A Charlotte business owner has just one the International Franchise Association (IFA)’s ‘Franchisee of The Year Award’ – given out each year to one of their 13,000+ franchisee members.
James “Jim” Echols, who owns 2 Edible Arrangements stores in Charlotte, was announced the winner earlier this month at the IFA’s annual Franchisee of the Year Awards dinner in Washington DC.
He was initially nominated for the award by the Edible Arrangements® corporate team for his outstanding commitment to the company and his WOW-worthy performance in his stores, consistently going above and beyond expectations.
“Jim is the ideal franchisee and I’m honored that he is part of the Edible Arrangements franchise network,” commented Tariq Farid, founder and CEO of Edible Arrangements, “Jim is a fantastic representation of Edible’s values. He constantly looks for ways to WOW our customers and it shows with his strong brand engagement and outstanding sales performance.”
Echols has also been recognized for his focus on giving back to his community; he was one of the many Edible® franchisees who donated to Hurricane Harvey relief. Echols has also used his store as an opportunity to contribute to the Ronald McDonald house, children’s hospitals, the YMCA, and local charities.
“One of the things we do on a weekly basis is supply fruit salad to a soup kitchen near our store,” said Echols. “We cut the excess fruit and donate it to the kitchen. We encourage staff to participate in activities, and enjoy helping those in our community.”
Congratulations Jim – keep up the good work!