Many people view their dogs as more than just pets — they see them as family members. So when they bring them to the groomer, they want to be sure they’re well cared for. And many dog owners are willing to pay a premium for that kind of certainty.
Ricardo Azevedo is the CEO of Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, America’s largest premium pet brand. Since joining in 2022, Ricardo has led the company from 150 locations to more than 330, adding five to eight new stores every month.
Prior to Woof Gang, Azevedo held senior leadership roles at Restaurant Brands International, where he worked across iconic brands, including Tim Hortons and Burger King.
Today, we talk to Ricardo about how his QSR experience translated to the pet space, what it takes to scale a franchise brand sustainably, and why the grooming industry is ripe for a dominant national player.
Highlights:
- A decade at RBI (1:30)
- Inside Woof Gang (4:40)
- The white space in grooming (7:00)
- Footprint, growth, and real estate (9:30)
- Building the infrastructure (13:30)
- Restaurants vs. services (17:00)
- Selecting franchisees (18:30)
- Protecting brand standards (22:00)
- The pet industry today (24:00)
- Goals for ‘26 into ‘27 (28:20)
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If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you’d like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, joe@lowerstreet.co.
