Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue II, 2014 | Page 22

MULTI-BR A N D 50
BY DEBBIE SELINSKY

Branching Out

C

Young operator adds Sears to his two food brands

onventional wisdom says it makes
sense for multi-unit franchisees
with food brands to stick with
food as they expand. Ahmed ElHawary doesn’t see it that way.
El-Hawary, who worked in his family’s restaurant as a youth, operates four

Firehouse Subs. When he opened his
first 12 years ago, he was the brand’s
youngest franchisee. Last December, he
opened his first Golden Corral restaurant, a $3.5 million project built from
the ground up.
But when the 34-year-old—who also

worked in his father’s business selling glass
doors, screens, and garage doors—had
the opportunity to acquire eight Sears
Outlets stores, he didn’t hesitate.
“It was an opportunistic choice. We’re
the third franchisees to come in and do
the Sears Outlets, which are now outside the Sears brand but still have that
strong name behind them,” he says.
“Most of what we do is sell appliances
at 20 to 70 percent off retail. We don’t
own the inventory. Sears owns it and
gives us commission on sales. It’s a great
business model—an old company with
a new business model. It’s been exciting and the fastest-growing segment in
our company. To build Golden Corral
restaurants takes more time because of
the large footprint, so those won’t come
on as fast as the Sears Outlets. We’ll
continue to grow our Firehouse brand,
which is a great brand with great guys,
as opportunities arise.”
El-Hawary was born in Cincinnati
to Egyptian parents and grew up in
Merritt Island, Fla. He says he doesn’t
see himself as a restaurateur. “I’m a
businessman. And once you understand
the fundamentals of business, it doesn’t
NAME: Ahmed El-Hawary
TITLE: Owner/CEO
COMPANY: Zeal Group
NO. OF UNITS: 4 Firehouse Subs;
1 Golden Corral (and 1 under
development); and 8 Sears Outlets
(all in Florida)
AGE: 34
FAMILY: Father, mother, and two

sisters
YEARS IN FRANCHISING: 12
YEARS IN CURRENT POSITION: 12

20

MULTI-UNIT FRANCHISEE IS S UE II, 2014