Speakers

Larry Hodes heads up Grow Franchise & Retail Business Coaching, where he works with franchise and multi-store brands to scale sustainably and lead with clarity in complex environments.

He brings more than 30 years of business experience, including 35 years in restaurants and hospitality. Larry has operated at every level of the industry, from serving as Restaurant Operations Manager at The Palace, Sun City, to leading Learning & Development at Mugg & Bean during its expansion from 30 to over 120 stores, and later as HR Director at Compass Group South Africa, now called Empact.

As an entrepreneur, he has owned, scaled and exited multiple hospitality businesses including Mugg & Bean, Milky Lane, Stanley Beer Yard, Calexico, Voodoo Lily, Gourmet Grocer and Coffee Roastery. He currently owns and runs Arbour Café in Johannesburg.

His work today focuses on helping leaders cut through noise, think strategically, and build businesses that are operationally strong and culturally aligned. He has partnered with brands such as Nando’s, Spur Group, Famous Brands, Nedbank, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Sorbet, Grant Thornton and Liberty Life, guiding teams through growth, change and disciplined execution.