For Donn R. Wilson, opening a franchise is old hat. The serial entrepreneur’s launch of Interim HealthCare of Southwest Idaho — he opened it with partners — was featured last year in Business Insider. But his roots are in food, especially the kind that’s fast. So when he came across Texas-based My Fit Foods and its grab-and-go meals and snacks, he jumped on the opportunity to bring it to the Treasure Valley. He wanted to start a healthy restaurant and noticed My Fit Foods didn’t have any direct competitors.

It cost more than $1 million to open the business here, but it should make more than $1 million in first-year sales, Wilson says. He used personal funds and obtained financing from D.L. Evans Bank. He expects to make a profit in 2013.

Q: What did you do previously?

A: I opened the 18th McDonald’s in 1957 and spent 22 years with them. I became an owner of the Houston Astros in 1978, an owner of the Wendy’s franchise for Canada in 1981, and helped start Blockbuster Video in 1986. I was an interim senior executive for major financial entities and owned a franchise consultant [business] during the 1990s. I started my first technology company in 1999 in Minneapolis and my second one in San Francisco in 2002. I started White Water Pizza & Pasta in Meridian in 2002, helped start Interim HealthCare and helped grow Pie Hole Pizza as an owner in Eagle in 2011. I have served on various boards of directors in various industries for many years.

Q: What are your future plans?

A: Next I plan to take this great concept to Canyon County, Salt Lake City and the rest of the Northwest U.S.

Q: What challenges have you faced, and how have you met them?

A: Just the same challenges that all entrepreneurs face: It takes longer, costs more and is harder than you think. It’s also then more satisfying when you do it.

Audrey Dutton: 377-6448