Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue III, 2017 | Page 32

2017 MVP AWARDS
BY HELEN BOND
Making Their Day,
Every Day
TravelCenters of America serves food, fuel, and smiles
J
ohn Ponczoch believes there is al-
ways a way to make someone’s day.
Ponczoch, senior vice president
of food operations and marketing
for TravelCenters of America (TA-Petro)
since 2010, is the recipient of the 2017
MVP for Multi-Brand Growth Lead-
ership Award for continued success in
operating multiple brands—dozens, in
fact. TA-Petro, the largest full-service
travel center company in the U.S., oper-
ates the TA and Petro Stopping Centers
and employs more than 12,000 on the
foodservice side alone.
“I think it’s important to point out
the uniqueness of our company,” says
Ponczoch. “We are not only a franchi-
see of 25-plus brands, we also franchise
our brands and operate in more than
800 foodservice outlets.” In addition
to its franchised brands, TA operates 9
brands as franchisor: Country Pride (110
company, 3 franchised); Iron Skillet (55
company, 10 franchised); Quaker Steak
& Lube (55 company, 35 franchised); as
well as 6 other brands with 1 company
site each.
The difference-makers for TA-Petro,
says Ponczoch, are the company’s man-
agement bench strength to promote
NAME: John Ponczoch
TITLE: SVP Food Operations,
TravelCenters of America
NO. OF UNITS: 66 Popeyes, 54
Godfather’s Pizza, 51 Subway,
38 Taco Bell, 32 Burger King,
30 Pizza Hut, 10 Starbucks, 10
Dunkin’ Donuts Express, 9 Dunkin’
Donuts, 8 Arby’s, 6 Hunt Brothers
Pizza, 5 Charleys Philly Steaks, 5
Pizza Hut Slice Bar, 4 Broaster’s
Chicken, 4 Piccadilly Pizza, 3
A&W, 3 Chester’s Chicken, 3
Sbarro, 3 Wendy’s, 2 Dairy
Queen, 2 Baskin-Robbins, 1 each
of Champs Chicken, Charley
Biggs Chicken, Hot Stuff Pizza,
Noble Roman’s, Taco Time, Tim
Hortons
AGE: 53
FAMILY: Married, 3 children, 2
grandchildren
YEARS IN FRANCHISING: 25
YEARS IN CURRENT POSITION: 8
(30 with company)
30
MULTI-UNIT FRANCHISEE IS S UE III, 2017