Anytime Fitness wins big, also scooping the industry’s highest award, while IFA’s Matt Haller is recognized in Global Franchise’s Hall of Fame
An elite gathering of international franchising’s brightest stars celebrated winning global recognition with their peers at the Global Franchise Awards 2024 reception on February 16, ahead of the 2024 IFA Annual Convention in Phoenix, Arizona.
Hosted by Jack Monson, CEO of Brand J and founder host of Social Geek podcast, the ceremony awarded 30 winners across 18 categories, judged by a panel of franchise experts and international association leaders. This year’s judges included Farrah Rose, head of international development at The Franchising Centre, Sherry McNeal, president and CEO of the Canadian Franchise Association and Jennifer Brandeen, COO of IFA.
Anytime Fitness was this year’s high achiever, scooping not only the Best Fitness Franchise category win, but also bagging Regional Champion (Americas) and the overall Grand Champion awards, marking yet another sensational year for this huge global success story. Judges commented on the brand’s founding philosophy of People, Purpose, Profits and Play, which has helped cultivate the largest and fastest-growing fitness franchise network in the world.
“It’s great to be amongst so many different great franchise systems out there,” said Eric Keller, VP of Franchise Support at Anytime Fitness. This award is a testament to our great franchise partners around the globe and our small but mighty team that we have back at our corporate office – they’re what makes what we do happen.”
Matt Haller, president and CEO of the International Franchise Association (IFA) attended the event to accept his induction into Global Franchise’s prestigious Hall of Fame, recognizing and rewarding his immense impact as a powerful and tenacious advocate for franchising during recent challenging times.
Says Matt Haller: “Thank you to the entire team at Global Franchise for selecting me for this award. I don’t view this award as about me – it’s for the entire team at the IFA, the staff who help protect, enhance and promote franchising every single day and on behalf of IFA members and the broader franchise community. We know that franchising is the greatest business model in the world.”
“It was a great honor to host the 2024 Global Franchise Awards ceremony and celebrate these fantastic achievements with such a vibrant and enthusiastic group of franchise superstars, added Rachael Wenham, head of global development at Global Franchise. “We’re delighted to see so many brands, established and new, breaking ground, and excited to follow and report on their success and developments over the coming months. We’d like to extend our gratitude to all the brands who took the time to enter, our sponsors and supporters – including School of Rock (last year’s Grand Champion), IFA, Brand J and Social Geek – and of course our wonderful judging panel.”
See full coverage of the awards in the next issue of Global Franchise (out May 3rd 2024) and global-franchise.com. The full list of winners and highly commended brands are listed below:
Best children’s and education franchise
Winner – Little Kickers
Highly commended – School of Rock
Best emerging franchise
Winner – Venture X
Highly commended – GoliathTech Inc
Best fitness franchise
Winner – Anytime Fitness
Highly commended – Mayweather Boxing + Fitness
Best food and drink franchise
Winner – Ziggi’s Coffee
Highly commended – Wingstop
Best lifestyle franchise
Winner – Dogtopia
Highly commended – Just Cuts
Best property maintenance franchise
Winner – Stratus Building Solutions
Highly commended – EverLine Coatings and Services
Best signage and communications franchise
Winner – Signarama
Highly commended – FASTSIGNS International Inc
Best white-collar franchise
Winner – Expense Reduction Analysts
Highly commended – InXpress
Best nursing and care franchise
Winner – BrightStar Care
Best franchise consultancy
Winner – Franchise Ready
Highly commended – The Franchising Centre
Best franchise law firm
Winner – Lathrop GPM
Highly commended – Rosen Karol Salis PLLC
Best franchise marketing firm
Winner – Reshift Media Inc
Highly commended – BizCom Associates
Best franchise PR firm
Winner – All Points Public Relations
Highly commended – BizCom Associates
Regional Champion – Europe
Winner – Fireaway Pizza
Regional Champion – Asia Pacific
Winner – KX Pilates
Regional Champion – Americas
Winner – Anytime Fitness
Grand Champion
Anytime Fitness
Hall of Fame inductee 2024
Matthew Haller
Contact:
For more information, photography and details on how to get involved with Global Franchise Awards 2024, please get in touch with the team at Global Franchise:
Rachael Wenham
44 (0) 1323 471291
Rachael.wenham@artichokehq.com
Millie Hall
44 (0) 1323 471291
Nicky Maia
