Georgia Restaurant Owners Receive National Recognition for Excellence in Business from World’s Oldest and Largest Franchising Association
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The International Franchise Association (IFA) named Matt and Alison Bengochea, multi-unit owners of HoneyBaked in Athens and Gainesville, Georgia, as a 2024 Franchisee of the Year. The pair were honored at the 65th IFA Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nominated by their parent company, recipients of this award are selected for their service to their communities, dedication to fostering a strong and vibrant workforce, commitment to career growth and entrepreneurship, and supporting their fellow franchisees.
“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized alongside such an esteemed group of individuals by the IFA,” said Alison Bengochea. “Thanks to the support of the entire dedicated leadership team at HoneyBaked, Matt and I have the privilege to continue to uphold the brand’s commitment to quality and community giveback. We’re thrilled to see what’s ahead and look forward to continuing to grow alongside such a beloved household name brand.”
With over a decade of experience with the brand, the duo has set the standard within the HoneyBaked franchise network for their dedication and passion. Together, Matt and Alison have transformed their HoneyBaked locations in Athens and Gainesville, achieving over 300% business growth, making them two of the top performing in the system. Over the past year, they’ve trained two sets of new owners, while also sharing their insights and best practices with others in the franchise network. Alison has developed training guides and manuals, providing valuable operational insights while remaining open to new ideas for improving their own stores.
“Matt and Alison embody the qualities that drive our franchise’s success and mission. The pair have left an incredible footprint both within our franchise network, as well as in their communities,” said Jerry DeFeo, Vice President of Franchise Operations with HoneyBaked. “They’ve built a culture across their locations that empowers each member of their staff to go above and beyond in serving their communities. This recognition is well deserved.”
Driven by a commitment to providing exceptional products and cherished experiences, HoneyBaked has become a household name with a loyal customer base. With delicious offerings like their complete meals featuring signature glazed ham and turkey breast, a variety of heat & serve sides and desserts, as well as new Take & Bake Sliders and Biscuits, HoneyBaked has cemented itself as the industry-leading forerunner for celebrations and everyday occasions.
HoneyBaked is actively seeking passionate entrepreneurs to join its thriving franchise network. The brand encourages scalability, long-term growth, and active community involvement in its franchisee candidates. By capitalizing on its unrivaled products, proven business model, and comprehensive support system, HoneyBaked is set to energize the franchise industry while ensuring a glazing path to success.
About The Honey Baked Ham Company ®
For more than 65 years, The Honey Baked Ham Company® has provided customers and their families with delightful food to enjoy for all of life’s special moments. HoneyBaked’s origins began when founder Harry J. Hoenselaar patented a spiral-slicing ham machine, making way for the first HoneyBaked Store in Detroit, Michigan. Since that momentous opening in 1957, the family-owned company has grown to more than 400 locations nationwide, serving its signature spiral-sliced Honey Baked Ham with sweet and crunchy glaze, premium turkey breast, heat & serve sides, desserts, sandwiches, and most recently, delicious take & bake sliders and biscuits. Offering convenient meals using the best ingredients, HoneyBaked will make every occasion a little more memorable, whether you’re dining in-store, picking up or ordering online.
For more information about HoneyBaked, see https://www.honeybaked.com/home and connect on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and TikTok.
For more information on the HoneyBaked franchise opportunity, visit https://honeybakedfranchise.com/.
About the International Franchise Association:
Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the approximately 830,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.8 million direct jobs, $896.9 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development.
