Perkins & Marie Callender’s, LLC announced today Mr. Jim Rahfaldt of CyHawk Hospitality, Owner/Operator of seven Perkins Restaurants & Bakeries in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska, is the recipient of the company’s prestigious, Franchisee of the Year Award. According to Jeff Warne, President & CEO Perkins & Marie Callender’s, LLC, “Jim Rahfaldt epitomizes excellence in operations. He is an exceptional franchisee, with an unwavering commitment to the Perkins brand. As a business leader, Jim leads by example, earning the respect and admiration of those around him through hard work, dedication and determination.”
Rahfaldt began his career with Perkins as a Corporate Regional Manager in 1994, was promoted to Area Manager in 2004 and became a Perkins franchisee in 2007. He built his first restaurant in Milford, Iowa and has since opened six new locations including a Perkins in Ankeny, Iowa in 2013 and Gardner, Kansas in January 2014. Rahfaldt’s development plans include new Perkins Restaurants in Altoona, Iowa (currently under construction) and Hastings, Nebraska in 2014. Upon accepting Perkins Franchisee of the Year Award, Mr. Rahfaldt stated, “I am both humbled and honored by this recognition. It is a tribute not only to me, but to all of the people at Perkins who approach their work with enthusiasm and the single-minded objective of providing our guests with favorable and memorable experiences. I am truly proud to carry on Perkins tradition of dining excellence that began over 55 years ago.”
In addition to recognizing its Franchisee of the Year, Perkins & Marie Callender’s Chief Supply Chain Officer, Larry Taylor announced that Stampede Meat Company has been named Business Partner of the Year, cited as a supplier that provides expertise, measurable value and superior customer service.
Finally, Jim Frank, SVP of Operations, Perkins, honored JDK Management, Perkins franchisee with 30 restaurants in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New Jersey for their ongoing support of Perkins & Marie Callender’s corporate charity, Give Kids the World. Frank also announced that Ms. Lorna Beres from Perkins restaurant in Port St. Lucie, Florida, was named 2013 General Manager of the Year for her store’s outstanding performance which included a 2.12% increase in guest counts and a 5.6% increase in same store sales.
