News

Georgia Subway franchisee recognized for support of local schools

August 6, 2014

Subway recently recognized six franchisees as recipients of its 2014 Franchisee of the Year winners. The chain has more than 20,000 franchisees around the world.

"These six franchisees exemplify everything that makes Subway such a great brand," President and Co-Founder Fred DeLuca said in a news release. "They each have also found new and creative ways to work with their employees to make them the absolute best in the industry and to reach out to customers in meaningful ways. Overall, they are always looking for ways to improve their operations as well as the brand and it is an honor for us to recognize these terrific franchisees."

Competing among 48 finalists from 22 regions around the globe, Subway Franchisee of the Year awards are presented to the overall winners of the chain's multiunit and single-unit owner categories from the brand's North American, and international emerging markets and international developed markets.

The six winners are: 

• Multiunit Owner Dakshesh Patel, of Suwanee, Ga.: Patel started a program with local elementary schools called Sprite Night where students and their parents can come into his Subway restaurant for dinner one evening a month and 15 percent of their sale will go back to their school. He also supports high school and middle school athletic teams. Dakshesh owns restaurants and has been with the brand for 11 years.
• Multiunit Owner Ricardo de Oliveira Alves, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: He owns 11 restaurants and has a strong focus on training, which touches on friendly service and product knowledge as well as business best practices.
• Multiunit Owner Supot Gulati, of Bangkok, Thailand: He was a 17-year veteran in the banking industry before deciding to change careers and join the Subway team as a franchisee in 2003. Supot owns 12 stores and hopes to have 20 stores opened and operating by the year 2020.
• Single-Unit Owner Julian Shelton, of Ashland, Va.: Shelton has been a Subway franchisee for 10 years and is a former mechanical engineer and sales executive.
• Single-Unit Owners Iris Liang and Xiuyun Mo, of Guangzhou Champion Beverage & Food Management Co Ltd. in Guangzhou China: They joined the Subway brand about four years ago.
• Single-Unit Owner Dianora Falcon, of Alimentos Emmdifal CA of Venezuela: Falcon has been a franchisee for seven years and said the key to success is to make sure that all customers who leave the restaurant she owns with Augustin Delgado are happy when they leave.