Shawarma Press, the first authentic Shawarma franchise in the U.S., was named the winner of a Silver Stevie Award in the Diversity and Inclusion category in the 21st Annual American Business Awards recently. More than 3,700 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories, including Startup of the Year, Executive of the Year, Best New Product or Service of the Year, Marketing Campaign of the Year, Thought Leader of the Year, and App of the Year, among others. Shawarma Press accepted a Stevie Award for Diversity and Inclusion at a gala ceremony held at the Marriott Marquis in New York.
“We are very honored to receive this award because we have worked very hard to make diversity and inclusion a priority at all of our locations,” said Shawarma Press co-founder Sawsan Abublan. “We want to thank the judges for recognizing our efforts to make diversity and inclusion a significant part of our values and mission, and we encourage all businesses no matter how small to make this part of their culture because EDI is a commitment that pays off at so many levels,”
Abublan noted that Shawarma Press celebrates diversity and inclusion every day with employees from five different continents who converse in 10 languages (Arabic, English, Spanish, Urdu, Hindi, French, German, Vietnamese, Russian, and Turkish). She said the company’s expansion in Walmart stores resulted in a diverse customer base where everyone is welcome regardless of age, background, ethnicity, or dietary preferences. While primarily Mediterranean, the menu is also a nod to customers from all over the world and dedicated to diverse palates with items such as Authentic Shawarma, Tex-Mex Shawarma, and Tandoori Shawarma. Vendors and suppliers are local as well as international.
More than 230 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year’s Stevie Award winners. One of the awards judges noted, “Shawarma Press has set the tone so right by having Equity before everything else – EDI it is! They hit the mark by connecting cultural differences through the uniqueness they bring, creating an international variety of cuisine, and making every person and every culture matter! They give from their heart and feed the need and the world with what they are best at with their best team of people. Shawarma Press is a beautiful organization manifesting a solid inclusivity and a culture of giving!”
According to Abublan, employees embrace the inclusive culture. When Shawarma Press observed its five-year anniversary in 2022, all team members celebrated and marked the occasion as a manifestation of inclusion and diversity. And since 2021 Shawarma Press employees have prepared, donated, and delivered countless meals to mosques, churches, and synagogues to help the homeless fight hunger.
Judges also based their decision on the company’s participation in the International Food Festival in Irving, Texas, where people from around the globe serve their country’s top dishes and ethnic cuisines. Abublan also shared her recommendations for diversity and inclusion by presenting a program to the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce to help improve policies and become more diverse and inclusion friendly.
“We would like to congratulate all the winners of this year’s Stevie Awards,” said Abublan. “We are thrilled to be in good company with the outstanding businesses and organizations who were recognized this year.”
Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2023 Stevie winners are available at StevieAwards.com/ABA.
Since opening its first restaurant in Irving, Texas, in 2017, award-winning Shawarma Press is the nation’s leader in fast casual Mediterranean cuisine and the first authentic shawarma franchise. The brand is rapidly expanding with multiple locations in Texas, including several operating in Walmart stores in Plano, San Antonio, Georgetown, Arlington, and an upcoming flagship location in downtown Dallas. Co-founders Sawsan Abublan and Ehap Sabri, Ph.D., were the recipients of Fast Casual’s Top 100 Movers and Shakers award as well as the Innovation Award presented by Franchise Update Media for the Most Innovative Supply Chain. The company stands true to its core values of Social Responsibility, Integrity, Trustworthiness, and Excellence and has donated more than 20,000 meals to homeless shelters and non-profit organizations. Shawarma Press plans to open as many as 50 locations throughout the country in the next five years. For information about franchising, visit https://shawarmapressfranchise.com.
Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.
Sponsors of the 2023 American Business Awards include HCL America, Melissa Sones Consulting, and SoftPro.
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