Impressed by the family culture ingrained in Island Fin Poké, Matthew Gustafson and his business partner opened their Spring, Texas, location in January 2021. While the co-owners have business backgrounds from their previous corporate lives, and Gustafson grew up in the restaurant industry, they both found the fast-casual concept refreshing and unique. By Brianna Bohn
Impressed by the family culture ingrained in Island Fin Poké, Matthew Gustafson and his business partner opened their Spring, Texas, location in January 2021. While the co-owners have business backgrounds from their previous corporate lives, and Gustafson grew up in the restaurant industry, they both found the fast-casual concept refreshing and unique, much like the spicy tuna on the menu.
“The ‘ohana’ mindset and the overall vibe are what we were looking for. We really liked the culture that Mark created with his family working there and wanted something our families could do together and grow into as our kids get older,” Gustafson explained about the brand’s dynamic, created by Co-founder and CEO Mark Setterington.
With their varied backgrounds, Gustafson and his business partner bring a lot to the table, and they’re grateful that Setterington actively collaborates with them, as well as other franchisees, to keep the business fresh and thriving.
Continuing the brand’s goal to stay energized and promote family culture, Island Fin Poké held its second annual national franchise conference in September at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The three-day event featured keynote speaker Amy Bosley, introduced Island Fin Poké’s new marketing partner, Innovision, and highlighted topics about business management and partnerships.
Setterington explained that the well-received conference focused on a unified brand vision and served as a reminder to franchisees of the supportive team they have behind them. “We host this conference not only to inspire and motivate but also to make sure the franchise community knows that they are not alone,” he said. “The guest experience cannot exceed the franchisee’s experience; as a support center, we try our best to treat every franchisee exactly the way we would treat our guests. We are family, we are here for support and we are here for each other’s success.”
Matt McNulty, co-owner of the St. Petersburg, Florida, location with his wife, Stephanie, and area representative for the west coast of Florida, shared that the conference has encouraged them to grow their already-successful business. “This year’s conference was exceptional. The energy was contagious, and we left feeling very excited and with a lot of ideas to incorporate into our strategy,” he said. The St. Petersburg team won the award for best guest service at the conference, and the McNultys thanked Setterington and his team for their “unwavering commitment to the success of the brand.”
Like their fellow franchisees, Gustafson and his business partner feel supported in everything they do. “Support for us is tremendous,” he said. “We have marketing assistance, franchise business coaching, and operational people who have been open to anything we need; it doesn’t matter what time we call, they answer every time, even if it is as small as something not printing correctly on the register.”
Of course, the brand’s positive dynamic extends well beyond its surf-shack-themed walls. Franchisees spread aloha by getting involved in community events, including giving away samples at grand openings for local stores and collecting non-perishable food items to donate to food pantries helping those impacted by Hurricane Ian.
All of these factors make the McNultys and the Spring, Texas, co-owners proud and excited to build a legacy with the brand. “We have kids, and it’s awesome to do something that’s yours and requires hard work and tenacity. It’s amazing to show something to our kids that they wouldn’t get if we just worked our corporate jobs. Challenge yourself to do what makes you happy,” Gustafson said.
Brianna Bohn