Brandon Gorin is hoping the weekend surrounding Super Bowl XLVI, which takes place Feb. 5 in Indianapolis, will drive his highest sales weekend ever at his two Marco’s Pizza franchises in Fishers, Ind.
Gorin, who won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots during his eight-year career in the National Football League, is one of many professional athletes to invest in a restaurant franchise after their playing days were over, and Marco’s Pizza is one of several foodservice brands that recruit from this pool of potential partners. Next week, Gorin and Marco’s will present at a player networking event that the NFL has set up for 600 current and former players.
“Sports go hand in hand with food sometimes, and franchising helps me be my own boss but still get aligned with a team that has my same vision,” Gorin said. “Opening my own restaurant, like a Brandon Gorin’s Bar and Grill, would have been much more difficult. When I was looking for my transition [after playing in the NFL], franchising made a lot of sense to me because I knew I’d be supported.”
Other examples of athletes turning to franchising include Gorin’s former teammate from Purdue University and the San Diego Chargers, Drew Brees, who owns several Jimmy John’s locations in New Orleans. Tennis star Venus Williams is a Jamba Juice franchisee, while Canadian juice chain Liquid Nutrition counts Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns and Vincent LeCavalier of the Tampa Bay Lightning as franchisees.
At its annual convention next month, the International Franchise Association will hold several information sessions for interested athletes, with presentations from operators like retired National Basketball Association star Jamal Mashburn, a franchisee of several Dunkin’ Donuts and Papa John’s Pizza restaurants.
Marco’s Pizza began its partnerships with former pros in the past few years, after meeting Gorin at a networking event organized by the NFL.
“We were very fortunate to meet Brandon early in the process for us,” said Bryon Stephens, vice president of new business development for Toledo, Ohio-based Marco’s Franchising LLC. “He exhibits all the traits we’d want in a franchisee: He’s very disciplined, with an exceptional work ethic.”
