Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Reader.
Hi Nick, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started PDQ with Bob Basham in 2011 after visiting Tenders in North Carolina. With three boys who are all active in school and sports and my wife being a school teacher, we found ourselves using drive-thrus way more than any other point in our lives. We noticed that there was a large void in fast food options that served quality, non-processed foods that our super fit friends would shame me for eating and feeding to my children. It was then that we realized we wanted to start a restaurant that served food that we could be proud of and would be willing to serve at home to our families. At PDQ, we believe that food should be fresh, fast and affordable and we continuously work to achieve that goal.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road, but having bumps along the way has allowed us to learn and grow. We’ve figured out what works for our brand and what doesn’t. From streamlining our menu to our labor model and even real estate decisions, we have spent the last ten years fine-tuning the brand with our People and the Guest always the focus. Unfortunately, the best learnings in life come from making mistakes, so fortunately, I have made mistakes as the founder and CEO, but our team has been resilient and learned and gotten better for it.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As the CEO of PDQ, I have the opportunity to wear many hats. Previously, I was the CFO of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which was an incredibly rewarding experience and helped prepare me for this role. One of my favorite things about my role at PDQ is being able to interact and visit our Team Members at all 58 locations. I am most proud of knowing that we have authenticity among our team members, which can be seen in the way they interact with our guests and each other.
I believe that what sets me apart from others is recognizing that not every Team Member aspires to become a PDQ manager. For some, it is a short-term job to get some extra spending money; for others, it is a job to put food on the table. I try to get to know all of our Team Members I can and learn what they’re passionate about and how PDQ can help them reach their professional and personal goals. To me, being able to provide a path to improvement in life for our team is the best part of the job.
What does success mean to you?
I define success by my family and being a founder of PDQ is like a fourth child. Success is knowing what you do well and what you don’t do well. In order to be successful, you have to learn, grow, and even fail. It does not happen overnight and it will not last forever; it is always a work in progress. For PDQ, success is knowing that our culture and food are as good as they can be all of the time, but also realizing you can always be better and challenge yourself from being content. We are People Dedicated to Quality and being proud of what we serve and represent is the biggest success we could ever ask for.
Pricing:
- Combo Meals start at $7.99
- Tenders start at $4.99
- Sandwiches start at $4.99
- Salads start at $8.49
- Hand Spun Shakes $3.29 (small), $4.29 (regular)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eatpdq.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pdqfreshfood/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/PDQFreshFood
