Checkers
Company: Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc.
Company Description: Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. is the largest double drive-thru restaurant chain in the United States. The Company develops, produces, owns, operates, and franchises quick service double drive-thru restaurants under the brand names Checkers (R) and Rally's (R). Checkers is headquartered in Tampa, Florida, and is publicly traded on NASDAQ under CHKR.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Executive
Nomination Title: Adam Noyes, Senior VP of Purchasing and Operations Services, Checkers/Rally's
1. Tell the story about what this nominee achieved in the past year (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:
In 2005, Adam Noyes, Senior Vice President of Purchasing and Operations Services, made significant contributions to the Checkers/Rally’s organization. The initiatives that Adam oversaw were wide ranging, from large-scale restaurant remodeling efforts, to the unexpected task of hurricane recovery, to launching successful new products in new retail channels, to creating motivational programs for employees.
Adam began 2005 by leading a re-branding initiative to convert the Rally’s-branded Jacksonville market to our flagship Checkers brand. This effort involved not only exterior construction work to change the brand, but also demanded the implementation of many training and operational improvements. As a result, this formerly low-performing market became a sales leader following the re-branding.
Adam instituted this same re-branding process in Memphis. Immediately following the completion of that conversion effort, the new Checkers locations in Memphis recorded an increase in average daily traffic counts that were 22 percent higher than the remaining Rally's locations. Similarly, the new Checkers locations experienced an increase in average daily sales of more than 20 percent compared to the average daily sales of the Rally's locations still operating in the market. Adam then led the Rally’s New Orleans market through its recovery following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. All 20 restaurants in that market were shuttered and employees were dispersed around the country.
A hotline was immediately implemented and advertised, so that relocated employees could call in to us. Our automatic electronic pay cards ensured that all employees were paid on time, even when the mail would not go through, and an Employee Relief Fund was established to assist employees in need. A creative incentive pay program was also launched to help staff the restaurants and help our employees rebuild their homes.
Adam then led the efforts to remodel and rebuild the market. Within three days, our first restaurant reopened in the New Orleans market, and twelve more have been opened as of March 1st. Because of these initiatives, Rally’s was able to open our restaurants more quickly, and operate for many more hours than the competition. These efforts resulted in a 50% increase in overall sales at Rally’s reopened restaurants. Lessons learned from Katrina helped Adam and his team prepare for Hurricane Wilma and recover quickly from its effects in South Florida. Throughout the country, Adam led the successful effort to launch new Checkers/Rally’s branded grocery products. Our frozen Famous Fries have gained greater distribution based on a thriving limited launch, and new Checkers/Rally’s Officially Licensed NASCAR Burgers will hit grocery freezer sections this spring.
Adam also implemented a “Reach for the Gold” incentive which encouraged teams to achieve sales records. He instituted a MILESTONE program rewarding the Managers for achieving new sales plateaus. In addition, a 10%, 20%, 30% sales incentive was used to drive 4th quarter results. These sales building programs provided 18 out 19 quarters with same store sales growth, with 2004 being double digit growth and 2.5% growth in 2005 on top of the double digit results in 2004.
2. List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:
Memphis re-branding:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=61892&p=irol-
newsEvents_Article&ID=770504&highlight=
Hurricane Katrina response
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=61892&p=irol-
newsEvents_Article&ID=756096&highlight=
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=61892&p=irol-
newsEvents_Article&ID=781498&highlight=
Famous Fries launch
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=61892&p=irol-
newsEvents_Article&ID=741141&highlight=
3. Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the nominee:
During his 15 year career with Checkers, Mr. Noyes has worked in nearly every facet of the organization, creating and implementing successful programs in training, development, purchasing, and operations. Mr. Noyes began his career in operations with McDonald’s and then joined Checkers in 1991 in the area of restaurant support services. He was quickly promoted to senior-level management positions in Purchasing and Operations Services, and was appointed to Vice President of Purchasing and Quality Assurance in 1998. In 2000, he was appointed to oversee the five-year corporate turnaround of sales and profitability as Vice President of Company Operations and Purchasing.