Golden Corral Franchisee Eric Holm Named 2026 IFA Franchisee of the Year

Eighteen Golden Corral buffets across Central Florida — that is the operation behind Eric Holm, the franchise owner and founder of Metro Corral just named a 2026 Franchisee of the Year by the International Franchise Association (IFA). The IFA announced the award at its IFA26 Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C., held September 14–16.

The Franchisee of the Year award recognizes franchise owners who demonstrate leadership through community involvement, workforce development, and franchise mentorship. Holm qualified on all three counts, according to the IFA and Golden Corral's leadership.

Holm's portfolio includes several of the brand's high-performing locations. His influence extends beyond his own units: he has served multiple terms on Golden Corral's Franchise Advisory Council and mentors fellow operators across the system. His emphasis on developing and retaining strong restaurant teams has produced one of the lowest management turnover rates within the entire Golden Corral franchise system — a metric that matters directly to operator economics, since management churn is among the costliest line items in multi-unit restaurant operations.

"Eric exemplifies the kind of franchisee leadership that has strengthened our franchise system for decades," said David Conklin, Chief Development Officer of Golden Corral. "He has built a strong organization while remaining committed to his community and the values of our brand, and his continued investment in Golden Corral is a meaningful reflection of the strength of our franchise system."

What drives the community side of the award?

Holm's commitment to service is rooted in personal experience. Raised by a single mother as one of five children, Holm and his family once relied on the Salvation Army for a Thanksgiving meal. He has carried that experience forward for more than 30 years, volunteering each Thanksgiving with the Salvation Army to help provide approximately 20,000 meals to people throughout Central Florida.

That combination of scale, retention performance, and sustained community work is what the IFA says its highest individual franchisee honor is designed to recognize.

"Franchisees of the Year demonstrate what franchising is all about; individuals who have committed their lives and careers to the betterment of those around them, building something bigger than themselves," said Matt Haller, President and CEO of the International Franchise Association. "Through their leadership, they create jobs and build careers, give back to their communities, and support other franchisees, all while exemplifying the entrepreneurial spirit at the heart of franchising. We are proud to recognize Eric with IFA's highest honor for individual franchisees and celebrate his commitment to making a difference both within his business and beyond."

What does this change for Golden Corral operators?

For the roughly 400-unit buffet brand's franchise community, the award spotlights a repeatable model: keep management turnover low through team development, stay active in system governance through bodies like the Franchise Advisory Council, and invest in local community ties that reinforce the brand's value positioning. Golden Corral, which is actively recruiting franchisees through goldencorral.com/franchise, is positioning operators like Holm as the template for that growth.