KBP Brands today announced that KBP Inspired, its Arby’s franchise business, has been named Operator of the Year for the entire Arby’s system. The award, one of the brand’s top recognitions, was presented on stage at the 2026 Arby’s Convention in Las Vegas on Sept. 24.
The honor recognizes the KBP Inspired team’s leadership, operational excellence and culture, which together deliver exceptional experiences for Arby’s guests.
“Being named Arby’s Operator of the Year is a tremendous honor,” said Matt Hansen, Chief Operating Officer at KBP Brands. “Thank you to Arby’s for this recognition and for the partnership behind it, and to every KBP Inspired team member, from our restaurant crews to our operations leaders. Most of all, thank you to the guests who choose Arby’s every day. Earning their visit is what this award is really about.”
A partner to the communities it serves
Beyond its restaurants, KBP Inspired is proud to support a variety of partners through the Arby’s Foundation. Through fundraising and volunteer efforts, the company gives guests and team members opportunities to make a positive, lasting impact.
Twice a year, KBP Inspired restaurants invite guests to donate $1 to the Arby’s Foundation during its national fundraiser. Since 2022, those efforts have funded more than $750,000 in local grants for organizations in KBP Inspired’s communities, including St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance in Phoenix, Covenant House Florida in Orlando and Duke Children’s, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, in Durham, North Carolina. KBP Inspired expects to surpass $1 million in local grants in 2027.
The company also champions 3DE by Junior Achievement, an Arby’s Foundation national partner that connects high school learning with real-world business challenges. For the 2026 Arby’s case challenge, ninth-grade students from 80 schools in 13 states researched how the brand could improve the customer experience for 13- to 17-year-olds, using survey data to develop and support their recommendations.
KBP Inspired restaurant leaders coached students as they built their recommendations, including at Osceola High School in Kissimmee, Florida, and Jay Johnson, Senior Vice President of Operations, served on the national judging panel for the Arby’s National Case Competition, evaluating student proposals and providing feedback.
“Programs like 3DE show young people the business behind the counter and the opportunity this industry offers,” said Johnson. “A first job in a restaurant can grow into a career – opening that door for the next generation, and investing in the communities we serve, is part of being a great operator.”
