SCOTTSDALE ARIZ. T.G.I. Friday’s U.S.A., Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee Danny Costa, and Which Wich franchisee Sharon Lacaze were named winners of the 2008 Nation’s Restaurant News Franchise Excellence Awards. —
The awards are sponsored by the law firm of Krass Monroe, P.A., and honor companies and individuals for superior leadership and performance in franchise management. They will be presented by Nation’s Restaurant News during the Restaurant Leadership Conference here April 2. —
T.G.I. Friday’s, a subsidiary of Carlson Restaurants Worldwide Inc. of Carrollton, Texas, will be honored with the Leadership in Franchise Management Award, which goes to a company that has led a group of franchisees to success while upholding and communicating the franchise brand, concept and experience. —
T.G.I. Friday’s operates 605 restaurants in the United States, with 288 owned by franchisees. To keep this franchisee base fully integrated into the company’s business, franchisees have a voice through Friday’s Advisory Council, which meets six to eight times a year to discuss strategy and initiatives. Friday’s also holds an annual Franchise Owners Meeting, plus its franchisees participate in a MENU Council, which provides menu strategy and also reviews new products and menu updates. —
The winner of the Franchisee Entrepreneur of the Year award is Danny Costa, owner of Costa Donuts Two Inc. of Acton, Mass. The award honors an individual who successfully owns and operates multiple franchises and is making consistent gains with entrepreneurial marketing and management tactics. —
A Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee, Mr. Costa co-founded Costa Donuts Two in 1993 and today owns and operates 11 Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants throughout the Massachusetts towns of Acton, Concord, Maynard and Stow. He is also co-founder of a manufacturing operation that supplies all bakery and doughnut items to 62 area Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants. A leader and role model for his fellow franchisees, Mr. Costa’s company was named Dunkin’ Brands Franchisee of the Year in 2005 and Operator of the Year in 2006. —
Which Wich franchisee Sharon Lacaze will be honored with the Franchisee Star Award for attaining profitability, operational excellence, and food and service success in the first year of the concept. After opening two Which Wich stores in Plano, Texas, Lacaze and her husband, Tony, teamed up with investors to form Campus Wich LLC to develop the sandwich concept on college campuses. —
In addition to her original stores, Lacaze now operates five other Which Wich locations on campuses or adjacent to campuses with eight more expected this year. Through contact with a customer, Donnie Nelson, general manager of the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association, Campus Wich now has NBA players and other professional athletes looking to invest in the concept. —
“Congratulations to the 2008 recipients of the Franchise Excellence Awards,” said Dennis L. Monroe, chairman of Krass Monroe, P.A., a law firm specializing in multiunit franchises. “Once again we are reminded of the successes that can come to the restaurant industry. The leadership shown by the award winners is truly exemplary of what a successful franchise business can achieve.” —
NRN publisher Tom Larranaga said: “Congratulations to these franchisee award winners who share a passion for the restaurant business that is reflected in their continued success and their community involvement. —
“Franchising is a key component to the growth of our industry, and we salute T.G.I Friday’s for making its franchisees feel part of their family. We congratulate Danny Costa for his leadership of Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in the Massachusetts area, and Sharon Lacaze for creatively and aggressively extending the Which Wich brand to college campuses.” —
The 2008 Franchise Excellence Awards were selected by the editors of Nation’s Restaurant News. —
