El Jannah: Adam Issa on challenging everything and the truth behind Sydney's chicken wars

Adam Issa is the Chief Marketing Officer of El Jannah and takes a seat at the table today to share how a single charcoal chicken shop in Granville grew into one of Australia’s most iconic quick service brands. From its Lebanese family roots in 1998 to more than 50 locations nationwide, with plans for 100 stores by 2027, Adam unpacks the strategy behind scaling a business that now produces over 20 tonnes of garlic sauce every single week. Joining the brand when it had around 25 stores, Adam has helped lead a period of rapid expansion, modern marketing evolution and operational transformation, all while protecting the family values and community connection that built the cult following in the first place. This is a conversation about balancing speed with quality, redefining customer experience in QSR, and growing without losing the magic that made El Jannah famous. You’ll also hear: Why El Jannah produces over 20 tonnes of garlic sauce every week How the El Jannah Way codifies Lebanese hospitality at scale The reality of cooking 100,000 chickens a week over charcoal Why loyalty has outperformed every other marketing channel How launching an app in three months changed the growth trajectory And what Adam would have done differently back in 1998 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.