Name: Joe Brumit
Company: Brumit Food Group
Interview Location: Joe’s Office In Asheville
1) Education
Started at The University of Tennessee at Knoxville, but did not finish.
2) Background Information
a)When was your company started?
1988 was the year, the name was originally Winning Team. In 2007, a partner took control over the company. Shortly after, the company began doing poorly and I regained control. The name was changed to Brumit Restaurant Group (BRG)
b) Why did you start this company?
I already had exposure to this type of industry and I saw an opportunity to take an idea and use it correctly to make it big. My experience with the restaurant business is what drove me to make it a passion.
3) What motivated you to start this business?
I wanted to be an owner and control my outcome and how I worked. I didn’t enjoy the corporate side as much and I saw a better way to get the job done by being an owner rather than working for someone.
4) Where did you get your startup funds?
I brought very little capital into the startup. A Burger King franchisee brought the capital and I brought the knowledge and experience to operate the company. In that regard, how I began was different than most.
5) How big was your business when you first began?
We had 13 Arby’s restaurants, and that was all. (Although the partner was a Burger King franchisee, they went the way of Arby’s instead)
6) How big has your business grown to now?
My company is now up to 44 Arby’s and 2 Which Wich’s. We have grown mainly within this region, focusing on NC and SC.
7) What are you biggest challenges?
During the startup, cash flow was very tight. In addition, my partner was conflicting in the type of cash flow structure that we needed to succeed. We had a difference of opinion on how the company finances should be used, and it showed.
8) What are the greatest perks for you being an owner?
I come and go as I please, I have final say, and no one to tell me what to do. I can bring on people I trust and develop them, which allows us to grow together.
9) Do you have cultural issues within the locations of your restaurants?
This is a huge issue for us. For example, the employees in Asheville will vary from the employees in Greenville. The employees range from inner city to rural communities. The bottom line that we look for in an employee is a hard worker, friendly, and a person we can instill our core values in to.
10) Where do you see your business going from here?
We have no intention of going national or international. We are pushing further regionally, but our priority is in developing employees and continued growth success with what we already have.
11) What is a perception about this business you don’t like?
I would like to change consumer perceptions. So many consumers view this type of business as unfair to employees who cannot make much money due to the minimum wage. That is not what we are about. We want to develop employees and better their future, yet consumers want us to pay employees better while still getting cheap hamburger prices. What they are missing is that if we raise our payroll, we raise our prices, and we are blamed.
12) Do you find any particular person inspiring?
Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or cannot, you’re right.”
Winston Churchill once said, “When you’re going through hell, keep going!”
These men understand that life and business is all about mindset.
BRG BIO
Brumit Restaurant Group formed in 2009 when Joe Brumit returned to the Arby’s system by buying the assets of the Winning Team, Inc., a company he founded in 1988 with 13 restaurants located throughout Western North Carolina and later sold to his business partner in 2007. Brumit Restaurant Group’s continues to see growth. Currently BRG operates 43 Arby’s restaurants located in North Carolina and South Carolina with further growth and expansion opportunities on the horizon.
Brumit Restaurant Group is committed not only to developing restaurants, but more importantly to people. Our values reflect the way we work together and treat each other, define who we are as a team, and create a culture that brings out our best. We are customer maniacs; we make our people #1; we are collaborative and team-oriented; we are accountable for ourselves and each other; we believe in honesty and high integrity; and we execute with energy and excellence.
Our commitment to people extends beyond our customers and employees to our communities. Many of Brumit Restaurant Group’s members are making a difference in community organizations such as The United Way, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, the American Red Cross, the University of North Carolina at Asheville, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, The Health Adventure, Child Advocacy Programs, and many more. Brumit Restaurant Group’s ultimate goal is to develop people to their fullest potential as winners.
