Greek-American restaurant chain, “My Big Fat Greek Gyro” is going to appear on CNBC shows “The Profit” that has businessman Marcus Lemonis make businesses more profitable. The episode with the Greek chain will air at 10 p.m. on Tuesday.
Mike Ference, one of the founders of the franchise, decided to contact the show because he was a fan of the way in which Lemonis fixes problems and then decides whether to buy an ownership stake in exchange for his input.
“We had franchised stores, but absolutely no sense of identity,” says the owner, who contacted the show’s producers in May and heard from them the very next day.
Mr. Lemonis says his own immigrant origins drew him to the Kamouyero-Ference family. “My family was Greek and Lebanese, very opinionated, and I braced myself for more of that as I was going in,” he said, adding that the people on the show were very hospitable and this will show in the episode.
The owners’ lives turned upside down as they began to see everything wrong with the business. “Just when you think everything’s perfect, he finds all kinds of things that need to be fixed,” said Mr. Ference, who was navigated through the choppy seas of business and had to fix his relationship with the franchises.
On Tuesday night’s episode, U.S. audiences will learn if Mr. Lemonis will buy a stake in the business.
Who is Marcus Lemonis?
As Chairman and CEO of Camping World and Good Sam Enterprises, he leads close to 6,000 employees in over 100 cities across the US. He is a passionate, dynamic road warrior whose entire life has been on the move – which is synonymous with the RV lifestyle.
Marcus was recognized for having “more impact on the industry than any single individual or company in recent memory as an agent of change and retail consolidation,” when RV Business Magazine named him their 2007 Newsmaker of the Year. In addition, Crain’s Chicago Business featured him in their 2005 edition of “40 under 40”; and in 2008, Ernst & Young named him Entrepreneur of the Year.
What is My Big Fat Greek Gyro?
A fast, casual restaurant chain of six restaurants that serve Mediterranean food. The signature food item is the Greek gyros. All food items are made-to-order in front of patrons. In addition to the gyros, the restaurant servies other pitas and salads and has catering services. My Big Fat Greek Gyro was founded by Michael Ference and Kathleen Kamouyerou-Ference as a result of their 25 years in the food service industry. They recognize that specializing in tasty, high quality pita sandwiches, salads and classic Greek food presented a window of opportunity for My Big Fat Greek Gyro products, and possibilities for expansion. We are a new franchise opportunity that responds to a growing market demand for high-quality “semi” fast food. Our customers want convenience, reasonable prices and great food. A key aspect of My Big Fat Greek Gyro’s success is the loyalty of existing customers and the ability to turn first timers into “regulars”. Our personalized approach provides a pleasant experience to a broad range of customers and has resulted in positive “word of mouth” and a high percentage of repeat business. My Big Fat Greek Gyro’s commitment is to serve fresh, healthy, great tasting food, exceeding customer expectations.
