Dunkin' Brands And Arby's, Inc. Board Member Jon Luther Named IFA Chairman
Company Added
Company Removed
Apply to Request List

Dunkin' Brands And Arby's, Inc. Board Member Jon Luther Named IFA Chairman

February 14, 2012 // Franchising.com // ORLANDO - Jon L. Luther, chairman of Dunkin' Brands and chairman of Arby's Inc., will serve as the 2012 chairman of the International Franchise Association.

Luther assumed the chairmanship at the conclusion of the IFA 52nd Annual Convention after serving several years in the leadership chairs at the IFA, including most recently as first vice chairman. Luther. Luther currently serves on the IFA Board of Directors and the IFA Executive Committee and is a member of the IFA Convention Committee, FranPAC Advisory Council and the organization's strategic planning groups. He also served as past chairman of the IFA Educational Foundation.

Jon L. Luther was named chief executive officer of Dunkin' Brands in January 2003 and chairman in March 2006. In 2009, he assumed the role of Executive Chairman; in 2011, non-executive Chairman of the Board. Luther joined the Arby's Inc. board of directors as Chairman in 2011.

Since joining Dunkin' Brands in 2003, Luther has led the transformation, revitalization and global expansion of the company's two iconic brands-Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins. In 2005, Luther brought in a culinary "dream team" of award-winning chefs to fuel menu innovation and excellence, creating a new category called "quick quality" to change perceptions about what is possible in a quick service meal. He stepped up the company's research capability with a consumer insights group, and refocused and re-energized the brands' marketing initiatives, leading to the 2006 launch of Dunkin' Donuts' award-winning marketing campaign, "America Runs on Dunkin'."

Luther led the expansion of Dunkin' Donuts from its core region in the Northeast to key markets across the U.S., and the dramatic growth of both brands' international business. From 2003 to 2009, system-wide sales increased over 66 percent and total number of stores nearly 44 percent.

Prior to joining Dunkin' Brands, Luther was president of Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, a division of AFC Enterprises. During his six years with Popeyes, the company's store count grew 67 percent to 1,672 units, while average annual unit volume grew to over $1 million, the highest in the chicken QSR category.

Prior to Popeyes, Luther was president of CA One Services, a subsidiary of Delaware North Companies, Inc. He has also held leadership positions in the contract foodservice division of the Marriott Corporation and at ARAMARK in Philadelphia, PA., where he rose from vending sales director to become president of Davre's, ARAMARK's luxury restaurant subsidiary. Luther also founded Benchmark Services, Inc., a foodservice management firm specializing in business dining for corporations, growing the business into a strong regional competitor.

Luther holds a degree in hotel and restaurant management from Paul Smiths College, and honorary doctorate degrees from Bentley College and Johnson & Wales University, as well as his Alma Mater, Paul Smiths College. He supports culinary and foodservice programs at a variety of institutions, including serving on the Board of Trustees for the Culinary Institute of America as Treasurer in 2005, Luther was the recipient of the Nation's Restaurant News Golden Chain award, and in 2006, he received the Chain Leadership award from Chain Leader magazine. Luther was awarded the 2007 Gold Plate Award from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) and the 2008 Mentor of the Year award from the Elliot Leadership Conference. In 2009, Luther received the National Restaurant Association's College of Diplomats award honoring his lifetime achievement in the restaurant field. In 2010, Luther was elected into the MenuMasters Hall of Fame.

About the International Franchise Association

The International Franchise Association is the world's oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. Celebrating over 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising. Through its media awareness campaign highlighting the theme, Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time, IFA promotes the economic impact of the more than 825,000 franchise establishments, which support nearly 18 million jobs and $2.1 trillion of economic output for the U.S. economy. IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.

Contact:

Alisa Harrison, 202-628-8000
Matthew Haller, 202-662-0770
aharrison@franchise.org
mhaller@franchise.org
twitter.com/franchising411

###

Comments:

comments powered by Disqus
Share This Page

Subscribe to our Newsletters