David Farkas Illustration by Jonathan Hankin
When we spoke by phone in mid-January, Greg Flynn was sauntering through the gingko tree-lined vineyards of Far Nientse, a Napa Valley winery. The 57-year-old CEO and founder of Flynn Restaurant Group lives nearby. The main topic of conversation was how FRG would manage the 1,100 Wendyâs and Pizza Huts it acquired from bankrupt NPC International in Decemberâs $550 million deal. It made the multi-unit operator the countryâs largest franchisee, now overseeing 2,350 restaurants spread among six brands (Applebeeâs, Arbyâs, Panera Bread, and Taco Bell, Wendyâs and Pizza Hut). But first, with the presidential election so recently in mind, I asked Flynn about his politics.Â