We just returned from the Industry Now Summit, an incredible deep dive into the future of tech and AI in the QSR and fast-casual space. The panels, conversations, and demos were packed with insight, and while I walked away feeling inspired, I also walked away with something else—clarity about just how overwhelming this part of the journey can be.
As an emerging brand, it’s tough to decipher which tools belong in your tech stack and which are noise—especially when you’re scaling fast and every dollar matters. You want to be smart, forward-thinking, and efficient, but you also want to stay focused on the fundamentals: great food, great service, and consistent execution. We’re taking it all in and making careful, strategic decisions—but it’s a reminder that growth isn’t always about speed, sometimes it’s about precision.
And speaking of growth—we’re right in the thick of executing two full-scale marketing rollouts for our next two Ghost Taco franchise openings, which are scheduled just one week apart. It’s exciting. It’s exhausting. And it’s exactly the kind of momentum we’ve been building toward. Each plan is tailored to the market, the community, and the operator. We’re not just opening locations—we’re launching local engagement strategies that go beyond opening day.
In the middle of all this, we’re also about to celebrate the one-year anniversary of our first brick-and-mortar franchise in Peterborough. This one feels big. There’s something incredibly validating about reaching that one-year mark—because now, the guessing stops and the data starts talking. We finally have real numbers to work with. Now comes the time for proper projections, mapping, and strategic scaling—not based on assumptions, but on lived experience and actual performance. This is where we sharpen everything for what comes next.
And in a full-circle personal moment, I’m honoured to share that I was just named to the Top 40 Under 40 by the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce, right in the community where we opened our flagship store. To be recognized locally, in the town where this dream turned into a brick-and-mortar reality, is incredibly meaningful. It’s a reminder that while we have national ambitions (and soon, international ones), we’ll always be rooted in where we started—and grateful for the support that helped get us here.
It’s a lot. It’s layered. But this is what building a brand looks like. And we’re not slowing down anytime soon.
