2016 STAR Awards Winners Honored at Record-Breaking Event!

San Jose, CA – October 12, 2016: Last month’s Franchise Leadership & Development Conference returned to Atlanta for the largest event in 18 years, boasting a total of 460 attendees and close to 300 franchisors, representing 169 brands.

Since its introduction 18 years ago, this conference has experienced tremendous growth, reaching an increasing number of franchise executives seeking inspiration and guidance on how to better their businesses.

This year’s theme Amplify Your Growth carries on from last year’s Super Structure Your Growth, as it focuses on the importance of taking your business to the next level.

Every year, Franchise Update Media works with a team of highly respected researchers to personally evaluate various participating franchise sales organizations that registered by the July deadline.

This year, we took a different approach and asked a couple of your franchise peers to partake in the mystery shopping. They disguised their voices, changed their names and reached out to many of their friends and colleagues to find out how their franchise sales organizations measure up to today’s standards.

The 2016 winners were honored at the Annual STAR awards dinner, sponsored by eKomi. We are proud to recognize their hard work and commitment. Please join us in congratulating them on their successes.

The most coveted award, First Place in Best Overall Performance was awarded to underdog and first-time winner Captain D’s. With an uproar of applause from the audience, Captain D’s Chief Development Officer Michael Arrowsmith, graciously accepted the award on their behalf.

Runner-up in the same category went to another first-time winner, Pinot’s Palette. Proving themselves as strong competitors in the best overall performance category.

The Brightstar Care team, along with this year’s conference chairwoman Shelly Sun, took home the Best Overall Responsiveness award. And a big congrats to the Home Instead Senior Care team for their First Place win in the Best Franchisee Satisfaction category.

Other first place winners include; Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop for Best Website Prospect Follow-Up, and Mighty Auto Parts for Best Website Best Practices. Both setting the standard and proving a user-friendly online presence means everything in today’s technology driven world.

Returning as strong competitor once again is last year’s First Place winner for Best Overall Performance – Wild Birds Unlimited. This time, taking home First Place in Best Telephone Prospect Follow-up. Crowd favorite, Wild Birds Unlimited CDO, Paul Pickett proudly and enthusiastically accepted the award.

Runner’s up include; FASTSIGNS for Best Franchisee Satisfaction, Smoothie King for Best Website Best Practices, FirstLight HomeCare for Best Telephone Prospect Follow-Up and Checkers Drive-In Restaurants for Best Website Prospect Follow-up.

Congratulations to all the 2016 STAR Award winners, Franchise Update is extremely proud to recognize their achievements and wish everyone good luck in 2017. For a full review of the entire awards ceremony and a wrap-up of the Leadership and Development Conference, check out the upcoming edition of Franchise Update Magazine available end of November.

About Franchise Update Media

Founded in 1988, Franchise Update Media (FUM) produces popular online franchise sites; magazines, research, books and three highly regarded annual conferences. Serving franchise audiences online, in print, and in person. FUM delivers a unique combination of education and lead generation sources that help franchisors, multi-unit franchisees, and suppliers achieve their growth objectives. For more information, please visit www.franchising.com/about/