West Coast Sourdough scales past 50 stores with young executive team

West Coast Sourdough says a 34-year-old CEO and 24-year-old CFO are driving the fast-casual franchise’s national expansion, including growth in Texas and Georgia. The brand has more than 50 operating locations, over 80 units in development, and a place on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500.

Why it matters: - West Coast Sourdough is expanding as fast-casual franchising gets more competitive nationwide. - The brand’s growth shows that younger operators can scale a restaurant franchise when they bring family experience, systems discipline and a clear product identity. - More than 120 locations are now open or in development, giving the chain broader national reach.

What happened: - West Coast Sourdough said its executive team includes a 34-year-old CEO and a 24-year-old CFO. - The company has passed 50 operating locations and has more than 80 additional units in development. - Entrepreneur Magazine included West Coast Sourdough in its Franchise 500 and named it one of the Top 24 New and Emerging Franchises. - The brand expanded into Texas and announced a multi-unit franchise agreement in Georgia.

The details: - Both leaders grew up in restaurant families and learned kitchen operations, supply chain management, customer service and financial planning. - West Coast Sourdough’s franchise model is built around efficiency and consistency. - The menu centers on premium deli sandwiches made with signature sourdough bread. - Soups, salads and sides round out the offering. - The brand aims to appeal to both experienced multi-unit operators and first-time franchise owners. - The company says each market entry is being handled with disciplined expansion and operational care. - The company’s LinkedIn page, Instagram account and Facebook page were listed in the release.

Between the lines: - The age of the executive team is being used as part of the brand story, but the real business signal is execution. - The combination of a simple menu, repeatable operations and franchise appeal is what makes the concept scalable. - Texas and Georgia suggest West Coast Sourdough is targeting large, competitive markets rather than slow, incremental expansion.

What’s next: - West Coast Sourdough is focused on adding more locations across the U.S. - The company is likely to keep pursuing multi-unit franchise deals as it pushes into new regions. - The brand’s next test will be maintaining food quality and unit economics as the system grows.