Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue III, 2015 | Page 26

2015 MVP AWARDS
BY DEBBIE SELINSKY

Top Dog

W

From part-time janitor to largest franchisee
year. He also will be one of the very first to
adopt Wienerschnitzel’s new restaurant design with a location scheduled to open this
fall in Stockton, Calif.
He’s also working just as hard to reward
his highest-performing managers. In 1990,
he designed and implemented an incentive
program through which top managers receive
a guaranteed salary, 49 percent ownership, and
50 percent of the profits of their store. “Of
my 18 stores, 10 of them have part-owners
as a result of this incentive program,” he
says. “They are the future of franchising.”

hen Farouk Diab walks into one
of his 18 Wienerschnitzel restaurants wearing a uniform, same
as the other workers there, he’s
making a statement. The Israeli immigrant—
and winner of the 2015 Spirit of Franchising
MVP Award—is owner and president of a
multi-million dollar business, but he doesn’t
wear a power suit.
“When I came to the United States in
1975 at the age of 18, I got a job as a janitor
at a Wienerschnitzel in San Jose, California,”
he says. “I learned every job there and worked
my way up. Then I was given the opportunity
to become a franchisee.”
This year, he celebrates 40 years with
Wienerschnitzel and 38 years as a franchisee. Wienerschnitzel’s leading franchisee
for nearly 20 years, Diab operates the most
franchised units in the system. Several of
his stores have been the most profitable in
Wienerschnitzel’s system of more than 325
corporate and franchised restaurants.
Diab isn’t resting on his laurels, choosing instead to continue to build two other
restaurant chains: The Omelet House and
Strings Italian Cafe, as well as adding at
least two new Wienerschnitzel units each

NAME: Farouk Diab
TITLE: President, Diab Enterprises
NO. OF UNITS: 18 Wienerschnitzels
(21 by end of 2015), 2 The Omelet
House, 2 Strings Italian Cafe
AGE: 59
FAMILY: Wife Sahira, six children and

six grandchildren

YEARS IN FRANCHISING: 40
YEARS IN CURRENT POSITION: 38

2015 MVP AWARDS
Spirit of Franchising Award
Why do you think you were recognized with this award? I believe I was honored with this award because of how hard I work and how much
I really believe in this company. I started off as a janitor when I was 18 and
have grown to become the top franchisee in Wienerschnitzel with several of my
18 stores being the most profitable of all of the brand’s 325 locations. It’s because of my hard work that I was recognized in the system and was rewarded
with the opportunity to open my own store. I am proud to be a longtime member of Wienerschnitzel’s Million Dollar Club.
How have you raised the bar in your own company? By continuing to hold the top spot as Wienerschnitzel’s leading franchisee for nearly 20
years. Also, Wienerschnitzel recently unveiled a new restaurant prototype with
a significantly smaller footprint. I’m excited to be one of the very first adopters of the new restaurant design with a location scheduled to open this fall in
Stockton, Calif.
What innovations have you created and used to build your company? In 1990, I designed and implemented an incentive program to reward
my highest-performing managers. This program was designed with the idea that

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MULTI-UNIT FRANCHISEE IS S UE III, 2015

my top managers would be rewarded with the possibility of becoming partners
and part-owner of my next location. In these cases, general managers receive
a guaranteed salary, 49 percent ownership, and profits split 50/50. Of my 18
stores, 10 of them have part-owners as a result of this incentive program.
What core values do you think helped you win this award?
Mainly an extremely hard work ethic. I’m not afraid to roll up my sleeves, put in
the time, and prove myself from the ground up.
How important is community involvement to you and your company? Very important. Our stores have relationships with local colleges and
high schools, offering donations or supportin