Episode 131: Doug Willmarth with Beans and Brews Coffeehouse

About this episode

Doug Willmarth discusses the evolution of Beans & Brews Coffeehouse and insights into the specialty coffee industry.

The Corner Booth podcast dives into the fast-growing specialty coffee and beverage market with guest Doug Willmarth, CEO of Beans & Brews Coffeehouse. Host Chris Tripoli explores how this regional favorite evolved from a single Salt Lake City coffee shop into a thriving franchise network. Wilmarth shares his journey from early restaurant roles to leading major brands like Pizza Hut and Wingstop, offering unique insights into what drives success in the competitive coffee industry. In this episode, listeners will learn about specialty coffee trends, including the rise of Gen Z-driven beverage innovation, cold brew popularity, and the growing demand for energy drinks and refreshers. Wilmarth explains why the coffeehouse franchise model is booming, with projections of 6–8% annual growth in the specialty beverage segment. He also discusses operational strategies, from optimizing drive-thru concepts to leveraging technology for better customer experiences while maintaining the human touch that defines hospitality. For entrepreneurs and operators, this conversation is packed with actionable advice on franchise growth strategies, selecting the right partners, and expanding into…

People in this episode

Host: Chris Tripoli

Guest: Doug Willmarth

Topics covered

• specialty coffee
• beverage market
• franchise growth
• Gen Z trends
• operational strategies

Keywords

• coffeehouse franchise
• cold brew
• energy drinks
• hospitality
• restaurant leadership

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Beans & Brews Coffeehouse

Places: Salt Lake City

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