A BUSINESSMAN who spent more than 40 years building up an empire of KFC franchise restaurants has been recognised by global QSR brand as its top UK and Ireland partner for 2023.
Gerard Nicholas whose franchise group NNA Ltd includes the KFC at Twyford Services on the A46 near Evesham, scooped both the Partner of the Year and Operational Excellence titles.
The Operational Excellence accolade recognised the restaurant’s day-to-day running, including meeting and exceeding food safety and health and safety standards, outstanding cooking procedures, store cleanliness and investment on up-to-date decor.
A KFC spokesperson said the firm was very proud of Gerard and NNA Ltd. They added: “Their unwavering commitment to excellence has rightly earned them the titles of Partner of the Year and Operational Excellence at our recent franchise awards ceremony.
“For over 40 years, NNA’s restaurants have consistently upheld our high standards, from product quality to customer satisfaction.
“Their dedication to our brand and consistently going above and beyond for our loyal fans, makes them an invaluable member of our franchise community.”
Mr Nicholas began his career working in a KFC in London in Camberwell Green in 1975 where he met his wife Martina.
The pair moved to Cheltenham in 1982 to open their first high street KFC before opening another in 1990 in Westgate Street in Gloucester.
He said: “By building carefully, the rest have all followed from those early days, always investing in the business and the people as we went along. It has been hard work, but we have been blessed to have such a great team around us, many have been with us for a very long time and have also moved up into senior positions. We couldn’t thank all the staff enough for their hard work and dedication and these awards are testimony to team work and the values that we endeavour to instil within NNA Ltd.”
