Inside the Edible® 2024 Franchise Conference and Award Ceremony

Edible, the innovative e-commerce hub uniquely supported by locally owned brick-and-mortar locations across the globe, recently held its annual Franchise Conference and Award Ceremony at The Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort on July 12-13, 2024. This year’s event was particularly special as it marked the 25th anniversary of the brand. Franchisees, managers and partners came together to celebrate successes, engage in insightful sessions and honor outstanding achievements.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to come together and celebrate 25 years of Edible," said Edible President, Somia Farid Silber. "This milestone is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and innovation of our entire team and the unwavering support of our franchisees and customers. As we reflect on our journey, we are more excited than ever about the future and the next 25 years.” 

Event Highlights

The conference kicked off with a Welcome Reception at Epcot on Friday, July 12th. Attendees and their guests enjoyed a delightful evening exploring Epcot, dining at the American Adventure Rotunda and capturing memories with Minnie Mouse. This set a festive tone for the days to come.

The following day was packed with learning sessions and networking opportunities. The General Session presentations featured key insights from Edible’s leadership, including President, Somia Farid Silber, Chief Marketing Officer, Kevin Keith, Chief Innovation Officer, Angela Johnson, Chief Development Officer, Mark Mele, Chief Technology Officer, Faraz Iqbal, and Vice President of eCommerce, Erica Randerson.

Breakout sessions such as “Unlocking Franchise Profitability: Strategies for Success” and “Local Store Marketing and Customer Experience” provided franchisees with practical strategies to enhance their operations. Guest speakers Dennis Snow and Dana Telsey shared their expertise, inspiring attendees with lessons from Disney and retail economic trends.

The Edible Expo was another memorable aspect of the weekend. The bustling trade show served as a place where franchise owners, managers and support teams networked with suppliers showcasing their latest products. The popular Edible Swag Store also offered exclusive merchandise, including limited 25th-anniversary items, making it a hit among attendees.

The Awards Gala: Celebrating Excellence

The conference culminated in the highly anticipated awards gala on Saturday evening. This elegant event featured dinner, an awards ceremony, family photo opportunities and a night of celebration as the brand honored its top performers.

“It’s always a pleasure to highlight our franchisees for their hard work and dedication,” said Keith. “Recognizing their achievements not only celebrates their individual successes but also reinforces the strength and unity of our entire franchise community. Their commitment and passion are what drive our brand forward.”

Here are this year’s award winners:

• Guest Choice Award: Richard North, Store #1443 – Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
• Community Ambassador Award: Keith Cotton, Store #1308 – Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
• Top Local Store Marketer Award: Megan Dahm, Store #1714 – Savannah, Georgia
• Manager of the Year Award: Heather Hearst, Store #851 – Fairlawn, Ohio
• Delivery Ambassador Award: Natasha Benloss, Store #335 – Clearmont, Florida
• Pineapple Star Award Winners:
  • Northeast Region:
    • Keith Cotton, Store #1308 – Willow Grove, PA
    • Bhavika Patel, Store #295 – Somers Point, NJ
    • Michael Savino, Store #269 – Cherry Hill, NJ
  • Southeast Region:
    • Ayodeji Rotimi, Store #264 – Nashville, TN
    • Ryan Colbert, Store #1650 – New Port Richey, FL
    • Richard North, Store #1443 – Murrells Inlet, SC
  • Midwest Region:
    • Mary Beers, Store #1662 – Hanover, PA
    • Debra Law, Store #212 – Mokena, IL
    • Yulia Kheyfets, Store #324 – Saint Louis, MO
  • Western Region:
    • Gabriela Zazueta, Store #377 – Scottsdale, AZ
    • Sally Nishimoto, Store #598 – Los Angeles, CA
    • Tarana Haque, Store #165 – Dallas, TX
  • Canada:
    • Sarkis Barsemian, Store #478 – Montreal, QC
• Franchise of the Year Award: Gabriela Zazueta, Store #377 – Scottsdale, Arizona
• Vendor of the Year Award: Tennessee Cheesecake

Looking Ahead

As the Edible franchise family looks to the future, the 2024 conference served as a reminder of the brand’s commitment to innovation, excellence and community. And with 25 years under its belt, the team shows no signs of slowing down. Last year, Edible announced its forthcoming NextGen store concept and has identified about 350 new opportunities in various trade areas throughout the U.S. for franchise expansion.  

For more information on franchising with Edible, visit: https://1851franchise.com/edible.

About Edible® 

Founded in 1999, Edible® has revolutionized the gifting industry, uniquely leveraging the synergistic power of an innovative e-commerce hub and locally owned brick-and-mortar locations across the globe. Edible's platform seamlessly blends the convenience of online shopping with a vast retail footprint that services over 80% of U.S. households within an hour. Expanding beyond its iconic fruit arrangements, Edible has a range of offerings, including delectable dessert boards, cookies, brownies, cakes, farm-fresh flowers and more – perfect for every celebratory occasion and any treat-yourself moment. For more information, visit edible.com.