What does it look like to bet everything on an idea that doesn't have a name yet? In this episode, hosts Roy Richardson and Sean Murphy sit down with Dick Larsen — founder of Nature's Table, one of the longest-running healthy fast-casual restaurant brands in the United States — for a conversation that spans Vietnam, a mall in Florida, four decades of franchising, and a private equity acquisition that closed in January 2025. Dick's story begins long before the first smoothie was sold. He was a US Army Special Forces soldier who turned down orders to Germany to serve on an A-team in Vietnam in 1968 — one of only five surviving members of his 250-person class. He came home, went to Central Michigan University, and in 1977 opened a health food concept called Vine and Harvest at the Altamonte Mall in Florida. At a time when healthy food in a mall was not a trend but a gamble, Dick bet on it anyway. By 1983 he had rebranded it as Nature's Table. By 1986 he was franchising. At its peak, the brand operated more than 40 locations across malls, airports, office parks, hospital campuses, college campuses, and gyms — pioneering what the industry now calls the non-traditional venue model. In this conversation, Dick opens up about: Turning down orders to Germany to go to Vietnam — and what service, sacrifice, and surviving against the odds taught him about resilience before he ever ran a business Opening Vine and Harvest in 1977 when "health food" wasn't a category anyone was chasing, and the defining moment that sparked the concept How a single Orlando Sentinel article opened the door to Disney — and how Disney led to MGM, and MGM led to airports Building a franchise system from scratch — the hard lessons of early mall leases, occupancy costs, and deals he wishes he had negotiated differently The non-traditional venue strategy — why airports, hospital campuses, office parks, and college gyms were not a fallback but a vision years ahead of the industry Stepping away in 2017 after 40 years — when he stopped loving the business and why he knew it was time The 2025 acquisition by Fast Fresh Brands — how the brand he built for decades found its next chapter through private equity Why he still believes people will always matter more than technology — and what four decades in food service taught him about leadership, trust, and relationships Faith, family, and 55 years of marriage — the personal foundation that outlasted every business cycle Whether you are a franchise founder, a food service entrepreneur, or someone building something that the market hasn't fully caught up to yet, this episode is a masterclass in conviction, patience, and the power of showing up year after year. Learn more about Dick Larsen: LinkedInWebsite: Natures TableEmail: itsdicklarsen@gmail.comConnect with the Dynamic Business Leaders Podcast Hosts: LinkedIn: Roy RichardsonLinkedIn: Sean MurphyIf you found this episode of the Dynamic Business Leaders Podcast inspiring, be sure to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform. This way, you won't miss out on future episodes featuring other dynamic business leaders. Check out our website here, and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel. The Dynamic Business Leaders Podcast is brought to you by Aurora InfoTech, a Cybersecurity Firm that serves the information security needs of small—and medium-sized businesses.
