Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue I, 2016 | Page 26

BY HELEN BOND

Living the Dream
Yaron Goldman targets $100 million in 2016

A

s a kid growing up in New Orleans, Yaron Goldman dreamed
of owning a restaurant.
“I have always enjoyed cooking,
ever since I was a child,” says Goldman,
who grew up to become the second largest franchisee of McAlister’s Deli. “My
sister and I used to cook all the time,
and there is nothing better than serving
someone a great meal.”
These days, Goldman is dishing up
even loftier dreams. His strategic growth
plan includes 2016 revenue projection in
excess of $100 million and the addition of
three more brands in the next 10 years.
His company, SD Holdings, operates 59
McAlister’s Delis in North and South
Carolina, Missouri, Colorado, and Wyoming, along with 3 units of the rapidly
growing MOD Pizza brand.
Goldman started with McAlister’s in
1996 in Tuscaloosa, when he took a job
making sandwiches to earn extra cash
while attending the University of Alabama. Three months later, he was tapped
to work full time managing the restaurant.
“I just loved the job from day one,”
says Goldman, who went on to earn an
MBA at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. “I had always worked,
but never looked forward to coming to
work until I got that job.” He eventually partnered with the people who had
NAME: Yaron Goldman
TITLE: CEO
COMPANY: Southern Deli

Holdings/SD Holdings
NO. OF UNITS: 59 McAlister’s

Deli, 3 MOD Pizza
AGE: 41
FAMILY: Married
YEARS IN FRANCHISING: 16
YEARS IN CURRENT POSITION: 16

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