From being a McDonald’s crewmember at high school to global recognition as an outstanding business leader and community supporter, Auckland’s Sam Maharaj has come a long way.
Sam and his wife Angela were recently chosen for the ‘Golden Arch Award,’ the highest global recognition for a McDonald’s Franchisee.
Sam and Angela will receive Award at the McDonald’s Worldwide Convention in Orlando in April in the presence of 13,000 people.
Presented biennially at the McDonald’s Worldwide Convention, ‘Golden Arch’ status is awarded to the top 1% of Franchisees who deliver a superior customer experience and passionately give back to their communities.
After working at McDonald’s as a crewmember at high school, Sam went back part time while studying at university and climbed his way up the ladder to Director of Operations for McDonald’s New Zealand before becoming a Franchisee eight years ago.
Sam and Angela now own five McDonald’s restaurants across Auckland including Royal Oak, Dressmart, Penrose, St Lukes and the newly opened Balmoral restaurant.
“My wife and I are ecstatic to receive such an award. This is a huge honour. We are fortunate to have great people working for us that look after our business and our customers. The support over the years from our team has been fantastic together with the Head Office staff, suppliers and the various community groups with whom we work,” Sam said.
Brand ambassadors
McDonald’s New Zealand Managing Director Patrick Wilson extended his heartfelt congratulations to the couple describing them as truly amazing ambassadors of the brand.
“This highly prestigious Golden Arch Award recognises that Sam and Angela Maharaj are the ‘best of the best’ and we are sincerely grateful for everything they do for McDonald’s in New Zealand.
“Aside from their outstanding business leadership and performance, Sam and Angela give so much back to their community from sponsoring sports coaches to their long time work with Ronald McDonald House Auckland,” he said.
Several Awards
The Golden Arch Award is the latest in a long list of accolades for the Maharaj family including the ‘Pullman Auckland Business Excellence in Restaurant Trade Award’ of the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards (2011), the ‘Hugh Morris People Award for Fantastic People Practises’ (2007), the ‘Mac Black Status for consistently being rated as a High performing Franchisee (2010) and the ‘Westfield’s St Lukes Top in Category Award.’
They join an elite group of past New Zealand Golden Arch award recipients including Rob and Linley Parry of Rotorua (2010), Bruce and Madeline Davis from Christchurch (2000), Gary and Robyn Horton of Lower Hutt (1998), Ray and Ena Stonelake from Auckland (1992), Alan and Neti Traill (1988) of Christchurch.
McDonald’s NZ
New Zealand’s first McDonald’s restaurant opened in Porirua in 1976.
There are now 162 McDonald’s restaurants across New Zealand, 80% of which are franchised and run by local businesspersons. The organisation employs over 10,000 people in restaurants nationwide, and is one of New Zealand’s largest employers of youth. In 2011, McDonald’s spent around $150 million with local suppliers, while New Zealand producers exported over $300 million of food to other McDonald’s markets.
Maharaj Corporation is a sponsor of the ‘Best Cricket Player of the Year’ category of the Indian Newslink Indian Sports Awards 2012.
