Ep 26: Sal Melilli, President and CEO of HOA Brands (Hooters)

Whether it’s to watch the game, go out with buddies, have a family meal, or simply pound beer and eat chicken wings, Hooters is the top choice for many. But even before the pandemic struck, consumer needs were changing. In response, Hooters began building out a fast-casual version of itself called Hoots Wings with a limited menu and food delivery capabilities. All of this happened thanks to the open mind and leadership of HOA Brands CEO and President Sal Melilli, and today he joins us on the show to talk about what these changes looked like from the perspective of marketing and operations. Sal’s career is unique in that he has worked for Hooters his whole life, having started as a dishwasher and slowly worked his way up until where he is today. He is a big believer in teamwork and often accredits the excellence of the company to the people that work for him, as well as the strength of the Hooters brand itself. We start our conversation hearing about the conditions that formed the initial thinking for Hoots Wings. From there Sal weighs in on their agile and customer-led approach to reinventing themselves, as well as the corporate structure behind the different Hooters companies and franchises. We talk about traditional versus digital marketing next, and Sal shares some techniques they are using to stay visible online and in the real world. Toward the end of the conversation, Sal speaks about what is in store for Hooters and Hoots Wings in the coming months and years. Tune in today!