In this episode, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Sherif Mityas, CEO of BRIX Holdings, to unpack a career that spans aerospace engineering, big-box retail, Hollywood Video, TGI Fridays, and now an eight-brand restaurant portfolio with more than 300 locations. Sherif shares how cross-brand insights, consumer occasion mapping, and franchisee passion shape BRIX’s growth playbook — and why understanding the ‘bones of a brand’ matters more today than ever.

Listeners will hear:

• How Sherif’s engineering-to-retail-to-restaurants journey shaped his approach to building resilient, multi-brand systems.

• Why operating eight brands gives BRIX a unique view of consumer behavior across daily “occasions.”

• How BRIX evaluates new categories — from chicken to Mediterranean to “better-for-you” — and what makes a trend a flash-in-the-pan vs. a lasting brand.

• The story behind BRIX’s newest ownership shift — and how a 15-year-old server became one of the most influential operators in the portfolio.

• Why economic pressure is reshaping the definition of value and affordability in QSR and fast casual.

• How BRIX integrates new brands “below the skin” without breaking what makes them special.

• Sherif’s perspective on growth: why platforms must expand or risk falling behind, and how to scale without losing brand soul.

🎧 A must-listen if you’re curious how multi-brand operators evaluate opportunities, protect brand equity, and scale sustainably in a changing market.

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