Cinnabon, the 25-year-old market leader among cinnamon roll bakeries, has named Frank Ross, Jr., as its Franchise Partner of the Year. Ross successfully operates bakeries in Albany and Columbus, Georgia.
The Franchise Partner of the Year award is given to the franchise owner who runs successful Cinnabon bakery operations, lives the values of the company, and provides exceptional service and products that make Cinnabon guests, business partners, and communities say "Wow!"
“My wife Sarah and I wanted to open a Cinnabon in our local mall because we loved the brand so much we would travel all the way to Florida for the delicious cinnamon treat,” Ross says. “I feel the key to being a great franchise partner is living the Cinnabon core values in everything we do.”
Prior to joining the Cinnabon team in December 2009, Ross retired from a 25-year career with Procter & Gamble. During his time with Procter & Gamble, Ross learned and was directly involved in the implementation of a system known as autonomous maintenance, which he describes as taking complete ownership of a system and maintaining it to its highest level of performance. The practice of autonomous maintenance is another key to his success.
“Since opening his first bakery just one and a half years ago, Frank and his crew have lived the values,” says Kat Cole, president of Cinnabon. “The leadership that he and his wife provide in their bakeries drives their success. They are well connected to their communities, create a strong employee culture, give back to others in need, and have beautiful operations, as well as strong financial results. Frank exemplifies the ultimate franchise partner, and we are fortunate to have him as a business partner and representative of our brand.”
“This award shows that hard work does not go unnoticed, and it means a lot that Cinnabon is willing to recognize and honor that hard work,” Ross says. “It’s a great opportunity and I’m proud to represent a company like Cinnabon. It’s an honor and a humbling experience that drives me to do more.”
