--- title: "Franchise Update Media Reveals 2022 Franchise Innovation Award Winners" url: https://burnaze.com/article/4316bfd8-ebaf-4263-b28e-8230059a39ec source: "Franchising.com" original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20220708_franchise_update_media_reveals_2022_franchise_innovation_award_winners.html category: "Suppliers" industry: "Franchise Industry" segment: "Suppliers" topics: ["Emerging brands"] published: 2022-07-08T12:00:00.000Z modified: 2026-11-01T01:04:34.202Z image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1559136555-9303baea8ebd?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop --- # Franchise Update Media Reveals 2022 Franchise Innovation Award Winners **TL;DR:** Franchise Update Media announced the winners of the 4th annual Franchise Innovation Awards, recognizing outstanding innovations in franchising. Wild Birds Unlimited won the Marketing & Branding award, while Checkers & Rally's won the Operations & Technology Leadership Award. *originally published in Franchising.com on 2022-07-08. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20220708_franchise_update_media_reveals_2022_franchise_innovation_award_winners.html).* ## Key facts - Franchise Update Media announces 2022 Franchise Innovation Award winners - Checkers & Rally's wins Operations & Technology Leadership Award - Wild Birds Unlimited wins Marketing & Branding award ## Story ## Award winners announced July 08, 2022 // Franchising.com // SAN JOSE, CA - Franchise Update Media has announced the winners of the 4th annual Franchise Innovation Awards, which recognize the most outstanding innovations in franchising in the past year. The goal of these annual awards is to identify and recognize the franchise brands creating and implementing the most original and successful innovation strategies and tactics. Winners were chosen by a panel of judges, who evaluated the objectives and results of over 150 entrants. ## Innovation categories Franchise innovators, game-changers, and disruptors competed in four categories: Marketing & Branding, Products & Services, Operations & Technology, and Human Resources. The annual competition also celebrates a "Best of the Best" overall winner in marketing with the Franchise Marketing Leadership Award. This award is given to the brand that created the most innovative – and successful – marketing campaign. This year's winner, Wild Birds Unlimited, created an innovative and timely program (A Little Bird Told Me: How Programmatic Media Campaigns Drive Brand Awareness), which rose to the top of the many excellent marketing submissions. A Franchise Operations & Technology Leadership Award was presented to the "Best of the Best" submission in the Operations & Technology category. Checkers & Rally's received the Leadership Award for their innovative work (Checkers & Rally's Leverages AI at the Drive-Thru to Improve the Guest & Employee Experience) to implement the use of AI at the location level. - Wild Birds Unlimited – Marketing & Branding - Checkers & Rally's – Operations & Technology - Wild Birds Unlimited - Goldfish Swim School - Kiddie Academy - Handyman Connection - Inspire Brands - Smoothie King - Checkers & Rally's - Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa - Uberrito Fresh Mex – Best Big Budget Campaign - Wild Birds Unlimited – Best Limited Budget Campaign (Under $1 Million) - Wild Birds Unlimited – Best Digital Campaign - Blaze Pizza – Best Loyalty App - Camp Bow Wow – Best Social Media Campaign - Kiddie Academy – Cause Marketing Champion - Handyman Connection – Local Marketing Leadership - Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa – Most Innovative Product Introduction - Plumbing Paramedics and Heating + Air Paramedics – Most Innovative Service Introduction - School of Rock – Most Innovative Use of Customer-Facing Digital Tools - Xponential Fitness – Most Innovative Use of Technology: Products - Checkers & Rally's – Most Innovative Use of Technology: Services - Inspire Brands – Most Innovative Building Design, Remodel, or Prototype - Pillar to Post – Most Innovative Consumer Self-Service Tools - Wild Birds Unlimited – Most Innovative Franchisee Support - Smoothie King – Most Innovative Operations Team - Shawarma Press – Most Innovative Supply Chain Improvements - Blaze Pizza – Most Innovative Use of Data - Checkers & Rally's – Most Innovative Use of Technology - Goldfish Swim School – Most Innovative Employee Hiring - Handyman Connection – Most Innovative Employee Retention The winners will be celebrated in Franchise Update Magazine, available later this year at franchising.com/magazine/. Franchise Update Media has been a leader in the franchising space for more than 30 years. Founded in 1988, the company produces online franchise opportunity and educational websites, two print magazines, eight newsletters, three annual conferences, independent research, and books, 100% focused on franchising. Serving franchise audiences online, in print, and in person, Franchise Update Media delivers a unique combination of educational and lead generation sources to help franchisors, multi-unit franchisees, opportunity seekers, and suppliers achieve their growth objectives. Franchise Update Media (FUM) is the trusted resource for the franchise industry. For 30+ years, FUM has been the leader in providing valuable conferences, print publications and digital properties for Franchisors, Franchisees and Franchise Prospects. ## Entities - Franchising.com (publication) - Franchise Industry (sector) - franchise awards (topic) - Smoothie King (company) - Checkers (company) - Xponential Fitness (company) - Wild Birds Unlimited (company) - Hand & Stone (company) - Inspire Brands (company) - School of Rock (company) - Goldfish Swim School (company) - Blaze Pizza (company) --- Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20220708_franchise_update_media_reveals_2022_franchise_innovation_award_winners.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/4316bfd8-ebaf-4263-b28e-8230059a39ec).