Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen recently awarded the Statesboro Popeyes restaurant with a coveted 2009 Bronze Plate at the company's International Franchise Conference. The Gold Plate program recognizes the very best Popeyes restaurants for serving consistent, quality products with fast, friendly and accurate service in a clean comfortable environment, day in and day out.
       The Statesboro Popeyes, owned and operated by the Popkohn Company, Inc., was ranked in the top 10 out of more than 1,900 restaurants for 2009."
       "I really had no idea that we would receive this award," said John Kohn, franchise owner. "We are thrilled that the management and crew have been recognized for the work they do. The key to success for this team is having high standards and explaining them to and enforcing them with, everybody that works here."
       The Popkohn Company acquired the low volume restaurant at 536 Fair Road in 1988 and has since operated with positive sales. Drive by on any given day, and the line into the restaurant's drive thru may be out into the street.
       "I credit a great deal of our success last year to our general manager Natasha Canty," Kohn said. "She has worked at this Popeyes for more than 15 years, starting as a crew member. She came up through the management process, receiving certification as a training manager. She was recently promoted to her leadership role in August 2009."
       Kohn said a competitive spirit drives his restaurant team. "Natasha (Canty) may be new to being the leader of the restaurant, but she and her team have continued the standards previously set," he said. "The restaurant is now achieving the highest guest satisfaction scores it has ever achieved."
       The Popkohn Company is locally owned and managed by Cyndi and John Kohn. Since buying the business in 1988, the Kohns have remodeled the building twice with the latest and most significant re-image being in 2004. The restaurant employs approximately 35 people.
       "We are very proud of the fact that so many of our employees have been with us for years, and have grown and progressed with the company," he said. "That is directly attributable to the success that we have enjoyed."
       The award is not based on gross sales alone. Customer satisfaction, health department inspections, and quarterly inspections by the parent company are all factors. Congratulations to John and Cyndi Kohn. To be recognized as one of the top 10 restaurants out of more than 1,900 is quite an accomplishment.