Gathers Perkins and Huddle House teams to celebrate wins and plan for the future

Ascent Hospitality Management, parent company to iconic family dining brands Perkins Restaurant & Bakery and Huddle House, recently hosted its first ever all brands conference. The Ascent Together conference brought together more than 500 franchisees, vendors, corporate teams, and other key partners.

“Bringing our teams together let us celebrate shared and individual achievements while setting the course for a strong future,” said Paul Damico, President & CEO of Ascent Hospitality Management. “In an industry full of newer, trend driven concepts, longevity gives Perkins and Huddle House a real competitive advantage. We are not operating old brands, we are operating trusted brands, and that distinction shapes everything we do."

Greg Creed served as the conference's keynote speaker. Creed led Yum! Brands as CEO from 2015 to 2019, following a 40 year career spanning marketing and operations. His keynote reinforced the message that culture and results move together, and lasting brand trust drives long term performance.

The family dining category continues to face pressure, making brand trust and guest sentiment more critical differentiators than ever. Black Box Intelligence data shows Perkins and Huddle House outperform category peers Denny's, IHOP, and Cracker Barrel in consumer net sentiment, a measure spanning service, environment, value, food, beverage, intent to return, hospitality, and Google ratings. This positioning underscores the strength of the guest experience across both brands and reinforces the value proposition Ascent Hospitality Management offers current and prospective franchisees.

Throughout the 2026 conference, Ascent Hospitality Management recognized individuals, stores, and partners through awards that highlighted each recipient's exceptional performance and commitment to the brands.

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Awards

Perkins recognized their franchise teams with these awards.

• Franchisee of the Year: Kevin Jones of A&A Food Systems
• Top Donations to Give Kids The World: Danville, PA Perkins (operated by JDK Management), raised $25,972 this year, adding to the over $3M donated over the past 4 years
• Top Sales Growth: Rapid City, SD Perkins (operated by Northcott); 11.1% increase
• General Manager of the Year (Franchisee): Robert Smith Jr. of the Hanover, PA Perkins, operated by JDK Management
• General Manager of the Year (Corporate: Jenny Johnson of the Black River Falls Perkins

Huddle House Awards

Huddle House also recognized their franchisees with these awards.

• Franchisee of the Year: Terry Wingfield and Daniel Potts
• Top Sales Growth: Douglas, GA Huddle House; increase of 17.5%
• Community Involvement Award: Jason Bollinger
• General Manager of the Year (Franchisee): Tim Stancil of the Cleveland, TN Huddle House
• Huddle House GM of the Year (Corporate) Richard Smith of the Demopolis, AL Huddle House

The brands acknowledged their partners with these awards.

• Huddle House Supplier of the Year: SSCD – Ecolab
• Perkins Supplier of the Year: US Foodservice
• Ascent Hospitality Management Vendor of the Year: Toast

To learn more about franchising with Huddle House or Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, visit www.ascenthm.com/franchising.

About Ascent Hospitality Management

Ascent Hospitality Management is the parent company of Huddle House and Perkins American Food Co. and was founded to acquire and invigorate storied brands to drive long-term growth. With nearly 600 locations across the U.S. and Canada, the company's mission is "Bringing friends and families together, over delicious food, served from the heart." Huddle House and Perkins each have more than 60 years of serving award-winning, made-to-order breakfast and all-day favorites with a smile to families and friends nationwide. Visit ascenthm.com for additional information on both brands and franchise opportunities.

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