Orlando Restaurateur Eric Holm Selected Golden Corral "Franchisee Of The Year" For Fourth Time Based On Results Of His Vineland Avenue Restaurant

(Tuesday, October 05, 2004) - Orlando restaurateur Eric Holm yesterday (October 6) was selected 2004 "Franchisee of the Year" by Golden Corral Corporation, the fourth time he has been named the #1 franchisee in the 470-unit segment leading national buffet and grill chain.

Mr. Holm had two of the four top-ranked Golden Corrals in the nation, with the restaurant on Vineland Avenue at Lake Buena Vista winning the top honor of "Franchisee of the Year" for him, based on an index measuring guest satisfaction, operational excellence, sales volume and sales gain over 2003. Mike Aiello is Director of Operations and Jeff Cheatham is General Manager of the Lake Buena Vista unit.

"Our restaurant on Vineland Avenue was #1 for 2004, but the fact is that all of my 21 units in Orlando and Atlanta are really big winners this year," Mr. Holm said. His company, Metro Corral Partners, Inc. of Maitland, Fla., has eight Golden Corrals in the Orlando area and 13 Golden Corrals in greater Atlanta.

The strengthening economy makes Mr. Holm bullish about the outlook for 2005.

"Consumer spending looks like it will grow a bit faster, especially in tourist areas like Orlando, and that's got to be a plus for us," he said. "Bottom line, it's value and choice, not just tourist traffic, that really drive our business. We serve a giant buffet, complete with fresh-cut, charbroiled sirloin steak, for about the same price as a burger and soft drink at a theme park. That's just as attractive to local folks as it is to tourists."

Mr. Holm was honored at the conclusion of the annual Golden Corral Franchise Convention at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Fla. He received additional recognition in a large color ad in Nation's Restaurant News, the publication of record for the foodservice industry.

Of the 470 restaurants in the Golden Corral system, 353 are operated by franchisees and 117 are company-owned and operated. Systemwide sales in 2003 were $1.247 billion, the 12th straight record year.

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