Holton's Taco Bell one of the best
Holton’s Taco Bell restaurant was named the number three store in the nation for cleanliness, customer service and food quality by the franchise’s corporate office.
Sharon Stroup, who manages the local Taco Bell, said she was notified at the end January of the honor.
“We have such a great team, and it’s easy for us to serve our friends and our family,” Stroup said.
More than 6,000 Taco Bell stores compete throughout the year for top honors and bragging rights, said Sergio Roman, assistant director of operations for Fugate Enterprises of Wichita, which provides management services to Taco Bell franchises across the country.
After the winners are announced, Roman said that the managers from the top 10 stores are invited to an awards ceremony, “Celebrating Champions.” At the event, a manager of the year award is given, as well as a store of the year award. This year’s celebration is in Hawaii.
Roman said that special criteria are used to determine the top stores around the country.
“We have a third party inspect all the stores, and we also utilize customer feedback to rank the stores,” he said. “Holton has always been ranked very high.”
Stroup said that the local Taco Bell was ranked 22nd in 2014, ninth in 2013, 10th in 2012, eighth in 2011, third in 2010 and fourth in 2009.
“We were really hoping to get first this year, and we knew we were at the top, but we came up short,” Stroup said. “We’re not perfect, but we try.”
Stroup, who has managed the Taco Bell since 2006, said the store’s success comes from the employees’ pride in their town.
“We’re very honored to serve the community,” she said. “We want it to be more than a restaurant. We want people to come in and visit.”
Holton’s Taco Bell has 20 employees.
“My goal is create jobs and to keep people working in town,” she said.
The restaurant is open 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
