Franchise Update Magazine Issue IV, 2015 | Page 32

BY EDDY GOLDBERG

2016 AFDR

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

BENCHMARKING THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE BEST PRACTICES

R

esults from the 2016 Annual Franchise Development
Report (AFDR) were unveiled in October at the 17th
annual Franchise Leadership & Development Conference. The 2016 AFDR is based on responses from 134 franchisors representing 51,004 units (48,431 franchised and 2,573
company-owned).
Responses were aggregated and analyzed to produce a detailed look into the recruitment and development practices,
budgets, and strategies of a wide cross-section of franchisors.
The data, with accompanying commentary, provide the basis
of the 2016 AFDR.
Highlights from the report were presented in a 90-minute general session. Gary Gardner, chair of Franchise Update
Media, moderated a panel of
four high-powered franchise
development executives, who
interpreted and discussed
the data and research findings before responding to
questions from attendees.
Panelists were Conference Chair Steve Dunn, senior vice president of global
development at Denny’s;
Pete Lindsey, vice president
of franchising at Sport Clips;
Paul Pickett, vice president
of franchise development at
Wild Birds Unlimited; and
Josh Wall, vice president of
franchising and strategic
development at Christian
Brothers Automotive.
The mystery shoppers this year were Franchise Business
Review, FranConnect, and Landmark Interactive. See page
44 for their thoughts and comments on this year’s results and
more on the mystery shopping research.
Growth plans for 2016 from the 134 respondents aim for
a total of 6,442 additional franchise units, 40 percent (2,620)
throug ^\