Residents in Orlando know the name Hungry Howie's quite well. But a name some might not be as familiar with is Jim Hearn who purchased the then hamburger concept in 1973, growing it into the nation's 11th largest pizza company. With more than 200 locations in Florida alone, the company has definitely made a name for itself and for its founder.
But with the sudden passing of Jim Hearn, the company must not only deal with the incredible sadness of his loss but continue moving forward with Hearn's dream of expanding the company.
"His office was a pizzeria and his board of directors was his customers," explains Barry Devine, the director of Marketing for Hungry Howie's. What started as a concept idea brought with Hearn when he moved to Florida in 1982 quickly turned into a franchise business and by 1986, Hearn had opened his own food distribution company to keep up with the demand for his signature flavored pizza crust.
Despite the sudden loss of a man who offered so much inspiration to his company and its workers, Hungry Howie's announced that it will move forward with its plans to attend the 2013 MultiUnit Franchising Conference later this month. According to the development director for Hungry Howie's, it will be important for the company to attend because it will give people the opportunity to get information about possibly starting a franchise of their own one day. And as some who knew him best would say, it's exactly what Hearn would have wanted.
Source: pizzamarketplace.com, "Hungry Howie's Pizza found dies," March 22, 2013
No Comments
Leave a comment