Tasti D-Lite and Planet Smoothie are waiving 100 percent of the franchise fee for military veterans through the remainder of 2012. This incentive equates to $30,000 in savings to veterans interested in owning a Tasti D-Lite, Planet Smoothie, or dual-brand store.
Tasti D-Lite and Planet Smoothie CEO Jim Amos is a Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam. He received 12 decorations including the Purple Heart and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. Amos is also the author of The Memorial: A Novel of the Vietnam War.
He was named to the International Franchise Association (IFA) Hall of Fame at the IFA’s 52nd annual convention this year, and has made the availability of employment and franchise opportunities for Veterans a priority for years.
“As a Marine, when I returned to the U.S. from Vietnam in the ‘80s, the attitude of the American public was much different; being a veteran was a cause for derision instead of respect, and having fought for our country was a reason for ridicule instead of honor,” Amos says.
“As a country, we should never let that happen again. We need to show our returning heroes that the debt that they paid is a debt that we all own. Waiving the franchise fee for the brands that I represent, Tasti D-Lite and Planet Smoothie, is a small but hopefully beneficial way to communicate that appreciation.”
Tasti D-Lite, which will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this September, is very involved in veteran activities with the IFA. It held a news conference at the Jacksonville center—owned by Navy veteran Steve Burnett—to commemorate “Operation Enduring Opportunity” in November. Tasti D-Lite and Jim Amos also hosted an “Independence through Small Business Day” event last month in Nashville.
