Client: NRD Capital

About our Work

There’s no shortage of ways for brands to win big in the franchising industry. From securing positive press in local, national and trade news outlets to creating a unique brand biography through a combination of content marketing, media relations and franchise development services, brands have the ability to position themselves as innovators and leaders in their space. But brands looking to take that narrative to the next level often look for another validator: winning awards.

Earning an award from a respected industry publication or organization elevates franchise concepts’ visibility and reputation among other top brands—including their competition—as well as consumers. That’s why No Limit Agency has created a unique approach to submitting and winning awards for its clients.

“It all begins with identifying our brands’ unique storylines that are worthy of winning the industry’s top awards. We do that by touching base with our clients on a weekly basis. Our lines of communication are always open so that we’re telling our clients’ most recent and compelling stories in the media,” said Troy Kehoe, VP of No Limit Agency. “We don’t limit our time when it comes to award submissions. These efforts are always ongoing—our entire media team is constantly working to have a barrel full of amazing stories that are ready to go whenever the opportunity for an award arises.”

That proactive approach to client communications and comprehensive storytelling is what ultimately allowed NRD Capital to land the cover of Franchise Times as 2016’s Deal of the Year. Every year, the publication’s prestigious Dealmakers Awards recognize the boldest players that are fueling mergers and acquisitions in the franchising industry. And NLA realized that NRD Capital has a story that perfectly aligned with that honor.

Backed by its mission to re-define private equity in franchise and business investing, NRD Capital raised $175 million through its majority franchisee invested fund to acquire Frisch’s. The deal immediately stood out to the NLA team as having a few points of differentiation that made it an ideal submission for Franchise Times. For starters, Frisch’s is a legacy brand that had stalled in terms of development before NRD founder and managing partner Aziz Hashim stepped in to help the brand realize its full potential by streamlining operations. The fact that the funds to make that deal possible were raised primarily through franchisees who understand the proven business model also caught No Limit Agency’s attention as a key point to drive home—NRD Capital has a unique advantage in the M&A space by being able to identify good opportunities for franchise growth that others aren’t able to notice right off the bat.

“NRD Capital is doing what it set out to do from the beginning,” Hashim told 1851 Franchise. “We are finding brands with compelling unit economics and partnering with their existing management teams to maximize the impact that the brand can have through franchising. Our approach to private equity is unlike anything in the space, and it’s proving to be extremely fruitful.”

By highlighting that consistent success—especially as it related to Frisch’s—NLA compiled a submission for Franchise Times’ Dealmakers Awards. And the publication agreed that there was something special there, ultimately giving NRD Capital the 2016 Deal of the Year Award and magazine issue cover in addition to one of its spots on the coveted Dealmakers list.

NRD Capital is far from the only brand that No Limit Agency has secured awards for. This year, for example, NLA’s team helped K9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel earn the title of Franchise Times’ Dealmaker of the Year 2017 for attracting a minority investor in Navigator Partners. No Limit Agency also successfully created a submission that placed Safeguard on Franchise Times’ Dealmakers list back in 2014.

NLA’s experience with awards and the entire submission process extends far beyond Franchise Times. From Nation’s Restaurant News’ MenuMasters and Power List to Fast Casual’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers and Franchise Times’ Fast and Serious awards, No Limit Agency has extensive experience when it comes to successfully submitting and winning awards on behalf of its clients.

“Our brands are doing amazing work on a daily basis, and it’s our job to ensure that they’re recognized by the franchising industry’s leading publications and resources. That’s why we’re constantly looking for the best stories and angles to take from our brands’ narratives that work for a variety of different awards,” said Kehoe. “As we continue to work with clients to build their unique brand biographies, we plan to continue fine tuning our approach to award submissions to celebrate those big wins for the brands that we represent.”