J.R. Galardi Continues The Wienerschnitzel Family Legacy

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Why would J.R. Galardi, CEO of the major nostalgia brand Wienerschnitzel, move his family to Fallbrook?

“It’s beautiful here,” J.R. Galardi said. “We were looking for some space for our family and nature. We moved from our home in San Clemente most recently, but originally both me and my wife’s families are from Colorado and we continue to maintain a home there. In Fallbrook, we were able to buy a home with some land with avocado trees and we aren’t on top of our neighbors.

In San Clemente, each home is on top of the other,” he said. “You could literally look out your window and see into your neighbor’s home. We just needed some space. You couldn’t find space there like we have now.”

In February 2022, Galardi, who is the youngest sibling, was appointed as CEO of Wienerschnitzel. The title was added to his position as company president which he has held since 2017.

In his expanded role, Galardi oversees all Galardi Group Inc. concepts, including Wienerschnitzel, Tastee Freez, and Hamburger Stand. Having grown up with the brand, he brings two decades of unique insight and experience to the role. His first job with Wienerschnitzel was as a janitor. Over the years he has touched nearly every facet of the business, from the fry station and drive-thru window to marketing, operations, community relations, and business development.

It’s not just a job, Galardi said. He’s carrying on the family legacy of his father, John Galardi, who founded Wienerschnitzel in 1961 with a single hot dog stand in Wilmington, California. At the age of 19 with just a few dollars in his pocket, John Galardi took a bus from Missouri to California. He walked the streets looking for a job and landed one at Taco Tia in Wilmington, near Los Angeles. He worked with Mary Bell at the taco stand and grew to love the business so much he wanted to start his own. He did not want to compete with his friends the Bells (yes, the Bells of Taco Bell) so Galardi started his own hot dog stand.

Today, Wienerschnitzel is the world’s largest hot dog chain. Based in Irvine, Galardi Group franchises nearly 350 Wienerschnitzel restaurants in 10 states. It serves more than 120 million hot dogs annually.

“I’m honored to continue my father’s legacy and have the opportunity to build upon the brand he created over 60 years ago in addition to the extended portfolio of concepts he believed in,” Galardi said. “We say this is a family business, but that isn’t defined by name or relation. Today it’s also an unwavering commitment to our extended family of franchise partners in providing them with the tools to thrive while also delivering a consistently enjoyable experience to our loyal guests.”

Galardi’s mother, Cindy Galardi Culpepper said before he was named CEO while he was still serving as president of the company, J.R. Galardi was “instrumental in driving doubledigit increases, growing digital sales by more than 400%, and establishing the company’s international division.”

“Same-store sales increased 42%, and digital sales grew 400% while all areas of service improved significantly,” she said.

Galardi said he is excited to expand the brands into untapped territories and has signed new franchise area agreements throughout the South and Northwest. He is also spearheading the creation of Wienerschnitzel’s International Division to expand trademarks outside the United States.

Under Galardi’s leadership, Wienerschnitzel successfully lowered the average age of its customer base while maintaining the loyalty of its legacy guests. Through engaging brand partnerships, innovative marketing initiatives, and guest-friendly digital upgrades, Galardi turned the more than 60-year-old brand into one with multigenerational appeal.

“Today, Wienerschnitzel is a nostalgic and iconic restaurant where guests continue to pass down their love of the brand’s legendary hot dogs, chili dogs, and corn dogs to their children and children’s children,” Galardi said. “New memories will be made, and traditions will live on as Wienerschnitzel evolves to meet the changing demand of today’s consumer while staying true to what made the brand a household name more than six decades ago.”

Cindy Galardi Culpepper who served as the CEO before her son and now serves as executive chairperson for the company is proud of J.R. Galardi’s successes at the helm of the company.

“J.R. is a passionate visionary whose innovative ideas have already proven successful in bringing Galardi Group and our concepts into the future,” she said. “He’s extremely forwardthinking when it comes to strategizing for what’s next, but also has the self-assurance and determination to see his ideas through to the end. I have every confidence he will uphold his father’s vision to instill Wienerschnitzel’s place in the heart and minds of generations to come.”

In addition to the international expansion by the end of 2022, J.R. Galardi said he also plans to embrace new industry disruptors like virtual kitchens, product licensing and other nontraditional ways of serving its popular menu creations both domestically and abroad. Along with focusing on the profitability of all brands, Galardi is expanding efforts under Wienerschnitzel’s “Serving food to serve others” mission to provide even more resources and financial aid to for-cause organizations primarily benefiting children in need and the homeless.

To learn more about the brand and the benefits of owning a Wienerschnitzel franchise, visit http://www.wienerschnitzelfranchise.com.