The Restaurant Industry Veteran will Drive the Fast-Casual Franchisor’s Operations
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, a fast-casual restaurant concept with the United Franchise Group’s (UFG) Starpoint Brands division, added Angelo Freites as vice president of operations. With this role, Freites will drive fast-casual franchisor’s operations to ensure customer satisfaction and franchisee success. He brings over 40 years of restaurant experience to the role.
“The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill immediately captured my attention as a stand-out concept in its category, defining a niche in the ‘fine fast casual’ space and leading the way in its food and customer experience,” said Freites.
He has been a customer and fan of The Great Greek since a location opened close to his home. In addition to his love for The Great Greek’s food, Freites has had a long-standing admiration for its parent company, UFG. He couldn’t pass up the opportunity when the position became available.
With this role, he looks forward to being part of an emerging brand and helping franchisees achieve the American Dream. As an immigrant himself, Freites has seen how franchising can change lives. While it’s not easy and success isn’t guaranteed, franchising can make things simple if you follow the turnkey system and proven processes, he added.
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill’s leadership team believes that Freites is the right person for the position. “Angelo brings a wealth of knowledge in restaurant franchise operations, with a career spanning more than four decades. With The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill in position for exponential growth in the coming years, we’re excited to tap into Angelo’s vast expertise and leverage his unique strengths that will further the success of our brand,” said Bob Andersen, president of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill.
A Restaurant Veteran’s Journey
Freites started in the restaurant franchise industry as an hourly employee. With a lot of hard work, mentoring, and luck, he worked his way up to executive roles and became a franchisee. His favorite aspect of franchising is that it gives entrepreneurs the ability to meet different individuals of diverse backgrounds during various stages of their careers. Freites also enjoys mentoring others.
Passion for Food Franchising
Freites’ passion for the restaurant industry has kept him in it for more than four decades. Over the course of his career, he has found countless opportunities for self-development and growth. “I believe that if you possess determination and willpower, you will be successful in this business. I also love that the food business levels the playing field. Your level of education, the language(s) you speak, your background – it doesn’t matter, and it certainly doesn’t determine your success.”
Freites notes that the younger generation is more open to different cuisines and trying new things. He also notes that the Mediterranean diet has been ranked one of the best diets for heart health and it’s versatile for different lifestyles. To him, fast-casual Greek is not just a trend; it’s the way of the future. Freites urges aspiring franchisees to believe in themselves, trust but verify, and make sure they are well-capitalized.