Staffing

Jinya Ramen hires industry veteran as VP of Franchise Sales

Jinya Ramen Bar has hired Mike LaRue as its vice president of Franchise Sales. Photo source: LinkedIn

February 9, 2021

Jinya Ramen Bar has hired Mike LaRue as its vice president of Franchise Sales, according to a company press release.

LaRue, who founded Ignite Franchise Group and has spent the last five years working with NYC's The Halal Guys, has launched over 15 brands, resulting in more than 1,000 units in development and several million dollars in franchise fees.

"We are very excited to have Mike join our team at Jinya," founder Tomo Takahashi said in the release. "After many years in franchising, he has developed a keen understanding that a franchisor empathizing with its franchisees is a significant driver to the success of a brand.

"Mike has always been exceptional at utilizing his resources to find the best real estate for his sites, as well as when it comes to recruiting prospective franchisees, he knows what elements of a brand attract exceptional people. Mike not only focuses heavily on creating a dependable franchisor/franchisee relationship, but he also believes a strong culture and impact within the company are the key ingredients to building a sustainable brand. That's the kind of person we want at Jinya — someone who is devoted and excited to make our brand stronger in every way."

LaRue will be responsible for leading strategy on all aspects of franchise development, including sales, lead generation, franchise recruiting and owner approvals.

"I am very excited to be joining the Jinya family and taking on this new role," LaRue said in the release. "For me, I don't believe you can just work for any brand who wants to recruit franchisees; there are certain characteristics that have to be in place. For example, it's important for a franchisor to be passionate about bringing in the right franchise partners versus someone who can just cut a check. There has to be a strong focus on company culture and spreading that culture into the system.

"To attract the best multi-unit operators, the economics also have to make sense. Jinya has done an amazing job adjusting through the pandemic and is positioned extremely well to continue being a category leader for years to come."

Founded in 2010, Jinya Ramen Bar has 37 restaurants with multiple locations in the pipeline.