ERA Group triumphs, securing top honors, while Michael Seid is recognized in Global Franchise’s Hall of Fame
A distinguished assembly of the global franchising industry’s top innovators came together to celebrate their achievements at the Global Franchise Awards 2025 reception.
Presented by Jack Monson, CEO of Brand J and host of the Social Geek podcast, the event honored outstanding brands across 23 categories, with winners selected by a panel of esteemed franchise professionals and international association leaders.
The Global Franchise Awards 2025 ceremony, held at the IFA convention on February 11 in Las Vegas, celebrated excellence in international franchising, bringing together industry leaders from around the world. The event recognized outstanding achievements across various categories, with ERA Group emerging as the standout winner.
ERA Group’s triple victory
ERA Group achieved remarkable success by securing three prestigious awards:
Global Franchise Grand Champion: This top honor acknowledges ERA Group’s exceptional performance, innovation and impact in the franchising industry.
Best Business & Professional Services Franchise: Recognized for the fifth time in eight years, ERA Group’s commitment to delivering expert financial insights and cost management strategies has solidified its leadership in the sector.
Regional Champion – Americas: This award highlights ERA Group’s significant growth and success across the American continent, reflecting its strong presence and influence in the region.
Mark Taylor, Global CEO of ERA Group, expressed his gratitude: “Winning these awards is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our franchisees and support teams worldwide.”
He emphasized that being named the Global Franchise Grand Champion is an incredible honor, reflecting ERA Group’s success in over 60 countries.
Reshift Media’s continued excellence
In the supplier categories, Reshift Media was honored as the Best Marketing & PR Firm for the third consecutive year. This recognition underscores their dedication to delivering cutting-edge digital marketing services tailored for franchise organizations.
Steve Buors, CEO of Reshift Media, remarked: “The Reshift team is elated to have been named the world’s best franchise marketing company for the third straight year.”
Diverse winners across categories
The awards also celebrated excellence across various sectors:
Best Children’s Service & Education Franchise: School of Rock
Best Emerging Franchise: Graze Craze
Best Fitness & Beauty Franchise: Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop
Best Retail Franchise: BENU Pharmacies
Best Fitness Franchise: Orangetheory Fitness
Best Food & Drink Franchise – Desserts: IHOP
Best Food & Drink Franchise – Drink: Gong Cha
Best Food & Drink Franchise – Food: Applebee’s
Best Lifestyle Franchise: The Travel Franchise
Best Property Maintenance Franchise: Stratus Building Solutions
Best Franchise Law Firm: Lathrop GPM
Best Franchise Consultancy: MSA Worldwide
Best Entertainment Franchise: Chuck E. Cheese
Best Signage & Communications Franchise: Signarama
Global Franchise Hall of Fame Inductee: Michael Seid
Global Franchise Corporate Social Responsibility Champion: Goliathtech
Global Franchise GRAND CHAMPION: ERA Group
Regional champions
The awards also recognized regional excellence:
Regional Champion – Europe: The Travel Franchise
Regional Champion – Asia-Pacific: City Cave
Regional Champion – Middle East & Africa: ALBAIK
Esteemed judging panel
The 2025 judging panel comprised distinguished industry leaders:
- Cristina Matos, CEO of the Portuguese Franchise Association
- Pip Wilkins, CEO of the British Franchise Association
- Jennifer Brandon, Chief Revenue Officer of the International Franchise Association
- Katalin Mandel, Franchise Industry Veteran
- Sherry McNeil, President & CEO of the Canadian Franchise Association
These awards highlight the dynamic and diverse landscape of global franchising, celebrating brands that demonstrate excellence, innovation and a commitment to advancing the industry.
Get in touch
For more information, photography and details on how to get involved with Global Franchise Awards 2026, please get in touch with the team at Global Franchise:
Rachael Wenham
44 (0) 1323 471291
Rachael.wenham@artichokehq.com
Nicky Maia
