New York Media Misrepresents Texas Based Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Success in Franchising

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In response to a recent New York Post article, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is clarifying the nature of its franchise partnerships and reaffirming its commitment to its current owner-operators. The article, which focuses on two unsuccessful franchisees, misrepresents the brand’s long-standing success and the collaborative relationships it fosters with its partners.

In a detailed interview with the New York Post reporter prior to the article's publication, Dickey’s CEO Laura Rea Dickey and Senior Vice President of Franchise Relations Jeffrey Gruber provided extensive context on the brand's operations and its support for franchisees. This information was largely omitted from the final story.

“It’s a tragic mischaracterization of the brand, of our success, of us as a family business, and of all of our amazing successful owner-operators,” said Laura Rea Dickey. “The story takes the unfortunate perspective of a very small group of folks without context, without question, and without any research or investigation.”

Full interview with Matt Caputo of New York Post

The article states that “Raifer, Stephan, and other former operators said they hope speaking out will bring more transparency to the franchise industry.” To achieve full transparency, we must examine the actions of these individuals rather than solely blaming Dickey's as the franchisor.

Current owner/operators have found success, as highlighted and explained in their own words in a recent article (link to story).

“Dennis Dacheaux Sr., a former Air Force pilot and 10-year Dickey’s franchise owner-operator in Mechanicsburg Borough, PA, said, “People who say they were shocked by what was expected are just wrong. They’ve (Dickey’s) changed a lot in the past few years and work to be receptive. They push hard for their owner-operators. If I really had a problem with anything, I could probably call Roland (Dickey Jr.) and get a callback within a few hours… . I doubt there’s really an owner-operator who needed and asked for help who didn’t get it.”

“Navy veteran and former nuclear physicist Gary Mulligan, owner-operator of Dickey’s franchises in Whiting and Mount Holly, N.J., located 19 miles east of Philadelphia, said, “You’ve got to buy the franchise, and then you’ve got to buy the store. There’s construction, build-out, insurance, taxes if you’re not renting; you’re going into business, and you need to educate yourself about what you’re getting into before you’re in it. They were clear about what they expected and what we should expect. They offered all sorts of services, from real estate help in finding a property to construction. In my case, I’d already found the ideal location and had a contractor.”

For seven years, Biraj Patel’s Dickey’s franchise in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., has been the go-to spot for barbecue brisket: “I knew exactly what I was getting into. They’ve been behind me the whole way.”

Dickey’s wants to share the following facts, which were provided to the New York Post:

• A Partnership Approach: Dickey’s refers to its franchisees as “owner-operators” because it seeks partners who are passionate about the barbecue business and hands-on in their restaurants. The company has a thorough vetting process that includes comprehensive background checks and financial requirements to ensure new owner-operators are set up for success.
• Franchisee Success is the Norm: While the restaurant business is challenging, the vast majority of Dickey’s owner-operators find great success. The brand has been franchising for over 30 years and is the largest barbecue franchise in the world, a testament to the strength of its business model. The company has many more successful franchisees than unsuccessful ones, and negative outcomes are typically the result of an owner-operator's choices or failure to adhere to the brand's proven model.
• Setting the Record Straight on Long Island: The article highlights the cases of former Long Island area developers Jerry Stefan and John Malanchico. Mr. Stefan’s area developer agreement was mutually terminated because he failed to meet the operational benchmarks required to expand. Dickey’s requires its partners to “nail it before you scale it” to ensure the success of the entire system. Documentation was provided to Mr. Caputo.
• Unprecedented Support During the Pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for the restaurant industry. Dickey’s worked diligently to support its owner-operators, providing financial assistance and operational guidance to help them navigate the difficult market conditions. In the case of former franchisee Wendy Williams (mentioned in a recent The New York Times article), Dickey's paid over $50,000 of her bills to help her try to succeed.
• Commitment to the New York Market: Dickey’s remains committed to the New York and New Jersey markets, where it has a number of successful owner-operators. The company is confident in the viability of these markets and is actively seeking new partners who share its passion for authentic, Texas-style barbecue.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit invites any journalist seeking a more complete and accurate picture of the brand to speak with its many successful owner-operators across the country.

About Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Founded in 1941 by the Dickey family, Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. is the world’s largest barbecue concept and continues as a third-generation family-run business. For more than 80 years, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has served millions with its signature Legit. Texas. Barbecue.™ Slow-smoked over hickory wood-burning pits, Dickey’s barbecued meats are paired with a variety of Southern sides. Committed to authentic barbecue, Dickey’s never takes shortcuts — because real barbecue can’t be rushed.

With more than 866 restaurants across eight concepts in the U.S. and several countries, Dickey’s Barbecue Franchise and Dickey’s Restaurant Brands continue to grow under the leadership of Roland Dickey Jr., CEO of Dickey’s Capital Group, and Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Dickey’s has been recognized on Newsweek’s 2022 "America’s Favorite Restaurant Chains" list, Nation’s Restaurant News 2024 top fast-casual brands for value, and USA Today’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. The brand has also ranked in the Top 20 of Fast Casual’s “Top 100 Movers and Shakers” for four of the past five years. Additional accolades include Entrepreneur’s Top 500 Franchise and Hospitality Technology’s Industry Heroes list. The brand has been featured by Fox News, Forbes, Franchise Times, The Wall Street Journal, and People Magazine.

For more information, visit www.dickeys.com. For franchise opportunities, visit www.dickeysfranchise.com.