HALL FAME

In 1988, the National Franchisee Association (NFA) became the first of its kind — a pioneer in the franchise business — paving the way for other franchisee association groups since its inception. With 35 years behind us, the accomplishments and milestones we’ve reached are too many to count, and the voice of NFA has often been the voice of reason in our business. This body is the sole representative of the BURGER KING® franchisee community, and NFA thanks every single member who has contributed to our mission over the years. To commemorate the milestone, we’re looking back through the NFA Hall of Fame to honor those who have led our organization through trials and successes. Cheers to another 35 years of NFA!

1988-1989

DON WHITE

1990-1991

DICK FORS

• NFA is recognized by BKC as the representative body for franchisees in 1990.

• NFA adopts a new leadership structure, like today’s, establishing different committees.

• Regional associations are recognized in 1990.

• The NFA Procurement Committee paves the way for the formation of RSI in 1991.

1992-1993

JERRY RUENHECK

• NFA was created to form a unified franchisee community, to improve communications with BKC and to create committees and programs to educate franchisees.

• In 1989, 80% of BURGER KING franchisees voiced to BKC that NFA is their representative.

• NFA becomes the first organization of its kind — an independent association of franchisees in the fast-food industry.

• The first ever Franchisee Information Exchange seminar is held in Dallas in 1992.

• Operation Phoenix, BKC and NFA’s first time working together on brand performance and strategic development, started in 1992.

• For the first time, NFA is invited to speak in front of Congress in 1992.

• The first NFA Annual Convention is held in San Francisco in October 1993.

• NFA starts a Hardship Fund for members in 1993.

by ALLISON MCCALLUM

1997: Grand Met merges with Guinness to create Diageo.

1994-1995

JACK EBERLY

• Project Jennifer is developed in 1994. This agreement was one of the strongest set of rights that a group of franchisees had at the time, and it clearly recognized NFA as the sole representative of the BURGER KING franchisee community.

• James McLamore and David Edgerton are recognized for the 40th anniversary of BURGER KING at the second annual NFA Convention in Las Vegas in 1994.

• The Image Task Force is formed in 1995.

1996-1997

MIKE DEROSA of investors, is brought about in 2000. NFA asks Steve Lewis to extend his term for an extra year to continue working on the deal.

• The Risk Management Corp. is founded in 1996. The Insurance and Member Services committees were created after, leading to what would become Elevanta.

• NFA Health+ program begins in 1996.

• The NFA PAC is launched in 1997 at the NFA Convention in Washington, D.C.

• Operation Enterprise is launched by NFA to build a stronger, more organized base and to strengthen the relationship with BKC.

• A new contract with Coca-Cola is negotiated, strengthening the bond of NFA and The Coca-Cola Co.

• The NFA headquarters moves to Atlanta, and an executive director and staff are hired for the association.

2001-2004

JULIAN JOSEPHSON

• NFA travels to Spain to meet with international franchisees who want to create their own association.

• NFA’s modern governance model is developed.

• NFA establishes an LLC, National Association Management Group, to begin taking on other association clients.

Continued on page 34

2002: Project Champion is completed fully under Josephson’s leadership, and BURGER KING is officially sold to the Texas Pacific Group, Bain Capital and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners.

1999: RSI has the crucial job of keeping the supply chain going while multiple suppliers face shutdowns and shortages that have major potential to disrupt BURGER KING business.

1998-2000

STEVE LEWIS

• BKC recognizes RSI as the company’s official agent for purchasing and managing distribution services in 1999.

• Project Champion, the initiative spearheaded by NFA to convince Diageo to sell BURGER KING to a group

NFA Hall of Fame

Continued from page 33

2005

DAN FITZPATRICK

• NFA restructures committee leadership and membership. The chair appoints committee chairs and members will be approved by the board. The committees now work closely with BKC and include corporate members.

• NFA’s Health+ program expands to include supplemental life and vision insurance plans in 2005.

• Member support of NFA increased from 2004 to 2005 by 29%, reaching upwards of $3.5 million.

• NFA and RSI develop the P&L Benchmarking Initiative.

2006-2008

Joseph Anghelone

2009-2010

BILL HARLOE

• NFA files a maximum pricing lawsuit over the dollar double cheeseburger in 2009.

• The inaugural CFA Day takes place Feb. 10-11, 2009, in Washington, D.C.

• NFA partners with Direct Capital and announces Lending Solutions+, a program for financing equipment upgrades and restaurant remodels.

2011-2012

TONY VERSACI

2010: 3G Capital acquires BURGER KING in a deal worth $3.26 billion and takes the company private.

• The inaugural Government Relations Conference is launched in Washington, D.C., in 2006.

• The Best Practices Committee, made up of NFA and BKC members, is formed in 2006.

• NFA takes steps to strengthen regional associations. A committee, led by Tony Versaci, is formed to work on revitalization strategies for said associations.

• The Franchise Relations Committee establishes the FRC Process Model to protect franchisee interests in 2007.

• The PAC reaches $1.5 million raised in 2007.

• NFA Vice Chairman, Brian Vaughn, testifies in front of the U.S. House Committee on Small Business Healthcare and the Technology Subcommittee in 2011.

• BKC and NFA settle the dispute over the “maximum pricing policy.”

• Members of Congress invite NFA members to the Presidential Joint Session Speech in late September 2011.

• NFA and BKC host a joint summit in 2012.

2013-2014

MITCH LAIRD

• BKC reevaluates the Gold Peak Tea Exit Settlement at the request of NFA and restructures the settlement, so franchisees have no financial liability.

• NFA pushes BKC to withdraw the BOGO $1 on everything deal.

• BKC allows franchisees to exit the second half of the year investment spending contract at the request of NFA.

2012: 3G takes BURGER KING public again and sells a 29% stake in the company to Justice Holdings Ltd.

2014: BURGER KING and Tim Horton’s undergo a $12.5 billion merger, becoming what is now Restaurant Brands International (RBI).

2017:

• NFA submits a formal proposal to BKC to support regional pricing flexibility. BKC rolls out a test of this strategy in multiple markets in 2014.

2015-2018

STEVE LEWIS

2019-present

DAN FITZPATRICK

• A resolution to the Coca-Cola Freestyle dilemma is reached.

• A store-closing policy is worked out between NFA and BKC.

• NFA restructures NAMG to form its new subsidiary, Elevanta, in 2016.

• NFA launches the CORE Leadership Training Program in 2017 to better equip upper-restaurant management with useful skills to improve their operations.

• NFA hosts the first LEAD Conference in 2019. The conference is designed to educate and uplift above-restaurant leaders.

• NFA hosts its board of directors meeting in-person in late 2020. This was the first in-person meeting at the Ritz-Carlton in Atlanta, since the start of COVID-19.

• NFA holds its first virtual annual meeting in November 2020.

• NFA and Elevanta partner with Hall Financial Advisors to launch the Multiple Employer Aggregation Program, allowing franchisees and their businesses to develop customized 401K plans for employees. n

ALLISON MCCALLUM is the communications editor for NFA. You may reach McCallum at allisonm@nfabk.org or call 678-797-5165.