Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue I, 2012 | Page 13

MEGA
By Tracy Staton

Growing Up Franchising
Sam Covelli develops both his brands and employees

S

am Covelli says he grew up in
the restaurant business working in his father’s McDonald’s.
Under his father’s leadership,
Covelli Enterprises eventually grew
to 26 locations, one of the largest McDonald’s franchisees in the country. But
after the senior Covelli handed over the
company reins to his son, you could say
that Covelli Enterprises grew up with
Sam Covelli.
Under his leadership, the company’s
McDonald’s holdings grew to 43 restaurants, keeping Covelli Enterprises among
McDonald’s top franchisees, and an
award-winning one at that. Covelli sold
off those restaurants and shifted the famName: Sam Covelli
Title: Owner/Operator
Company: Covelli Enterprises
No. of units: 198 Panera Bread
and 20 under construction; 5
O’Charley’s, with an agreement to
build 50.
Age: 58
Family: Wife, Caryn, and three

children: Candace, 24; Albert,
22; and Danielle, 17.

Years in franchising: I grew

up in the business, since I was a
little kid. Technically, I’ve been in
restaurants for 35 years.

Years in current position:

14½, 30 with Covelli Enterprises.

Multi-Unit Franchisee Is s u e I, 2012



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