Teriyaki Madness, a 2026 Food On Demand Outstanding Operator, is in the midst of a major growth spurt, having opened its 200th location late last year and riding the momentum of a bet on tech that started nearly a decade ago.
Off-premises success is fueling the brand’s forward velocity, according to Jodi Boyce, TMAD’s chief marketing officer. She reported a majority (53 percent) of all orders originate digitally, and about 80 percent of food goes out the door through delivery, curbside, take-out and catering orders.
While many restaurant brands held off on significant investments in their off-prem operations until the Coronavirus pandemic commenced in 2020, TMAD took a different approach.
In 2016, Boyce said, the brand totaled about 40 locations, with an off-prem ecosystem limited to pick-up orders placed over the phone and to-go orders made at the counter. The focus on off-prem consumers picked up in 2017 with the launch of online and in-app ordering, and has guided TMAD’s trajectory since.
Jodi Boyce, Teriyaki Madness’s Chief Marketing Officer.
“We decided to jump in on technology pretty early, which we were really glad (for), because when COVID came around, we already had an app and online ordering, and we were completely integrated with third-party delivery,” Boyce said. “So, COVID didn’t really mess us up too much. We kind of thrived and took off since then. “
Since launching, TMAD’s loyalty program has grown to over one million people in its database, all organically acquired. The brand uses Punchh as its loyalty platform provider.
“It was a big change for the system,” Boyce said of implementing online ordering in 2017. “It was like flipping a switch overnight to add online ordering and an app and loyalty and integrations with delivery — all those pieces. But it has actually helped us sell more franchises having those integrations, because (for) people coming on board, it is impressive, especially for a brand our size, how much we invest into the tech side.”
TMAD’s tech initiatives did not stop with the app. The brand’s tech stack includes Olo for digital menu ordering integrated with Revel POS. On the back-of-house side of restaurants, Altametrics assists with inventory tracking, among other capabilities, while ProfitKeeper provides analytics to franchisees.
“First and foremost is the tech integrations,” Boyce said of steps taken to streamline the delivery and takeout operations. “We adopted that very early, and we actually won’t partner with anyone new unless they’re integrated into our systems, just because it’s so much more seamless for someone running a shop if it’s all in one system and they can see all their orders coming in.”
In 2020, while many brands in the industry invested further in their drive-thru operations, TMAD opted to lean into curbside pickup through Flybuy. When enabled by customers, the platform tracks guests to ensure their orders are prepared to align with their arrival times optimally.
“We were small and nimble, and we’ve never been backed by big investor groups or anything,” Boyce said. “So, we’ve grown very organic, very scrappy. We’re able to make our own decisions and choose our own path. I think that’s helped quite a bit.”
The last several years proved pivotal for the brand’s catering operations, with significant growth carrying into 2026.
“It was redone so that it’s our items that travel the best, the ones that are easiest to execute and the ones that are the best food cost for the franchisees,” Boyce said of TMAD catering. … “It’s most of our menu, but that has pretty much been our menu for the last five years, and we’re now looking at making a few tweaks to it, but nothing too major, because it’s working well.”
TMAD is planning for another year of expansion in 2026, with 54 restaurants slated to open, including a shop in the Las Vegas area that will test a drive-thru feature. Additionally, the brand has its sights not only focused forward, but also upward, with drone delivery testing anticipated for the near future.
The Outstanding Operators Program highlights 20 innovative brands taking creative paths to success with all things off-premises. Each winner receives a $1,000 charitable donation to their organization of choice and will be recognized on-stage at the 2026 Food On Demand Conference. Register today!
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