Metal Supermarkets Celebrates Franchisee Excellence and Success at Annual Conference

October 30, 2026 // Franchising.com // Toronto, Ontario – Metal Supermarkets recently held its 2026 Franchisee Conference in Colorado Springs, Colorado, bringing together over 147 franchisees and corporate staff to connect and celebrate franchisee achievements from the past fiscal year. From September 17th to 19th, attendees from across North America gathered to network, share best practices and insights on the future of the business system, and recognize top-performing franchisees and stores.

“The Metal Supermarkets franchise network experienced another 12 months of strong growth, which was driven by record year-over-year sales and the opening of 15 new stores,” said Ryan Pryznyk, President and CEO of Metal Supermarkets. “The annual conference is our chance to celebrate the excellence, teamwork and dedication of our franchisee network, while connecting and collaborating to support the growth of our brand and business. We are incredibly grateful for the hard work, leadership and passion our franchisees bring to their businesses and to the Metal Supermarkets network every day.”

The conference offered franchisees the opportunity to attend presentations from Metal Supermarkets’ Head Office staff, engage in interactive discussions and network with fellow franchisees. They also had the opportunity to share ideas and learn from one another while gaining further insights into the brand’s status, business plans and vision for the future.

The annual awards banquet honored top-performing franchisees for a variety of achievements. A number of franchisees received top awards, including:

• Greg and Denette Gallman, the Bill Mair Franchisee of the Year Award: Greg and Denette Gallman are the owners and franchisees of Metal Supermarkets Charleston in South Carolina. The Gallmans were recognized for their outstanding achievement and commitment to the business by demonstrating strength in performance, customer service and operational excellence. Their dedication to the brand is shared by their two sons, Garrett and Grant, who hold active operational roles at the family-owned store.
• Niraj Patel, the Metal Man Award: Niraj Patel, the owner and franchisee of Metal Supermarkets Mobile, received the Metal Man Award, which recognizes a franchisee who overcomes obstacles and challenges while demonstrating resilience and leadership in the face of adversity.
• Nicholas Berchtold, the Customer Service Award: Berchtold is the owner and franchisee of Metal Supermarkets Cleveland (South) in Ohio. In fiscal 2026, Berchtold and his team received an excellent Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 98%, which reflects a consistently high level of customer service and loyalty. His store also achieved 24% sales growth in fiscal 2026.
• Richard Russell, the Rookie of the Year Award: This award recognizes a new franchisee who has opened a Metal Supermarkets store within the past two years and demonstrates strong sales growth, exceptional customer service and a passion and dedication for the business and brand. Russell, the owner and franchisee of Metal Supermarkets Pittsburgh (Coraopolis), was recognized for exceeding several operational and sales benchmarks.
• Alan and Wesley Wilkinson, the Safety Leadership Award: Recognized for their commitment to safety, the Wilkinsons are the owners and franchisees of Metal Supermarkets Pittsburgh (Cranberry Township). The Wilkinsons and their team were recognized for best exemplifying the brand’s core value of “operating in a safe environment”, ensuring cleanliness, organization, operational discipline and safety protocols are consistently followed and implemented.
• Henry and Michelle Dow, the Learning and Development Performance Award: The Dows – the owners and franchisees of Metal Supermarkets Baltimore and Metal Supermarkets York – were awarded for their commitment to the professional development and skills enhancement of their store staff. Their dedication to continual improvement and training has resulted in a 24% sales increase at their first store and a 45% sales increase at their second location.
• Jim Hopper, the Sales Growth Award: Hopper, the owner and franchisee of Metal Supermarkets Wichita in Kansas, was awarded the Sales Growth Award for achieving the network’s highest year-over-year sales growth.

Metal Supermarkets continues to expand by actively awarding locations to qualified individuals who have strong business acumen and customer service experience. The Metal Supermarkets franchise opportunity is ideal for entrepreneurs seeking to build a lasting, profitable business in their market, with opportunities to grow as an owner-operator or multi-unit franchisee. The moderate investment range for a Metal Supermarkets location is between $397,500 to $670,500, and qualified owners must have between $150,000 to $180,000 in liquid capital to be considered. Qualified U.S. military veterans can take advantage of a $5,000 reduction off the initial franchise fee.

SOURCE Metal Supermarkets

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