NATSO Connect’s Find and Dine kick-off reception brought together travel center owners and operators and industry suppliers while highlighting several food concepts. The event was designed to introduce operators to several dining options.
“As fuel economy improves, non-fuel revenue is so important,” said Christine Schoessler, chief operating officer of NATSO. “We wanted to give attendees an opportunity to see several exciting options.”
NATSO’s Connect’s Find and Dine was generously sponsored by:
CHESTER’S INTERNATIONAL
Ted Giles
tedg@wynnsgrainandspice.com
205.949.4690
www.chestersinternational.com
Since 1952, Birmingham-based Chester’s International LLC has been serving customers delicious, fresh fried chicken and signature sides using old southern family recipes. Chester’s is a leading fractional franchise company with expertise in developing food-service programs for convenience stores and grocery retail chains.
EGGROLL BOYZ
5815 Windward Parkway, Ste. 211
Alpharetta, GA 30005
770.696.9386
www.eggrollboyz.com
EggRoll Boyz is a casual dining restaurant that serves especially World Famous Giant Gourmet Eggrollz with a variety of specialty fillings. Including classic phillys, pizzas, enchiladas, tacos, buffalo, cubans, cajuns, and jerk chicken with over 50 specialty rolls, there’s truly something for everyone! Each roll is named after a performer, i.e.“Cajun Boy,” a signature roll made with Cajun rice, crawfish, shrimp, and andouille sausage topped with our signature remoulade sauce. EggRoll Boyz offer stationary (full-service) restaurants & bars, quick-service restaurants, location- based units (kiosk units), as well as mobile units that may be moved to and from different events or locations.
HAYDEN VALLEY FOODS
3150 Urbancrest Industrial Drive
Urbancrest, OH 43123
orders@haydenvalleyfoods.com
614.539.2952
www.haydenvalleyfoods.com
We work very hard to produce the best peanuts, almonds, cashews and all the other nuts you can think of.The same is true for our pure chocolates, yogurt blends and dried fruits. It comes back to our humble beginnings. We’ve set out to deliver the best possible products with the most integrity.That’s why we’ve invested millions into our plant. Every piece of our equipment is state of the art, making every square inch of our plant GFSI, SQF Level 2 certified.That’s code for above excellent.If you’d like to get more into the nuts and bolts of our manufacturing process and check out all of our shiny awards and certifications, we’d be happy to let you peek behind the curtain.
IHOP/DINEEQUITY INC.
Mary Bartolini
mary.bartolini@dineequity.com
407.497.4975
www.dineequity.com
IHOP and Applebee’s, owned by DineEquity Inc., are the category leaders within their respective restaurant segments.Through varying foot prints and floor plans, they are aggressively pursuing new franchisees for non-traditional locations such as travel plazas.They have several examples to share how the IHOP brand has transformed properties. From new builds with end-cap positions, to conversion of existing restaurant spaces, IHOP would love to explore working with you!
NAF NAF MIDDLE EASTERN GRILL
Steve Corp
scorp@nafnafgrill.com
813.748.6288
www.nafnafgrill.com
Naf Naf means to ‘fan the flame.’ The expression is used as an invitation for friends and family to gather and share a meal together. Back in 2009, Sahar Sander, our late founder, opened the first Naf Naf in Naperville, Illinois, and invited the community in to try his authentic handmade recipes true to his middle eastern upbringing. we still serve those recipes today at every Naf Naf and invite you in to share a meal with us.
DRINK POPPI
Jeff Rubenstein
jeff@drinkpoppi.com
917.579.3066
www.drinkpoppi.com
Husband and wife team Allison and Stephen were experimenting in their home kitchen, combining fresh fruit juice with the prebiotic powerhouse apple cider vinegar (ACV), to create a soda that tasted amazing and provided real health benefits. Allison had been looking for solace from her chronic health issues, and ACV answered her prayers—after drinking it every day for a week her symptoms all but vanished.They bottled it up and sold it at their local farmer’s market in Dallas, selling out each weekend and quickly gaining a devoted following. Fast forward through two kids, a Shark Tank investment (made while Allison was nine months pregnant—nbd!), and a very Poppi rebrand, to today when their delicious soda makes it easier to drink to your health.
POTBELLY SANDWICH WORKS
www.potbelly.com/franchising-investment
We offer simple, irresistible food served by friendly people in a warm and welcoming environment. Together, this unique combination of product, people and place makes the Potbelly difference.
SBARRO LLC
Bob Cullinan
bcullinan@sbarro.com
614.406.8120
www.sbarro.com
Sbarro is the leading QSR brand serving the impulse pizza occasion, known for its New York style XL pizza-by-the-slice. For more than 60 years, we’ve been committed to serving the most authentic quality pizzas, Stromboli’s and Italian favorites in almost 600 retail, hospitality and transportation venues all over the world. Backed by a strong heritage, our team of veteran industry experts continually improve and innovate to meet the ever-changing needs of franchisees and consumers.
VOKE ENERGY
Andy Hajdukiewicz
1160 Great Pond Rd
North Andover, MA 01845-1298
https://voke-energy.com/
Voke was a simple idea dreamed up by Kalen Caughey on a chairlift at his local ski hill in southwest Montana. As a competitive skier, he was looking for a healthy, convenient, and ultra-portable energy solution to fuel long days in the mountains and at school. Kalen teamed up with his dad, a PhD in biochemistry, to research an ideal combination of natural ingredients that would provide a balanced, sustained energy boost without sugar, artificial sweeteners or excessive doses of vitamins. Together they combed through thousands of pages of scientific literature in search of ingredients that were proven to improve memory, focus, metabolism and physical stamina. The resulting ‘Voke Blend’ that they developed was an exacting combination of organic Guarana Berry Seed, organic Acerola Cherry, Red Beet and natural Green Tea Leaf Caffeine that delivers a consistent and reliable vitalizing lift in focus and energy. With the formula developed, Kalen brought in his brother, Evan, to help with creative development and operations. Kalen and Evan continue to run Voke together as a family business. In 2021, VOKE joined forces with the former President/COO of 5-Hour Energy, Scott Henderson, to lead an expansion into convenience retail.
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