“ My focus is solely on my family , business , and employees .”
2017 MVP AWARDS
BY HELEN BOND
Master of Innovation Hard work and determination are rewarded
Anand D . ( Andy ) Patel is the recipient of the 2017 American Dream MVP Award for achieving remarkable success in the U . S . with multiple brands . For this MVP winner , a relentless work ethic is just part of who he is .
Patel , who moved to the U . S . from
“ My focus is solely on my family , business , and employees .”
India in the 1980s , secured his first job with a Wendy ’ s restaurant in Laurel , Md . Within six months , the native of Gujarat was promoted to management — while also holding down part-time jobs at Mc- Donald ’ s , Domino ’ s , and Burger King !
“ My definition of the American Dream is the ability to be successful through
NAME : Andy Patel TITLE : Owner / operator NO . OF UNITS : 73 Burger King , 51 Applebee ’ s , 18 Pizza Hut , 5 IHOP AGE : 53 FAMILY : Wife , four children , and grandchild YEARS IN FRANCHISING : 26-plus YEARS IN CURRENT POSITION : 9
PERSONAL
Formative influences / events : When I got my first job at Wendy ’ s , the franchise group owned 42 locations . I knew then that I wanted to have more locations than them , which drove me to become a multi-unit franchisee .
Key accomplishments : In 1992 , I purchased my first restaurant and helped turn its operating loss into a profit within one year . Two years later , I purchased an IHOP restaurant from corporate and doubled the revenue within one year . That year , I won an award for the highest sales increase across all IHOPs nationwide . In 2002 , I bought another restaurant and won the highest sales increase in the country . I have won various awards throughout my career for my management approach .
Awards : IHOP : Highest sales increase in North America ; Franchisee of the Year 1994,1995 , 2002 . Applebee ’ s : Operations Excellence Award . Stevi B ’ s : Rookie of the Year . Burger Florida ( my Burger King brand ) ranked second in my division in overall operational metrics my first year with the brand . 2017 MVP American Dream Award .
Work week : Working all the time .
Best advice you ever got : In 1989 I was working at Wendy ’ s and my manager John Stevens told me I shouldn ’ t be working hard over here ( in the U . S .), but instead I needed to be working smart . After I finished my shift , I told my dad . My father told me to tell John that in our culture and with us , if you want to be successful you have to work smart , but also work very hard . You went to a rich country , so if you want to be successful , that is what you have to do to make it .
28 MULTI-UNIT FRANCHISEE ISSUE III , 2017