Subway has recognised 12 franchisee teams as recipients of its 2016 Franchisee of the Year awards, and three teams from its development community as recipients of its Development Agent of the Year awards.
Franchisee, Stephen Pasco and corporate partner Rontec Watford Ltd were among the winners of the Franchisee of the Year award. Pasco owns and operates 15 stores along with his wife, Sue and son Ryan in Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. With 90 stores in the region, the couple are also Development Agents for the brand, helping to drive growth by working with other franchisees to find suitable locations and open new stores.
Rontec Watford, a part of the leading forecourt group Rontec, is one of the Subway brand's corporate partners. With more than 200 sites across England and Wales, Rontec currently has 40 Subway stores situated at its forecourt locations throughout the UK.
The Subway brand works with corporate partners, like Rontec to open stores in non-traditional locations, such as on petrol forecourts, within convenience stores, universities and hospitals.
Development Agents for the West Midlands, David Kelsey and Daljit Nahil were also named as winners of the Development Agent of the Year award. With 114 Subway stores now open in the region, the award underpins the duo's hard work to widen the brand's reach and open high performing stores in good locations. Another franchisee duo in their region, Larry and Jane Curtis, were also awarded Best Relocation of the Year for their store at Birmingham University.
Regional Development Agents assist and mentor franchisees with site selection, leasing, design, construction, hands-on training, purchasing, operations, advertising, local store marketing and more.
All stores are owned by local business people - the entrepreneurial spirit of Subway franchisees and Development Agents, together with the power and support of the global Subway brand, really underpins all the hard work that goes into making their stores a success.
Sascha Stokic, European Project Manager, said, 'I have great pride that UK and Ireland franchisees and Development Agents are among the winners of the Subway brand's annual awards. Their hard work, dedication and inspiring attitude towards their customers and the brand, has gained them this accolade. Their commitment to putting the customer first has been a key element to building successful stores and should be commended.'