Entrepreneurship is on the rise in Canada. According to an RBC poll, more people are seeking entrepreneurship as a path to career autonomy and financial security. Among the rising leaders of this movement is Ashley Malik, a 31-year-old multi-unit franchise operator of Little Caesars in Ontario, Canada. Ashley’s journey of inheriting her family’s business and guiding it into the modern age highlights her commitment to both innovation and the legacy her family built. Keeping her guests and team top-of-mind, Ashley is embracing modern practices and technologies to drive efficiency and guest satisfaction.
A Family Legacy with Little Caesars
Ashley Malik’s entrepreneurial background is deeply rooted in her family’s business legacy. Her father, Jon Malik, became a Little Caesars franchisee in 1986, setting the foundation for what would eventually become Malik Holdings, Inc. At 14 years old, Ashley began working part-time in the family’s restaurants. What started as a fun side job during her school years gradually evolved into a passion for the job and being around the people involved – both staff and repeat guests.
At 21, Ashley found herself overseeing seven Little Caesars locations as the Director of Operations—a significant leap in responsibility that shaped her trajectory as a business leader. Despite the common assumption that she had it easy as the daughter of a franchisee, Ashley faced the challenge of proving herself in a male-dominated industry. Determined to prove her capabilities, Ashley has earned her place as the Director of Operations, a role that perfectly suits her preference to work in a team environment and drive business growth.
Embracing Innovation for a New Era
Now, in her mid-30s, Ashley holds an integral position in running four Little Caesars locations—three in Barrie and one in Orillia. As her parents prepare to retire in May 2025, Ashley is stepping into a more prominent ownership role, steering the business into the future. She’s particularly enthusiastic about the cutting-edge Pizza Portal, which represents a revolutionary shift in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry.
The Pizza Portal, the first heated, self-service mobile pick-up station in the industry, has dramatically improved both efficiency and guest satisfaction at these Little Caesars restaurants. It allows guests to order ahead, skip the line, and pick up the pizza at their convenience. This technology has been a game-changer for Ashley’s locations, especially as online and mobile app ordering become more popular among consumers with busy lifestyles.
This level of advanced integration has helped set her restaurants apart, ensuring smooth operations even during peak hours. While older guests still prefer traditional ordering methods, younger, tech-savvy guests have wholeheartedly embraced the Pizza Portal – so much so that Ashley has plans to invest in additional portals to keep up with demand.
Building a Strong Team Culture
One of the critical components of Ashley’s success has been her ability to foster a strong team culture. Her restaurants benefit from long-term employees who have been with the family for years, creating stability in an industry often characterized by high turnover. Treating her team like family has helped her navigate the labor challenges that have affected many businesses in the QSR sector. While it’s common for crew members to come and go, Ashley and her parents have maintained a core group of dedicated employees who contribute to the business’s overall success and longevity.
Ashley is also keenly aware of the importance of community involvement. Little Caesars strong ties to the local community in Barrie and Orillia have helped them build a loyal fanbase, with many residents relying on Little Caesars iconic Hot-N-Ready food products for accessible, tasty and quality meals. In fact, around 80 percent of their sales come from Hot-N-Ready menu items, proving their popularity among consumers who value convenience and affordability.
What’s to Come
As Ashley continues to expand her family’s business, her plans for the future are ambitious. She is working on opening a fifth location in Barrie, marking another significant milestone in her entrepreneurial journey. The decision to stick with traditional restaurant designs rather than experimenting with drive-thru locations — a more costly venture in Canada — demonstrates her pragmatic approach to business growth.
Ashley credits much of her success to the strong operational support from the franchisor and the proven business model Little Caesars has built since it was first introduced in Canada 55 years ago. The established brand has a name recognition that makes it easier to reach and engage with new consumers, without needing to educate them about the brand itself. In addition, Ashley also expresses gratitude towards her husband, Devin, who assists Ashley with managing and operations.
With her family set to retire in the coming year, Ashley is preparing to fully take the reins. Although she acknowledges that working with family has its challenges, she values the shared vision that she and her parents have for the business. As they gradually step back from day-to-day operations, Ashley is ready to lead Little Caesars into its next chapter, leveraging new technologies like the Pizza Portal and continuing to build on the strong foundation her father laid decades ago.