Jim Morey Joins Pickleman's Gourmet Café Advisory Board

Pickleman's Gourmet Café has bolstered its executive ranks by welcoming industry veteran Jim Morey to its advisory board. Morey, who brings extensive experience from Wawa, Inc., Outback Steakhouse, and McDonald's, will help the brand navigate its next phase of growth.

Morey’s tenure at Wawa, Inc., spans over a decade, during which he held several senior roles including Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing/Brand Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer. His responsibilities encompassed overseeing brand, marketing, IT, store operations, real estate, supply chain, and enterprise strategy. Prior to Wawa, he served as Vice President of Finance at Outback Steakhouse and Senior Financial Director at McDonald’s.

Morey expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity, stating, "It's about bringing out the best in everyone. As I look at this brand strategically, I can see the path forward. I think this brand can catch fire; it's got everything it needs."

Morey emphasized the importance of unit-level economics, saying, "If the individual store works and provides strong returns for the operator, everything else flows from that. That's what Doug and the Pickleman's team are building here. The products have integrity, better-for-you quality, and when executed according to plan, the unit economics work. That combination is where the magic happens. It's time to grow, 10, 20, 30+ stores a year over the next few years, and earn our share of the market."

For prospective franchisees, Morey highlighted Pickleman's operational framework: "You're owning your business without reinventing the wheel. Doug has a nuts-and-bolts playbook. If you're attentive, hands-on, and build the right culture and leadership, existing franchisees have proven success."

Pickleman's Founder and CEO Doug Stritzel expressed his excitement about the new addition to the team, noting, "Jim's done the job at scale, finance, ops, and brand, and he's laser-focused on store-level returns. His proven experience turning organizations into legacy brands is truly some of the best in the world. This is exactly the kind of operator-first mindset we want guiding our next stage. We're fired up to have him on the team."

Founded in 2005 in Columbia, Missouri, Pickleman's has expanded to over 30 locations in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Indiana, Nebraska, and Texas. The brand prides itself on using fresh, responsibly sourced ingredients and maintaining consistent unit economics.