Georgia Restaurant Association Honors Goldbergs Group Founders

The Georgia Restaurant Association has named Wayne Saxe and Howard Aaron of Goldbergs Group as recipients of the 2026 GRACE Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. The two business partners of more than three decades will be honored at the GRACE Awards Gala on Monday, December 7, 2026.

Saxe and Aaron built Goldbergs from a small Atlanta bagel business into a diversified enterprise spanning restaurants, catering, food manufacturing, and aviation food service. Their restaurants remain gathering places for generations of Atlanta families, many of them customers for decades.

How did the partnership start?

Both men entered the restaurant industry in Johannesburg, South Africa, by different routes. Saxe was working as an accountant when an investment opportunity in a struggling restaurant revealed his passion for the business. Aaron started working in restaurants in 1972, learning the trade from the ground up before opening his own establishment.

Aaron later became a meat supplier for Saxe's restaurant. The professional relationship grew into a friendship, a family connection, and eventually a business partnership. Sharing similar values and a desire to build something of their own, the two relocated to the United States.

In 1992, Saxe and Aaron acquired Goldberg & Son, a small Atlanta bagel business that became the foundation of Goldbergs Fine Foods. Through careful expansion and a commitment to quality food, they established the brand as a respected name in Atlanta's restaurant community — without losing the neighborhood atmosphere that built its reputation.

What does the diversification look like?

The company's growth strategy centered on controlling product quality and consistency. Saxe began producing food in-house from a small kitchen at the West Paces Ferry location, starting with deli staples such as tuna salad and chicken salad. That kitchen operation expanded into broader food manufacturing capabilities, which in turn opened new business channels, including aviation food service.

The move positioned Goldbergs Group as a diversified food and hospitality enterprise serving customers both in restaurants and through aviation and food service channels — a revenue structure that reduced reliance on traditional dining operations alone.

Aaron's contribution ran through the company's workforce. Having worked in nearly every aspect of restaurant operations, he emphasized listening to employees, staying involved in day-to-day operations, and leading by example. That philosophy shaped a culture built on teamwork, accountability, and long-term career development for staff.

What does the award recognize?

The GRACE Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals whose careers demonstrate exceptional leadership, dedication, and lasting commitment to Georgia's restaurant and hospitality industry.

"Wayne and Howard have made an incredible impact on Georgia's restaurant industry, and we are thrilled to recognize them with this year's Lifetime Achievement Award," said Stephanie Fischer, President and CEO of the Georgia Restaurant Association. "They have successfully grown and diversified their business while never losing sight of the importance of their employees, their customers, and the communities they serve."

For both men, the most meaningful measure of success is not company growth but the people who built careers with them and the families their business has supported. They will be formally recognized alongside other industry honorees at the gala on December 7, 2026, with tickets and sponsorship details available at garestaurants.org/GRACE.