{"id":17887,"date":"2020-11-17T02:50:15","date_gmt":"2020-11-17T08:50:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=17887"},"modified":"2020-11-17T02:53:39","modified_gmt":"2020-11-17T08:53:39","slug":"former-1st-round-8-overall-picknba-player-junior-bridgeman-building-a-fortune-in-the-franchise-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=17887","title":{"rendered":"Former 1st Round (#8 overall pick)NBA player Junior Bridgeman Building A Fortune In The Franchise Business"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Original Story As Published On Franchise Times<\/strong><\/p>\n

A story that recently caught our attention as franchise consultants, had to do with Junior Bridgeman, a former NBA player who not only made a name for himself on the basketball court, but has continued to shine in the business world through franchising.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bridgeman played for both the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Clippers until his retirement in 1987. Some might say that\u2019s where the real work began as he built his fortune in the restaurant business.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Always looking over his shoulder while playing to life after basketball, he literally hit the business floor running by purchasing a handful of Wendy\u2019s franchise restaurants. His holding company, Manna Inc, now operates more than 160 Wendy\u2019s stores and well over 100 Chili\u2019s restaurants.<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, a staggering $507 million in revenue doesn\u2019t come without hard work and an understanding that in the restaurant franchising business, hands-on experience and a love of people are key.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In fact, Bridgeman has passed his tireless work ethic on to his children both at home and in the business world. Each of the three are determined to make their mark the same way, with focused determination and hands-on experience.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As most franchise consultants will confirm, franchising is hard work. However, the payoff both in dollars and job satisfaction can be literally unlimited, as Bridgeman has shown over the years. In fact, he recently made the comment that being a franchisee isn\u2019t like sitting on the basketball bench and collecting a paycheck. In fact, a franchisor can only train you how to run a restaurant. Learning to run a business just might take more.<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to Junior, learning how to run a business means getting the hands dirty at the lowest levels as he often has with 12-14 hour days and tours at the cash register in the early days. In fact, his children have never been immune to cleaning bathrooms in the family business. Learning a franchise business from the ground up includes time on the clock at all positions for many, especially the Bridgeman family.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Certainly, both customers and employees can be both challenging and stressful. However, Bridgeman still claims that people make the difference\u2026.they can be both the greatest challenge and the greatest reward. His son, Justin, claims that he loves the entire experience of people coming together around food\u2026it\u2019s what \u201cmakes life\u201d for him.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Justin also loves the unique challenge of growing a franchise business, particularly, the problem solving aspect of operations. In most cases, individual franchise operators might not be able to say, alter a menu, but they can certainly alter a location\u2019s atmosphere to help grow the business.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speaking of people, teamwork in franchising has not only served the Bridgemans to date, but when the three children eventually do take over the business Junior has built it will remain a vital part of the succession plan. Each has already identified a role to focus on, and each recognizes the other siblings strength in the business long term.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aside from their recognition of each other from marketing to operations, rewards with employee interaction remain key. Bridgeman believes that you hire good people, give them a vision, jobs and opportunities\u2026.the satisfaction of the entire process far outweighs the resulting money for him.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Running a franchise business for Bridgeman has been a lifestyle that has obviously touched his family as they continue to move forward. Someday, the Bridgeman kids will take their father\u2019s passion and work ethic on without him. Until then, he\u2019s having too much fun.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Junior Bridgeman makes deal with Coca-Cola, divesting Wendy\u2019s franchises<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n
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Ulysses \u201cJunior\u201d Bridgeman is refreshing his business model by trading in burgers and fries for a stake in The Coca-Cola Company<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Coca-Cola Company is refranchising its North American bottling operations, according to a news release, and Bridgeman is becoming one of three independent Coca-Cola bottlers in the United States.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are excited about the opportunity to become a part of the Coca-Cola bottling and distribution system,\u201d Bridgeman said in an emailed statement. \u201cWe look forward to the many possibilities that this new venture brings, as well as the new colleagues and friends to be made in these territories.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bridgeman has signed a letter of intent to acquire territory in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas and Nebraska from The Coca-Cola Company, as well as a production facility in Lenexa, Kansas, according to the release.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe continue to make great progress in refranchising,\u201d J. Alexander Douglas Jr., president of Coca-Cola North America, said in the release. \u201cThese bottlers are investing in the future of the Coca-Cola system.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thus far, The Coca-Cola Company has refranchised or received signed letters of intent to refranchise about half of its bottle distribution business in North America.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bridgeman owns Louisville-based restaurant company Manna Inc. He is well known as a former University of Louisville basketball player and NBA sixth man for the Milwaukee Bucks, but after retiring from professional sports, the humble and quiet Bridgeman became an entrepreneur, investing as a franchisee in Wendy\u2019s first, followed by brands including Chili\u2019s, Mark\u2019s Feed Store, Perkins Restaurant and Bakery, and Fazoli\u2019s. He also owns Napa River Grill in Westport Village and the newly opened BirraCibo<\/a> at Fourth Street Live.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The release notes that Bridgeman will relinquish his restaurant holdings in order to focus on building the Coco-Cola business. It\u2019s unclear exactly how many restaurants Bridgeman currently owns, but according to Bridgeman Hospitality Group\u2019s website<\/a>, he owned 360 restaurants in 16 states in late 2013. Bridgeman Hospitality Group is a subsidiary of Manna Inc.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is unknown if he will divest all his restaurant holdings or simply his national franchises. It also is unclear if he will sell the restaurants to other franchisees or hand the reins over to his children; Justin, Ryan and Eden Bridgeman all work for various subsidiaries of Manna Inc.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bridgeman did not immediately return a call for comment about the business shakeup.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is apparent from the release, however, that Justin Bridgeman will lead the Coca-Cola distribution business with his father.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Ex-NBA player Bridgeman ups his game with acquisition of Coca-Cola’s Canadian bottling ops<\/strong>\u00a0<\/a> <\/strong><\/h1>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Ulysses<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman, a former NBA player, has upped his game in the Coca-Cola bottling business.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n