Jennifer Ashcraft, owner of 37 Enterprises and Alabama's first Capriotti's franchisee, has been named a 2026 Franchisee of the Year by the International Franchise Association, honored at the IFA26 Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C. for excellence in entrepreneurship, community outreach, workforce development and service to others.
Ashcraft's path to franchise ownership wasn't a straight line. After decades in marketing, human resources and executive recruiting, she hadn't seriously considered owning a franchise until her husband bought a water restoration franchise of his own, which got her exploring the idea. She looked at bakeries, pet stores and even funeral homes before a trip to New York introduced her to Capriotti's, and something about the sandwich shop clicked in a way none of the other concepts had.
She opened her first location in Madison, a community within Huntsville, becoming Capriotti's first franchise partner in Alabama. Her approach centered on showing up in person, building a strong team culture and connecting with customers directly, and within seven months the location had surpassed 1 million dollars in revenue. Ashcraft has since expanded into a multi-unit operator, and earlier this year, she and her husband Kenny were also named Capriotti's Multi-Unit Franchise Partners of the Year at the brand's national convention marking its 50th anniversary.
Matt Haller, President and CEO of the International Franchise Association, said Franchisees of the Year represent individuals who have committed their lives and careers to the betterment of those around them, building something bigger than themselves. Ashcraft was recognized as one of dozens of honorees nationwide selected by their own brands for this year's award.
Capriotti's, founded in 1976 and known for slow-roasting whole Butterball turkeys in-house and hand-pulling them fresh each morning, has built a loyal following around its handcrafted subs. Scaling that kind of hands-on, quality-driven concept across multiple locations depends heavily on new franchisees having reliable access to the training materials and operational guidelines that helped Ashcraft hit the ground running. Gorilla Dash offers a Resource Library feature designed to keep that kind of support organized and accessible, helping franchisees replicate a strong opening like Ashcraft's as they grow into additional locations.
