Gerard Nicholas honoured for 50 years with KFC

A FOREST of Dean businessman has received a special commendation for 50 years of working with KFC.

Gerard Nicholas, who runs NNA Ltd with his wife Martina from their headquarters on Goodridge Avenue, has built up a prime portfolio of KFC franchise restaurants across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

The milestone comes following a recent global award from the restaurant giant as its best franchise partner.

Gerard said: “I began my career working in a KFC in London in 1975 in Camberwell Green. It was where I met my wife, Martina and, in 1982, we came to Cheltenham to open our own first KFC, on the High Street. After that success, we went on, in 1990, to open our second restaurant on Westgate Street, in Gloucester.

“Looking back, maybe the best measure of the work has been the long-term relationships both with staff who have started at the bottom and worked their way up and with the customers – we now meet the grandchildren of the young people who we first served back then!”

Alongside the planned Perrygrove Road, Coleford restaurant, 12 further sites now dot the map, while another new restaurant is in the pipeline for the Cotswold town of Stroud.

The newcomers will join restaurants in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Cirencester, Hereford and Evesham collectively. NNA provides roles for 340 staff across its network and the upcoming Coleford and Stroud restaurants are projected to create 65 further roles.

Rob Swain, KFC UK and Ireland General Manager, said: “NNA perfectly represents the growth, ambition and energy that our franchisees bring to KFC.

“KFC is incredibly proud of the impact they have made and of our long-term partnership with them.

“What makes this achievement even more impressive is that it has not been delivered in one of the UK’s major cities. [NNA] are top of the scorecards because you have invested in the system over many years, built capability and brought people along with you.”

Gerard said that a steady approach to business was baked into NNA’s approach: "By building carefully, the rest have all followed from those early days, always investing in the business and the people as we went along.”

As a franchisee, his first rule is that he can be contacted by any employee at any time of day, no matter where he is – at work, at home or on holiday.

But while KFC has recognised NNA Ltd for its commitment to growth, Gerard said that the pathway to success has not been about a raw pursuit of profit.

He said: “It is not all about money. Making sure customers have great food and a great experience actually costs nothing. You do, of course, have to keep a clear focus on the small details that ensure you control cost, but being friendly and making people feel welcome costs nothing.”

Ultimately, he said NNA’s success was built upon listening to staff and ensuring that no experience, good or bad, was wasted.

Gerard said: “We are a family company at heart – and we treat our people like family. We hope that’s why people come to us and stay with us – whichever side of the counter they choose.”