small business owners internationally. His areas of expertise include management development, marketing, customer service, training and strategic planning. He is the author or co-author of 18 non-fiction books including Franchising: The Inside Story, Start Small, Finish Big, You Can’t Teach A Kid To Ride A Bike At A Seminar, and most recently Buy “Hot” Franchises Without Getting Burned. Keywords: franchise tax board , chick fil a franchise , the franchise guy , best franchise to own , franchise business , buying a franchise , franchise opportunities , opening a franchise , owning a franchise

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The Franchise Hot Seat Podcast with Dr. John P. Hayes - Director, Titus Center for Franchising

How Lime Fresh Is Making a Comeback | Dr. John P. Hayes - With Patrick Fore:

August 03, 2026 • Dr. John P Hayes

0:00 | 47:03

Dr. John interviews Patrick Foor, CEO/CMO of Lime Fresh, about his journey from being a dishwasher to a restaurant executive. Foor discusses his experience building Tijuana Flats and his current role at Lime Fresh, a brand bought by Everfresh from Ruby Tuesday. The conversation covers the lack of education in franchising, the importance of treating franchisees as partners who bear risks, and crucial considerations in food franchising. These include the economics of inline versus freestanding establishments, costs of drive-thrus, labor, technology, hospitality, and different times of the day for business operations. Foor explains the closure of a Lime Fresh outlet in West Palm Beach was due to limited parking and operator fatigue, not competition. He also talks about the brand's resurgence through "Lime Fresh 2.0", which features Miami-inspired vibes, updated menus and technology, a full bar, and recent awards. Foor shares his strategy to expand to 50-100 units in five years, focusing first on Florida and then Southeastern states. He emphasizes the importance of franchisor support, rejecting unsuitable partnerships, and the potential use of personality assessments like DISC.

- With Patrick Foor.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:55 The Dishwasher Who Became CEO.

03:05 The 3-Line Job Description That Built A Career.

04:10 Why Most Americans Know Nothing About Franchising.

05:40 Why Franchising Needs 100x More Education.

07:40 Why South Florida Is A Franchise Powerhouse.

08:30 The $100 Meal Problem Lime Fresh Solved.

09:45 The Lime Fresh 2.0 Makeover.

12:30 The Common Site Selection Mistake Franchisees Make.

14:30 Why Ruby Tuesday Couldn't Make Lime Fresh Work.

18:50 The 50-Store Growth Target.

23:00 The Tightrope Of Choosing Between Small And Big Brands.

38:50 The Personality Trait That Predicts Franchise Success.

LINKS:

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