WOWorks announced two leadership appointments on May 28, 2026, naming James Walker chief growth officer and promoting existing franchisee Nolan Woods to chief operations officer.
According to the leadership announcement, Walker will oversee market expansion and franchise recruitment across the six-brand portfolio. Woods will lead franchise and company operations, training and development, and guest service. The responsibilities connect the recruitment of new owners with the work needed to support restaurants after they open.
The company identifies Woods as its senior vice president of operations before the promotion, as well as an existing franchisee. Walker brings senior experience at Nathan's Famous, Baja Fresh, Cinnabon and Subway. WOWorks describes the group as nearly 240 restaurants under Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, The Simple Greek, Barberitos and Zoup! Eatery.
Woods brings experience on the owner's side of the franchise relationship. The company does not identify his restaurants or provide results measuring the effect of that experience.
More than one route to an additional restaurant#
WOWorks expanded through both new locations and co-branding during 2025. In its January 27 recap of 2025, the company reported 24 new restaurant locations, 40 signed franchise agreements and 10 co-branded restaurants. These categories should not be added together as a count of completed openings.
A Saladworks and Frutta Bowls restaurant in Laredo, Texas, opened in March 2025, according to the recap. The combination brought salads, wraps, açaí bowls and smoothies into one location. WOWorks also described adding Frutta Bowls to selected Saladworks and Barberitos restaurants, with further expansion planned.
Co-branding creates a direct connection between development and operating support. A franchise opportunity can involve introducing another menu into a location, rather than finding a completely separate site. That changes the discussion about what the owner is committing to and what employees must execute.
The company reported positive traffic, sales and check effects from the format but provided no figures or restaurant-level profit comparison. Those claims establish management's enthusiasm for further rollout, not the return an individual franchisee can expect from a specific pairing.
The growth office already existed#
The growth position was already part of WOWorks' executive structure. On September 5, 2024, WOWorks announced Steve Corp as chief growth officer and Joel Bulger as chief marketing officer. Both appointments took effect the previous day.
The September release described ghost kitchens, food trucks and grocery retail among the company's expansion channels. It placed conventional and nontraditional development within the same six-brand parent.
Corp's background included Dine Brands and Focus Brands/GoTo Foods. The company described his assignment in terms of franchise development, sales and relationships with owners. The May announcement does not say when or why Corp left that role.
Bulger brought a 25-year marketing career that included On The Border, Zaxby's, Johnny Rockets and Focus Brands/GoTo Foods. WOWorks connected his background to guest traffic and menu profitability. The earlier structure separated marketing from franchise growth. This helps place the current responsibilities: recruiting an owner, attracting a guest and supporting restaurant execution are related jobs with different immediate customers.
QSR Pro Staff
The QSR Pro editorial team covers the quick service restaurant industry with in-depth analysis, data-driven reporting, and operator-first perspective.
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