#521: Leaders in Customer Loyalty: Brand Stories | How Schlotzsky’s Deli is Returning to its Roots While Also Focusing on the Future

#521: Leaders in Customer Loyalty: Brand Stories | How Schlotzsky’s Deli is Returning to its Roots While Also Focusing on the Future

April 23, 2026 · 33 min

About this episode

Donna Varner discusses her role in rebranding Schlotzsky's Deli and the balance between tradition and future growth.

Send us Fan Mail It was in McAllen, a small town just over 300 miles from Austin, where Donna Varner had a revelation about her new employer. Varner had been hired by Schlotzsky's Deli as Chief Brand Officer, and one of her first tasks was to lead the deli franchise through a rebranding effort. While trying to get back to Schlotzsky’s home base in Austin one day, a storm in Texas led to canceled flights, and so Varner and a handful of other people decided to carpool there together inst...

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Guest: Donna Varner

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Organizations: Schlotzsky's Deli

Places: McAllen, Austin, Texas

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