Checkers & Rally's, a familiar franchise business brand known for its flavors, atmosphere and value, is ending 2018 on a high note. This brand has 12 new locations set to open before the year's end, making for 43 new locations opened in 2018. This includes its landmark 900th restaurant, which is set to open this December.
The franchise held an event in September to review the success of the year and preview what's in store. Highlights included a better learning management system and improved training initiatives, new partners for the company's unique modular building designs, new marketing promotions and tech tools to boost guest experience, and new incentives for franchisees to help ensure continued growth.
Since much of this brand's success this year can be traced back to its franchisees, the leadership recognized several outstanding franchisees for the year, including Mike Tillis, Erdem Aydin and Omer Casurluk as "Developer of the Year" and Robert Wiggins as "Rookie Franchisee of the Year."
"Franchisee of the Year" for those with more than five locations was won by Bruce Keehn, a former executive with a large fast food chain who started out with Checkers back in 1993 as an operating partner. Over the last 25 years, he has become an owner and now fully owns seven restaurants in the portfolio. Staci Forte, his daughter and a member of the brand's Franchise Advisory Council, has worked with the company for over a decade and is now taking over daily operations as her father prepare to retire.
John Lewis, who was named "Franchisee of the Year" in the fewer than five locations category, owns a very strong location in Valdosta, Georgia. Lewis has been with the company for two decades and has increased his sales by 20 percent over the last four years. According to Lewis, he initially joined the brand because he viewed it as a great franchise opportunity, and he credited his success partly to the supportive and motivating environment created by the franchiser.
Brand Chief Development Officer Jennifer Durham noted that the talents, time and resources franchisees put into building their businesses has put the company well on its way toward its goal of having 1,200 locations open by the year 2020. According to Durham, 91 percent of the company's total units are owned by multi-unit franchisees who are adding to portfolios, and this in turn fuels growth and expands the company's reach.
Based in Florida, Checkers is known for its distinctive design and value-driven menu. This brand currently has markets open and ready for even more growth. The initial investment for this franchise opportunity ranges from $453,000 to $627,200.
