LEXINGTON, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fazoli’s presented its prestigious Franchisee of the Year award for 2011 to Odus Mundy, who owns three Fazoli’s restaurants, and honored several top suppliers at its annual National Brand Conference held in October.
In presenting Mundy with the award, Carl Howard, Fazoli’s president and CEO, credited him with being the first franchisee to roll out the new expanded service and remodeling programs. Mundy’s company, K&R Italian of LaFollette, Tenn., has remodeled and added the new service style to all three restaurants. They are seeing sales increases as high as 20 percent.
“Like other Fazoli’s franchisees embracing the company’s new menu, expanded service and remodeling programs, Odus is experiencing his strongest sales in years,” Howard noted. He commended Mundy for investing in these initiatives and setting an outstanding example for the system.
Suppliers winning Fazoli’s highest awards this year are Southern Bakeries, headquartered in Hope, Ark.,, Distinguished Supplier of the Year; Best Restaurant Equipment & Design of Columbus, Ohio, Innovation Award; and Swisher Hygiene, Charlotte, N.C., New Supplier of the Year.
Scott Deibert, Fazoli’s senior vice president, Supply Chain, commended the winners for consistently exceeding quality standards, exhibiting leadership to help Fazoli’s attain its goals, providing significant innovation to the Fazoli’s system and demonstrating an understanding of value.
“Fazoli’s has excellent suppliers in many areas, but this year’s winners edged out their peers by going above and beyond our high expectations. We salute them and look forward to continuing longstanding partnerships that are beneficial to all of us,” Deibert said.
Accepting the awards were Chuck Keeter and Rickey Ledbetter of Southern Bakeries, Mike Stasko and Veronica Wagner of Best Restaurant Equipment & Design and Jay Feilen of Swisher Hygiene.
An American family favorite for more than 20 years, Fazoli’s is a leading, next generation QSR franchise opportunity. With a premium menu of freshly prepared Italian entrees, Submarinos sandwiches and salads, a new service style featuring table service and a contemporary new restaurant design, Fazoli’s is well positioned for growth. Already America’s largest Italian quick-service chain with more than 220 restaurants, Fazoli’s is expanding in select markets throughout the country. Founded in Lexington, Ky. In 1988, Fazoli’s was acquired by Sun Capital Partners in 2006.
Editor’s note: Photos of all four award winners are available