On today’s episode of the Smart Franchising Podcast, we sit down with Kathryn Chayka, the powerhouse who built massive success in franchise turnarounds, taking 12 struggling Wendy’s locations and making a multi-million dollar success story.

Fresh out of college, Kathryn took over a territory of underperforming Wendy’s stores in Quebec and added over $1M in new revenue per location. She’s proving that smart strategy, strong leadership, and local marketing can drive explosive franchise growth.

Kathryn shares the secrets behind her success, including:

- How she transformed struggling stores into high-revenue locations

- The power of empowering leadership and supportive teams

- Her community-first marketing strategies that boost both sales & loyalty

- Post-COVID operational shifts that improved efficiency and profitability

- Why learning from top-performing franchisees is key to long-term success

“Delivering value doesn’t mean sacrificing quality. Customers want great deals on quality products—when they feel they’re getting value, sales follow.”

Whether you're a franchisee, franchisor, or an entrepreneur looking to scale, this episode is packed with game-changing insights from someone who’s built massive success in franchise turnarounds.