Gregg Majewski, CEO of Craveworthy Brands, and Josh Halpern, CEO of Big Chicken, break down one of the most talked-about moves in hospitality—Craveworthy Brands’ acquisition by Big Chicken!
In this repurposed episode of Hospitality Hangout, hosts Michael Schatzberg and Jimmy Frischling are joined by industry leaders Gregg Majewski, CEO of Craveworthy Brands, and Josh Halpern, CEO of Big Chicken, to break down one of the most talked-about moves in hospitality—Craveworthy Brands acquiring Big Chicken.
Go behind the scenes as they reveal how the deal came together, the strategic thinking that fueled the partnership, and what this means for the future of both brands. From accelerating growth and improving operational efficiencies to redefining market positioning, this episode offers a front-row seat to a transformative moment in the restaurant industry.
Tune in to hear how two powerhouse brands are reshaping the hospitality landscape—and what’s next on their journey.
Craveworthy is laser-focused on building craveable, guest-first brands with high growth potential. The acquisition is part of a broader strategy to accelerate scale with strong IP and passionate leadership.
“We're going to be laser-focused on the Ops of the four walls and the way our franchisees are led and becoming a true partner with them even bigger than what they were before. You have to realize that they're your partners, they're in this battle with you day in and day out and they have to be treated as such.”, says Gregg.
Big Chicken will remain true to its roots while leveraging Craveworthy’s infrastructure to scale operations and support franchise growth.
Shaquille O’Neal isn’t just a figurehead—he’s actively involved, invested, and passionate about Big Chicken’s success. Despite the acquisition by Craveworthy Brands, Shaq’s role and presence won’t change. He continues to be a driving force behind the brand, supporting the team and engaging with the vision.
“This is where he wants to be… he wants to really be about this brand. He really wants to be about the fun of this brand, the soul of this brand, the experience to this brand, none of that changes with Crave coming in. He couldn't be more excited for Craveworthy to be coming in.”, says Josh Halpern.
For fans, franchisees, and the restaurant community, that consistency is powerful—it means Big Chicken will continue to deliver the same personality, culture, and energy that made it stand out in the first place.
Authentic, hands-on leadership is essential to building a strong restaurant culture.
“I have worked with CEO’s, I've been around CEO’s, I've been around people that are very, very successful that fake it and don't know what the restaurant operators need. If you're going to build a culture, you've got to be present and that culture is what drives any business.”, says Gregg.
It’s not enough to be successful on paper—true leadership means showing up, understanding operators, and being present in the business. That kind of leadership isn’t just inspiring—it’s what fuels lasting growth and transformation.
Branded Hospitality is the brainchild of Michael “Schatzy” Schatzberg, known as The Restaurant Guy, and Jimmy Frischling, The Finance Guy. Their collaboration bridges the worlds of hospitality, technology, innovation, and capital investment. Through their podcast, The Restaurant Guy and The Finance Guy engage with top CEOs and Founders, delving into the latest trends, developments, and breakthroughs in hospitality technology, innovation, and food & beverage. Schatzberg and Frischling are co-founders of Branded Hospitality Ventures as well, an investment and advisory platform at the intersection of food service, technology, innovation and capital.
Michael “Schatzy” Schatzberg is an entrepreneur and expert strategist and marketer. With over 25+ years of restaurant ownership and operational experience, he is the Managing Director for Branded Restaurants. Michael is an active board member and advisory board member at various tech companies. He has been active in hospitality technology investment and advisory services for over 5 years and attended Boston University.
Jimmy Frischling is an entrepreneur and experienced finance professional with over 3 decades in the financial services, capital markets and hospitality industries. He is a board member at a number of Branded’s Portfolio Companies including Blanket; Brizo Foodmetrics; Copia; Cut+Dry; Incentivio; Minnow; Ovation; Simple Marketplace; Spendgo; TapRm; Targetable; and Usual Wines. Jimmy holds his Series 79, 7, 24 and 63 licenses with FINRA, a B.A. from Wesleyan University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Josh Halpern is a visionary leader focused on building both brands and people. Where others see challenges, he sees opportunities. His boundless enthusiasm and talent for scaling businesses have led to success across various industries, including Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG), retail, and the restaurant sector. Josh is known for creating solutions that benefit all stakeholders—employees, partners, vendors, and customers alike. Now, as CEO of Big Chicken and Beer Park in Las Vegas, Josh channels all his energy, passion, and experience into the nationwide expansion of these dining concepts. He is always eager to connect with individuals who share his passion for business growth, talent development, and exploring new possibilities.
Gregg Majewski has a vast amount of experience as a corporate executive in the restaurant industry. As the former CEO of Jimmy John’s, he played a major role in expanding the franchise from 33 to 300+ stores in just 5 years by surrounding the company’s marketing strategy around the innovative approach of delivering sandwiches and being “freaky fast”. Majewski has worked to develop restaurant concepts over the last two plus decades, before starting Craveworthy Brands in 2023, which currently includes a growing portfolio of restaurant brands. Craveworthy Media is Majewski’s gift back to the industry that has given him so much. The goal of Craveworthy is to inspire the up and coming industry leaders by providing important information, stories, and insights from titans past and present.
Do you know someone who would be great on this show? Let us know by emailing us at roomforsecondspodcast@gmail.com or sending a DM on social media @craveworthybrands
Room for Seconds is produced and published by Cali BBQ Media on behalf of Craveworthy Brands