LONGMONT, CO — In a move signaling a major escalation in the competitive "coffee wars," Ziggi’s Coffee has officially appointed industry veteran Stacey Pool as its new Chief Growth Officer (CGO). The appointment, effective as of June 2026, comes at what the company describes as a "pivotal moment" in its decade-long franchising history. Pool, who previously served as the Chief Marketing Officer for FullSpeed Automotive and Noodles & Company, has been tasked with overseeing a massive developmental pipeline that aims to triple the brand’s current footprint.

As the coffee industry continues to shift toward high-efficiency, drive-thru-centric models, Ziggi’s Coffee is positioning itself to move from a regional powerhouse into a dominant national player. With 120 locations currently operational and a staggering 200 units in the development pipeline, Pool’s leadership will be the linchpin in the brand’s transition into its next phase of maturity.

Main Facts: A Strategic Hire for an Aggressive Pipeline

The recruitment of Stacey Pool represents a calculated shift in Ziggi’s executive strategy. By creating the role of Chief Growth Officer, the brand is integrating the traditionally separate silos of marketing, brand development, and real estate expansion. Pool’s primary mandate is to translate the brand’s existing momentum into a long-term, sustainable roadmap for national expansion.

The Growth Mandate

Currently, Ziggi’s Coffee operates 120 units across several states, with a heavy concentration in its home market of Colorado. However, the company’s internal data suggests that the brand is ready for a significant "leapfrog" in scale. The 200-unit pipeline is not merely a goal but an active roster of agreements and sites in various stages of development. If successfully executed, this expansion would bring the total store count to over 320, effectively tripling the brand’s size within the next few years.

The Role of the CGO

Unlike a traditional marketing executive, Pool’s role as CGO will encompass:

• Unit Development Strategy: Identifying high-value real estate and market opportunities that align with the brand’s demographic profile.
• Franchisee Profitability: Strengthening the economic model for individual operators to ensure that rapid growth does not come at the expense of store-level margins.
• Brand Loyalty Integration: Leveraging her background in digital marketing and guest experience to ensure that new market entries are met with immediate consumer adoption.

Chronology: From Local Favorite to Franchise Powerhouse

To understand the significance of Pool’s appointment, one must look at the rapid acceleration of the Ziggi’s brand over the last decade.

2016–2022: Foundations and Proof of Concept

Ziggi’s Coffee began as a small, community-focused coffee shop in Longmont, Colorado. After refining its drive-thru and café models, the company entered the franchise arena in 2016. For the first several years, growth was steady and focused primarily on the Rocky Mountain region. By the start of 2023, the brand had reached a respectable milestone of 65 units.

2023–2025: The Acceleration Phase

The post-pandemic landscape proved to be a catalyst for Ziggi’s. Between early 2023 and the end of 2025, the brand nearly doubled its footprint.

• January 2023: 65 units operational.
• December 2025: 115 units operational, including 107 franchised locations and 8 company-owned stores.
• June 2026: Stacey Pool officially joins the team as the brand hits the 120-unit mark.

The Stacey Pool Era

Pool arrives at Ziggi’s with a pedigree of scaling complex, multi-unit systems. Her four-year tenure at Noodles & Company (ending in 2024) was marked by a significant overhaul of the brand’s digital loyalty program and a stabilization of guest traffic during a volatile period for fast-casual dining. Prior to that, her nine-year stint at Vail Resorts provided her with deep insights into premium branding and "experience-led" growth. Her most recent role at FullSpeed Automotive involved managing a massive 900-unit franchised system, giving her the "big system" experience necessary to lead Ziggi’s through its current growth spurt.

Supporting Data: Navigating a Crowded Coffee Landscape

The U.S. coffee market is currently undergoing a "Gold Rush" of drive-thru expansion, and Ziggi’s is competing against some of the fastest-growing names in the beverage industry. The data highlights the scale of the challenge and the opportunity.

The Competitive Context

Ziggi’s is part of a "challenger" cohort that is attempting to take market share from traditional giants like Starbucks and Dunkin’.

• Dutch Bros: The industry bellwether recently reported having over 1,100 units, having opened 41 new shops in Q1 2026 alone.
• Scooter’s Coffee: This brand has seen explosive growth, moving from 555 units at the start of 2023 to over 900 by the end of 2025.
• 7 Brew: A relative newcomer that surpassed 700 units in early 2026 and is on pace to hit the 1,000-unit milestone by the end of this year.

The Ziggi’s Advantage

While competitors like Dutch Bros and 7 Brew focus on high-volume, "vibe-centric" drive-thrus, Ziggi’s has carved out a niche by offering a broader menu that includes a robust food program and a variety of specialized energy drinks (Ziggi’s Energy).

The data from Ziggi’s 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) reveals a healthy franchise-to-corporate ratio. With 107 of its 115 units (at year-end 2025) being franchised, the company’s capital-light model allows for the rapid deployment of the 200-unit pipeline. However, the heavy concentration in Colorado (54 locations) suggests that the most significant growth will come from "greenfield" markets where the brand does not yet have a presence.

Official Responses: A Vision for Scalable Connection

In a statement released shortly after her appointment, Stacey Pool expressed a desire to protect the brand’s "special" culture while modernizing its growth engines.

"The founders have built something special—a differentiated brand, a loyal guest base, and a strong franchise foundation," Pool stated. "My focus is on building on that momentum to drive the next phase of growth: scaling the system thoughtfully, strengthening franchisee profitability, and deepening the connection guests have with Ziggi’s."

The company’s leadership echoed this sentiment, noting that the addition of a CGO is a prerequisite for moving into the "mid-tier" of national restaurant chains. An internal press release highlighted that Pool’s ability to "identify high-value opportunities and translate these into a long-term roadmap" was the primary factor in her selection.

Analysts suggest that Pool’s emphasis on "thoughtful scaling" is a direct response to the common pitfalls of rapid franchising, where quality control and franchisee support can sometimes lag behind store openings. By focusing on "store-level profitability" alongside "unit development," Pool is signaling to potential investors that Ziggi’s is prioritizing the health of its existing ecosystem as it expands.

Implications: The Future of the Drive-Thru Economy

The appointment of Stacey Pool and the aggressive 200-unit pipeline at Ziggi’s Coffee carry several broader implications for the restaurant and franchise industries.

1. The Professionalization of the "Challenger" Brands

Ziggi’s move to hire an executive with experience at Vail Resorts and Noodles & Company shows that smaller coffee chains are no longer content with being regional players. They are recruiting "Blue Chip" talent to compete with the infrastructure of global corporations. This professionalization of leadership is a signal that the coffee segment is entering a consolidation phase where only the most sophisticated operators will survive.

2. The Dominance of the Drive-Thru Model

The fact that Ziggi’s growth is centered on a pipeline of 200 units—the majority of which are drive-thru models—reaffirms that the "convenience-first" trend is not a temporary post-pandemic shift but a permanent fixture of American consumer behavior. Pool’s background in branding will be essential in ensuring that these drive-thru interactions don’t become purely transactional, but rather "connection points" that foster long-term loyalty.

3. Geographic Diversification and Market Saturation

With 54 of its 120 stores in Colorado, Ziggi’s is currently "top-heavy" in its home state. The next 200 units will likely see the brand push into the Midwest, the Southeast, and potentially the West Coast. This geographic diversification will test the brand’s supply chain and marketing adaptability. Pool’s experience with FullSpeed Automotive’s 900-unit system will be critical here, as she understands the logistical complexities of supporting franchisees across multiple time zones and varying economic climates.

4. The Loyalty War

As coffee options proliferate, the battle for the consumer’s morning routine is being fought on mobile apps. Pool’s previous success in boosting brand growth through loyalty programs at Noodles & Company suggests that Ziggi’s will likely see a significant tech upgrade in the coming months. Expect to see a more personalized, data-driven rewards program designed to increase "frequency of visit" among its existing 120-unit base while onboarding new customers in expansion markets.

Conclusion

The appointment of Stacey Pool marks the beginning of a high-stakes chapter for Ziggi’s Coffee. With a mandate to triple the brand’s size and a 200-unit pipeline ready to be activated, the company is no longer just a Colorado success story; it is a national contender. By balancing aggressive unit growth with a focus on franchisee profitability and guest loyalty, Pool is tasked with ensuring that Ziggi’s maintains its "special" brand identity even as it scales to 300+ locations. In the rapidly evolving landscape of American coffee, Ziggi’s has made its move—now, the industry will watch to see how quickly those 200 units transition from the pipeline to the pavement.