Army Veteran Wins Franchise License in PJ’s Coffee Annual Giveaway

Knoxville resident awarded New Orleans-born coffeehouse franchise; former winners celebrate milestones

New Orleans, LA  (RestaurantNews.com)  In a nod to the nation’s veterans, PJ’s Coffee has named U.S. Army veteran Dustin Mathews as the winner of its eighth annual Veteran Franchise License Giveaway.

Mathews, originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, in 2019 after a remarkable military and civilian career. After enlisting in the U.S. Army in 2007, Mathews served in Germany and completed multiple combat deployments. Transitioning out of active duty in 2012, he joined the Louisiana National Guard, worked as an electrician in oil refineries and earned an associate degree in instrumentation and controls. Mathews later achieved a bachelor’s in biblical and theological studies with aspirations of becoming a chaplain. To date, Mathews has found success as a general contractor while raising seven children with his wife, Candace, and welcoming their first grandchild this year.

“Joining the PJ’s Coffee family is more than an opportunity — it’s a privilege to join a brand that values veterans,” said Mathews. “This brand represents the values that I’ve built my life on: hard work, community and resilience. My family and I can’t wait to bring PJ’s Coffee to Knoxville and create a space that serves our neighbors in more ways than one.”

The Veteran Franchise License Giveaway, launched in 2017, exemplifies PJ’s Coffee’s commitment to giving back to those who have served. The program awards one veteran each year with a waived $35,000 franchise fee, paving the way for business ownership.

Mathews joins a growing roster of successful veteran franchisees. Bobby Mounts, the 2021 giveaway winner, is preparing to open his second PJ’s Coffee location this December. Last year’s winner Rob Smith recently signed the lease for his first location in Maryland, a rapidly expanding market for PJ’s Coffee, bringing more of the brand’s signature blend of community and hospitality to the East Coast.

“Dustin’s story is a testament to the perseverance, leadership and grit that veterans bring to the table,” said PJ’s Coffee VP of Franchise Development Ryan Stansbury. “Veterans like Dustin bring unparalleled resilience and a commitment to bettering his community, making them invaluable partners in growing our brand. We are honored to support his journey and welcome him to the PJ’s Coffee family.”

Through its membership in the International Franchise Association’s VetFran program, PJ’s Coffee is dedicated to empowering veterans with tools, resources and opportunities to succeed in franchising. Additionally, the brand offers veterans a year-round 20% discount on franchise fees.

To learn more about PJ’s Coffee and franchise opportunities for veterans, visit PJsFranchise.com/why-us/veterans.

About PJ’s Coffee

Phyllis Jordan, a pioneer in the coffee industry, founded PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans in 1978 and demonstrated that better beans, superior roasting techniques and pure passion for the art of coffee making mattered. In 2008, the company was purchased by New Orleans natives and brothers Paul, Steven, and Scott Ballard. PJ’s Coffee serves a wide variety of hot, iced and frozen coffee beverages using only the best quality Arabica coffee beans, as well as organic tea and fresh breakfast pastries. PJ’s Original Cold Brew Iced Coffee is brewed daily using a special cold-drip process that protects the flavor and strength of the beans while producing a coffee that is two-thirds less acidic – a process and technique developed by its founder and used for more than 45 years at all PJ’s locations. Bags of whole-bean coffee and single-serve cups of PJ’s Coffee are available for sale in-store and online. With more than 185 operating stores, including four international locations, PJ’s Coffee continues to grow in the U.S. and abroad. For more information, visit PJsCoffee.com or follow PJ’s Coffee on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Contact:
Tiffany Martinez
Champion
817-919-6261
tmartinez@championmgt.com

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