Wahoo's Fish Taco has appointed Tom Orbe as vice president, responsible for the company's franchise program. Orbe, a Wahoo's franchisee, brings extensive experience to the position in the ownership and operation of a franchise, customer service, marketing and sales.
He will take the lead in driving the growth of Wahoo's stores across the United States.
"Expanding Wahoo's will meet the demand we have in communities throughout the nation for our signature homemade food and family-friendly atmosphere," Orbe said in a news release. "I am happy to join the restaurant's creative, progressive team and look forward to extending the success I have experienced with Wahoo's to the new franchise owners."
Orbe owns and operates the Temecula, Calif., store. Before joining Wahoo's, he worked as the vice president of sales, product development and marketing for Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. Prior to Kawasaki, he was the vice president at Nissan Motor Corporation, U.S.A., where he established many new franchisees.
Wahoo's Fish Taco has developed a growth initiative to add at least 100 franchise locations in the next five years. In choosing future franchisees, Wahoo's will consider individuals who have a genuine enthusiasm for the brand, adequate restaurant and/or business experience and sufficient funding. Wahoo's plans to sign 15 franchises in California during the fall of 2009, with the first five locations being determined via a lottery because of the high demand.
The company also will open four franchise locations in Arizona, also available through a lottery in the winter of 2009. Additional locations across the country will be assigned as the process develops. The initial franchise fee is $30,000 for the first store and $25,000 for any additional locations.
