Full Course CEO Lauren Fernandez Joins Stuckey’s CEO Stephanie Stuckey to Explore the Story Behind one of America’s Most Iconic Brands
WHAT:
As the first and only accelerator and incubator of early-stage food brands, Full Course is hosting its next complimentary Rising Tide webinar: “Stuckey’s Epic Comeback: How an Iconic American Brand Reinvented Itself for Modern Times” on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 4 p.m. The event will feature a compelling interview between Full Course CEO Lauren Fernandez and Stephanie Stuckey, the dynamic CEO of Stuckey’s.
Since its humble beginnings as a roadside pecan stand in Eastman, Georgia, in 1937, Stuckey’s grew to national prominence as an American road trip empire with 368 stores in more than 30 states during the 1960s and 1970s. After a decline in business and a brief rebound, Stuckey’s closed its Eastman pecan plant during the 2009 recession. In 2019, Stephanie Stuckey, the granddaughter of founder WS “Sylvester” Stuckey, Sr., took over as CEO. Today, Stuckey’s boasts 50 licensed locations, more than 5,000 retailers, a food manufacturing facility and distribution center and a pecan and candy plant to make Stuckey’s products including its iconic pecan log.
Renowned for her leadership, Stuckey will share valuable insights into relaunching and reinventing a brand, building a team, personal branding strategies and the art of storytelling in building a powerful brand identity (“Now-stalgia” vs. Nostalgia). The interview also will touch upon capital sourcing, with a discussion on scaling, navigating capital options and the nuances of debt versus equity.
As a special highlight at the end of the webinar, Stuckey will offer presales of her upcoming book “UnStuck: Rebirth of an American Icon,” adding an exciting opportunity for attendees to delve deeper into her experiences and wisdom.
Full Course’s monthly one-hour Rising Tide seminars invite all restaurant, food business and guest service professionals to learn about the latest trends, tools and best practices in the industry today. The seminars are designed to help restaurant industry professionals grow and scale their businesses because a rising tide lifts all boats.
Those interested should sign up in advance.
WHEN:
Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024
4-5 p.m. EST
WHERE:
Zoom
About Full Course
Full Course is the industry’s first and only incubator and accelerator of early-stage food brands. The company partners with restaurants in the early stages of development and helps them tell their stories by optimizing operations, developing strategies for sustainable growth and connecting owners or chefs with the right investors or franchise partners. Full Course Founder and CEO Lauren Fernandez has spent almost 20 years in the food and beverage industry, first as general counsel and head of franchise administration for a large company with more than 4,000 restaurants in over 15 countries, and then as an operator of a successful restaurant group. Fernandez was recently named to the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 50 Most Influential Latinos list, the Association of Latino Professionals for America Latinas to Watch list and Nation’s Restaurant News Power List. By providing support and expertise to burgeoning restaurant brands on the front end, Full Course is setting up a strong foundation for growth for them and their potential investors, from which they can successfully realize their dreams. Learn more at fullcourse.com.
