Service with FLAIR: Local restaurateurs receive community service award
Emily Jones
Starkville Daily News
11/26/05
Robin Fant has been a restaurant owner and operator in Starkville for almost 25 years. During the entire time he has been true to his philosophy that giving back to the community is an important part of doing business.
Whenever a community-wide project is being planned, Fant and his partner John Bean are the first to volunteer their services – usually at their own expense.
University Management and Sweet Peppers Deli Franchise Systems – operated by Fant and Bean, a Columbus businessman – have been awarded Mississippi’s Restaurant Neighbor Award by their “We Support Our People in Uniform "community service program.
Held each year on Memorial Day, the program honors all firemen, law enforcement officers, emergency medical responders, members of the U.S. armed forces and veterans with a free meal at any of 11 company-owned stores and various franchise units.
Participating restaurants in the system include: Bulldog Deli in Starkville; Harvey’s in Columbus, Starkville and Tupelo; Cotton District Grill in Starkville; the Grill at Jackson Square in Columbus; Sweet Peppers Deli in Columbus, Tupelo, Hattiesburg and Cordova, Tenn.; and Sweet Peppers Deli Express in Tupelo.
The newest restaurant – Sweet Peppers of Starkville – is nearing completion on Highway 12 West near Wal-Mart Super Center.
The highly competitive Restaurant Neighbor Award was instituted seven years ago by the National Restaurant Association to showcase the philanthropic nature of the food service industry and to recognize member restaurants who demonstrate a dedication to community outreach. Restaurants are given awards both on the state and national level.
“We are very honored to receive this award for a program that has become a yearly highlight for our team. We feel it’s important to express appreciation to the men and women who protect and defend our country and our local communities as well,” explained Fant, company vice-president. “This is our way of honoring them for their dedication and service.”
The “We Support Our People in Uniform” program began in 2003, and has grown in popularity each year since.
In 2005, the participating restaurants collectively served over 1000 uniformed personnel with a free meal. The meals each consisted of any entree and drink from the menus, totaling over $12,700 or 28 percent of the day’s total sales.
Bean and Fant’s restaurants also participated in the Dine for America program held October 5 to raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The program, which raised millions of dollars, was sponsored by the National Restaurant Association. It enlisted more than 17,000 restaurants to participate. Fant said Sweet Peppers in Starkville is expected to open in January 2006.
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