He's Building a Dessert Truck Empire (70+ territories)
Episode description
In this episode, Cliff Kennedy, CEO of Frios Gourmet Pops, shares how he went from being a franchisee to acquiring the entire brand, rebuilding the company from the ground up, and transforming it into a mobile-first dessert empire
Interested in
We unpack:
- Why Frios’ product was great, but the company was broken
- How COVID forced a shift from brick-and-mortar to mobile trucks
- The economics of a mobile dessert franchise (events, wholesale, and B2B)
- Why Cliff walked away from a massive CPG opportunity after taking a big swing
- How Frios scaled with limited capital, grit, and relentless focus on franchisee success
This is a raw, honest look at entrepreneurship: the wins, the near-misses, and the decisions that define long-term success.
If you’re interested in franchising, consumer brands, or building a business around real-world experiences, this episode is for you.
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Interested in buying a franchise?
https://www.empirespod.com/buy-a-franchise
Are you a multi-unit franchise owner considering selling your business? https://www.fdcapitalgroup.com/
Partnership Opportunities
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- Franchisee → Franchisor transitions
- Mobile vs brick-and-mortar business models
- Franchise economics without item 19 hype
- Manufacturing + franchising under one roof
- Why focus beats chasing every growth opportunity
Building a business that prioritizes lifestyle + happiness