The Seven Brothers Story: How Faith and Family Built a Burger Empire

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In this episode of The Bottom Line, Naki Soyturk speaks with Seth and
Shem Hannemann of Seven Brothers Burgers—a family-run restaurant born in Laie, Hawaii, that’s now spreading the spirit of aloha across the mainland U.S. The brothers share how their father’s uncompromising vision for quality and their family's deep-rooted faith turned a tiny, "hole-in-the-wall" spot into a beloved, fast-growing brand. 

We dive into how Seven Brothers balances sacred family values with scalable business systems, what makes their & "Ohana" culture so powerful, and how they maintain quality and connection while expanding into markets like Utah and Arizona. If you'r looking for proof that authentic purpose and smart hustle can grow a business, this episode delivers.

Seven Brothers's Links:

• Website: https://www.sevenbrothersburgers.com
• Instagram: @sevenbrothersburgers

What You’ll Learn
 How Seven Brothers grew from a single surf-town burger shop, bought on a whim by their father, to a national brand.
 The role of faith and family values in building a resilient team culture.
 The "Five Points of Contact" they use to create an unforgettable, high-touch guest experience in a fast-casual setting.
 How they turn a cashier into the most coveted, customer-facing role in the
restaurant.
 Their unique hiring and training approach that starts with prayer and
unapologetically shares their core principles upfront.
 How former college-student employees have become their most successful
franchisees.
 How they evaluate new markets and build community support from the ground up.

• 00:00 – Meet Seth & Shem: The Seven Brothers Origin Story
• 05:45 – "It Has to All Be About the Food": The Uncompromising Vision of Their Father
• 10:24 – The Foundation: How Faith and Service Create a 4.9-Star Experience
• 14:10 – "More Than a Meal": Building a Culture of Ohana (Family)
• 18:15 – The 5 Points of Contact & Training Employees to be "Disney Princesses"
• 21:50 – The Hiring Process: Finding People Who Align with the Mission
• 28:45 – The Path to Ownership: How Employees Become Franchisees
• 39:00 – Why Human Connection Wins in a World of Kiosks and AI
• 47:30 – How to Deliver Hospitality Through a Drive-Thru or Delivery Bag
• 52:25 – The Next Level of Service: Using a Guest's Name to Change the Game
• 1:03:30 – Bottlenecks & Growth: A Q&A on Marketing and Operations

Welcome to The Bottom Line – the real talk podcast about restaurant profit and growth. Each episode, we explore the decisions, systems, and stories behind the most successful food businesses out there in the market. No fluff. No hype. Just real operators, real challenges, and real advice from people who know how to get results. Let's get to The Bottom Line.

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Connect with Naki on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ufuksoyturk/