Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit
In right this moment’s Speaker Highlight, we’re highlighting Chris Noffze, director of direct franchising and operations at Gong cha Americas, who might be sharing chief’s recommendation for operators.
Picture: 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 right this moment’s Speaker Highlight, we’re highlighting Chris Noffze, director of direct franchising and operations at Gong cha Americas, who might be sharing chief’s recommendation for operators.
On this newly created position, Noffze has labored carefully with each house owners and operators to make sure stable efficiency and branded success. Examine him in right this moment’s Speaker Highlight.
Describe your present position.
I help franchisees from onboarding and retailer openings via ongoing operations. In my newly created position, I work carefully with house owners 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 via hands-on operational steerage.
What was your first-ever profession position and what’s one vital lesson you discovered from it?
My first profession position within the QSR area was with Domino’s Pizza of their management growth program. One of the vital vital 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 position — irrespective of the division and the way behind-the-scenes — immediately impacts the individuals who carry 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 daily.
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 keenness. 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 via their management growth program, studying firsthand how operations, coaching and help impression 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 ideal visitor expertise. It has been a journey of people-first management, operational excellence and a love of making experiences that carry pleasure via meals and beverage.
What do you get pleasure from most about your present position?
What I get pleasure from most about my present position at Gong cha is the chance to affect selections and processes which are rolled out throughout the Americas whereas collaborating with extremely good, proficient folks. Working with franchisees, groups and leaders who carry various views and experience challenges me to assume otherwise, innovate and constantly enhance. I’ve additionally been lucky to journey internationally — to Korea, Dubai and the Bahamas — seeing how international markets strategy franchise operations and visitor expertise. Combining these experiences permits me to create repeatable, scalable programs that help franchisees, elevate operations and ship constant, high-quality experiences for company. On the finish of the day, it is the mix of impression, collaboration and studying from good people who makes this position so rewarding.
What’s a standard false impression folks have about what you do?
A standard false impression is that my work in franchising is simple 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, programs and operational excellence — are easy, executing them persistently throughout a number of places is much 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 had been really straightforward, everybody would do it. The problem and the reward comes from turning easy rules into repeatable, scalable success throughout the system.
Who’s/was your mentor and what’s one vital lesson you discovered from them?
I have been lucky to have mentors in lots of varieties, together with leaders I’ve met and voices I’ve discovered from via podcasts. Listening to consultants throughout industries has proven me that mentorship does not at all times come from somebody sitting beside you. There is a wealth of perception out there 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 assume are at the moment over-hyped and why?
One pattern I feel is usually over-hyped is the concept expertise alone can repair operational challenges. New platforms, AI instruments and automation get numerous buzz, however with out robust fundamentals—clear processes, correct coaching and franchisee buy-in—these instruments hardly ever ship their promised impression. 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 truly gradual execution as a substitute of enhancing it. I’ve seen that probably the most profitable improvements are those that quietly make every day operations simpler — decreasing 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 assume do not get sufficient consideration and why?
One pattern that does not get sufficient consideration is the innovation taking place in foundational programs — coaching, onboarding and operational readiness. These areas aren’t flashy, however they’ve the largest impression on franchisee confidence, pace 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 gentle opens, digital coaching instruments and data-driven readiness applications permit groups to check programs, refine execution and construct muscle reminiscence earlier than the doorways formally open. Lastly, ongoing franchisee engagement usually will get missed. Constant communication, teaching and suggestions loops — supported by the suitable instruments — are essential to holding operators aligned and acting at a excessive stage as programs scale. These developments might 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 prime 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 — needs to be evaluated via its impression 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 selections round coaching, expertise and processes. Simply as vital, 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 suitable path.
If you happen to weren’t working in your present discipline, what would you be doing as a substitute?
If I weren’t working in franchising operations, I might possible be pursuing one thing entrepreneurial in actual property or finance. I’ve at all times been drawn to figuring out alternatives, enhancing programs 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 outdoors of labor?
Outdoors of labor, I really like spending time in nature, particularly occurring hikes and unplugging each time attainable. Being outside helps me reset, acquire perspective and are available again to work extra targeted and energized. I additionally actually get pleasure from going to parks with my children — whether or not it is exploring trails, playgrounds or simply being outdoors collectively. These moments gradual the whole lot down in one of the best ways and remind me what steadiness and presence actually imply.
Are you concerned in any charitable organizations that you simply wish to inform folks about?
One group that is particularly significant to me is Night time to Shine, an unforgettable prom-night expertise for folks with particular wants ages 14 and older. Every year, 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 beloved. I function a volunteer lead, guiding a kitchen crew that serves dinner to greater than 200 contributors and their caregivers. What resonates most with me is how carefully 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 impression the individual you might be right this moment?
I grew up in Michigan. My Midwest roots have had a long-lasting affect on who I’m right this moment. Rising up round a group formed by laborious work, resilience and delight in doing issues the suitable means taught me the worth of exhibiting up, staying accountable and incomes belief via motion. That Midwest grit nonetheless guides how I strategy my work in franchising and operations. I consider in rolling up my sleeves, fixing issues head-on and supporting folks via consistency and follow-through.
What’s one attention-grabbing factor about you that even the folks you’re employed with daily 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 pupil 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 right this moment.
At its core, it is the identical mindset I carry to franchising and course of enchancment: determine alternatives, scale back friction and construct programs which are scalable and worthwhile.
Is there anything you wish 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!
Click on right here to register for the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit.Use the code AMCEDIT20 for 20% off at checkout.
About Bradley Cooper
