US fast-casual sandwich franchise Jersey Mike’s Subs has hired industry veterans Stephen Sweetman and Corby Cronin as new members of its franchise sales team to help further the company’s expansion efforts throughout the nation.
Sweetman has been named as senior director of franchise sales and will be responsible for identifying and introducing qualified candidates to Jersey Mike’s.
Cronin joins Jersey Mike’s as director of franchise sales and will be involved in identifying operators that have a passion for supporting the brand, people and community.
Jersey Mike’s franchise and market development senior vice-president Brian Sommers said: “The addition of Stephen and Corby to the Jersey Mike’s team further signifies our focus on recruiting best in class multi-unit operators. Their extensive experience in this area will prove invaluable as we drive our aggressive franchise development efforts into our primary and secondary markets.”
Sweetman comes with extensive franchising experience related to casual dining and fast casual restaurants. He has previously worked at Wingstop and managed 16 states in the Southeast, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
Prior to this, Sweetman was director of franchise sales and real estate at FOCUS Brands and managed activities for four brands in a 14-state territory in the Southeast, including Moe’s Southwest Grill.
Cronin has worked with Schlotzsky’s as a President’s Club winner and director of franchise development. At Dickey’s Barbecue, he held roles such as vice-president of operations and director of franchise development.
Both Cronin and Sweetman will join Brian O’Hagan, vice-president of franchise sales, to meet prospective multi-unit franchisees interested in joining the brand’s expansion at the upcoming Multi-Unit Franchising Conference.
Currently, the brand has more than 1,500 locations open and under development throughout the country.
Jersey Mike’s has plans to develop an additional 1,000 restaurants nationwide by the end of 2020. Last year, it opened more than 170 new locations and reported a 6% system-wide same-store sales increase.
