On the surface, Amol Kohli’s career path is the definition of impressive and unconventional. In 2003, he launched his career as a server at a Friendly’s restaurant in the Philadelphia suburbs. He made a princely $5 an hour. At the time, he was a very restless sophomore in high school, just attempting to balance his dreams and duties. Eager to leave behind the volatile restaurant industry, Kohli today proudly owns all of the Friendly’s brand. He purchased it through his other investment group Legacy Brands International.
Kohli’s first job at Friendly’s was a kind of catchall position, doing whatever his manager needed him to do. His drive and desire to soak up every bit of knowledge was the groundwork for a bright future in the restaurant business. After graduating with honors from his public charter high school in 2011, he could’ve gone on to a career in finance. Kohli moved in the other direction, accepting a regional manager assignment with Friendly’s. This decision paved the way for his later achievements.
Through the late 1990s and early 2000s, Kohli continued to diversify his portfolio by franchising 31 Friendly’s locations. His commitment to the brand was unwavering, as he stated, “That’s how my franchising career started. From there, it just never stopped.” Victor fully immersed himself in the business, learning the ins and outs of operations and helping to mentor the other franchisees.
Kohli certainly proved he knew the business when he launched his investment firm, Legacy Brands International, in May 2021. It was his leadership and vision that made him truly exceptional. The group’s significant milestone came when it acquired Brix Holdings, the parent company of Friendly’s, finalizing the deal that included six other restaurant brands. This purchase was critical for Kohli, as it provided him with an even wider distribution channel into the food industry.
Today, his mission and his company have grown to include more than 250 restaurant locations. It includes recognizable brands such as Clean Juice, Orange Leaf, Red Mango, Smoothie Factory + Kitchen, Souper Salad and Humble Donut Co. Under Kohli’s leadership, his charge has gone beyond just growing his portfolio’s roster of brands, but modernizing the 4 brands that report to him. He’s attacking this effort on all fronts, including the recent overhaul of the Friendly’s mobile app.
Kohli has a deep respect for community and shared lived experiences that’s evident in the composition of his executive team. Many of the members started their careers as dishwashers and cooks. This illustrates the depth of his belief that the restaurant industry is the industry for everyone. As he puts it: “This is one of the few [industries] in the entire world that you can literally start from that level and work your way up to a CEO or executive.”
The financial side of the operation is not easy, even at a restaurant. Kohli estimated that licensing, contracting, and equipment costs to open a store typically amount to “a quarter of a million dollars.” He financed these costs in large part through a mix of personal credit, savings, grants from friends and business partners, which he deftly juggled.
In traversing his path from waiter to CEO, Kohli is quick to attribute a broad set of factors for his success. He stated that the creation of Legacy Brands International was the result of “a combination of a lot of stars aligning, the right people supporting, faith, and a lot of goodwill that all got cashed in at one time.” This combination of laser beam strategic planning and community backing has made all the difference in his skyrocketing rise up the ranks of the industry.
Whether they are dreamers or doers, Kohli’s story will inspire the next generation of talent hoping to break into the new restaurant industry. His grit, ingenuity, hustle and creativity illustrate just how far one can go in a field that is commonly viewed as a low-skilled job. As he continues to modernize and expand his brands, Kohli remains dedicated to fostering opportunities for others along their career paths.