Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue I, 2012 | Page 12
MEGA
W
Mega Bucks
Six movers and shakers tell their tales
e are always on the lookout for big franchisees, the kind who don’t run a half
dozen units but dozens of units. They’re
powerful, dominant, and know how to be
leaders in their business and communities.
That’s why again this year we have teamed up with
FRANdata to create and publish our annual Mega
99 rankings.
We realize numbers alone don’t tell the whole
story, but they do provide a great starting point.
The multi-unit franchisees on this list have worked
hard, witnessed highs and lows firsthand, and poured
themselves into creating empires known for their
sheer numbers. Beyond the numbers are the stories
of real human beings. It takes a unique individual to
reach this level of franchising, one who can overcome obstacles, struggles, and failures, and yet rise
from the ashes.
Business is so much more than revenues and profitability, which is why we asked these six multi-unit
operators to tell us more about themselves. Beyond
their impressive accomplishments, we asked about
their fears and failures, biggest mistakes, management philosophy, and their goals for the next 5 and
10 years. We asked them about their favorite tech
toys, how they balance work and family, and what
they’re doing differently to ride out the economic
turmoil and prepare for better days.
These individuals also provided their insights on
the state of franchising, financing, marketing, and
maintaining customer service even as they seek to
reduce expenses. But it’s also inspiring—and just
plain fun—to hear from people who get up in the
morning loving their work.
Talk about “mega” franchisees… Sam Covelli has
198 Panera Bread stores with 20 more under construction. But wait, there’s more! He also operates 5
O’Charley’s and has an agreement to build 50. His
Covelli Enterprises has 20,000 employees and did
more than $400 million in revenue in 2011.
Then there’s Dawn Lafreeda. She operates 70
Denny’s locations in 6 states (Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Arkansas, and Oklahoma). Growing up,
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Multi-Unit Franchisee Is s ue I, 2012
the California native told herself that she was going
to be self-employed one day. Is she ever. Her operation generates $85 million per year and she’s looking
to grow.
Roger Mongeon spent 10 years as a chemical
engineer at Union Carbide in his native Canada before chasing his entrepreneurial bent. He discovered
his next-door neighbor was running a Weed Man
franchise from home. Today, Mongeon operates 47
Weed Man units in Canada and is the U.S. franchisor for Weed Man, with 257 units in 35 states.
Diversity is the key strategy for Ray Harrigill.
His Sunray Companies has restaurants (Bumpers
Drive-In), tanning salons (Palm Beach Tan), fitness centers (Koko FitClub), and hotel properties
(Hampton Inn). He’s banking on membership-based
businesses because they offer a more predictable
level of cash flow than retail or restaurants can.
Next up, we’ve begun a new feature where we
“reconnect” with franchisees we’ve profiled in years
past, to catch up on what’s been going on since last
we spoke. In Tom Barnett’s case, he’s been battered
by the economy since we profiled him in 2008, but
he says he’s determined to make it through. Now at
21 Burger Kings, 19 The Good Egg restaurants, and
6 Blue Burrito Grilles, he says, “I’ve been taught to
never, ever give up. If you give up, you’ve lost.”
Tommy Haddock has added 10 Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ’n Biscuits restaurants since we profiled him six years ago. That brings him to 46 units
in North Carolina and Virginia, where he says one
of his secrets has been to stay plugged into the local
communities.
No matter where they came from, or how they
got into franchising, there’s a fascinating real-life
story behind every successful franchise operator.
Whether you’re a single-unit operator or have dozens of units across several brands, you’re sure to find
something interesting, educational, even entertaining in the stories of these six multi-unit operators.
Maybe even a nugget or two to apply to your business or your personal life.
Time to grow!