NRN names Jon Luther The Norman Award winner

Jon L. Luther, who led the revitalization and global expansion of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins during his tenure at Dunkin' Brands Group Inc., has been selected as this year’s winner of The Norman Award from Nation’s Restaurant News.

Named for the late Norman Brinker, former chairman of Brinker International Inc., the award honors a restaurant executive who demonstrates extraordinary leadership and consistently mentors and inspires future industry leaders. Luther will be recognized during the 54th annual MUFSO Super Show in Dallas, Sept. 29-Oct. 1.

“In his remarkable foodservice career, Jon Luther has grown and transformed companies, inspired innovation and demanded quality,” said NRN publisher Randall Friedman. “But more than anything, he has been a leader, a man dedicated to the development of others in the finest tradition of Norman Brinker. We look forward to honoring Jon during this year’s MUFSO Super Show.”

Luther was named chief executive of Dunkin' Brands in 2003 and added the title of chairman in 2006. He became executive chairman in 2010 and then non-executive chairman a year later. Also in 2011, he was elected chairman of the board for the Arby’s Restaurant Group Inc.

His transformation of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins included instilling values-based leadership and resetting the company culture. He also took the brands into nontraditional locations, such as stadiums, airports and universities.

In 2005, his culinary “dream team” of top chefs fueled menu innovation, creating a new category called “quick quality.” He also refocused marketing initiatives, leading to the 2006 launch of the marketing campaign, “America Runs on Dunkin’.”

Expansion was also significant during Luther's time at Dunkin’ Brands. From its core region in the Northeast, the company spread to key markets across the United States and internationally. From 2003 to 2009, systemwide sales increased more than 66 percent and the total number of stores rose nearly 44 percent.

Today, Dunkin’ Donuts boasts about 10,000 distribution points in 32 countries. Baskin-Robbins has more than 6,000 outlets in 49 countries.

“Jon Luther has had a long career developing different successful restaurant brands. He has also developed leaders at all levels who are now in important positions throughout the industry," said Doug Brooks, chairman of Brinker International. "He continues to mentor these relationships long after his actual working relationship ends. He also stays very involved in leadership roles in the industry. He is a very worthy winner of this year's The Norman Award.”

Prior to joining Dunkin’ Brands, Luther was president of Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits. During his six years with Popeyes, the company's store count grew 67 percent to more than 1,500 units, while average annual unit volumes rose to more than $1 million.

Before Popeyes, he was president of CA One Services, a subsidiary of Delaware North Companies Inc. He has also held leadership positions in the contract foodservice division of Marriott Corp. and at Aramark Corp.

Luther holds a degree in hotel and restaurant management from Paul Smith’s College, and honorary doctorate degrees from Bentley College and Johnson & Wales University, as well as Paul Smith’s College. He is the immediate past chairman of the International Franchise Association.

Among his many industry honors, he has been the recipient of the Nation’s Restaurant News Golden Chain award and was elected into the MenuMasters Hall of Fame. Recently, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Leadership Roundtable.

The Norman Award winner is selected by an Advisory Board comprised of industry luminaries and Norman Brinker protégés. Brinker was chairman emeritus and former chief executive of Brinker International. He joined the company in 1983, retiring in 2001 after building it into one of the world’s leading casual-dining restaurant organizations. He died in 2009 at age 78.

The Norman Award originated in 2010 with Brooks, former president and chief executive of Brinker, as the first recipient. Last year the honor went to Rick Federico, founder and chief executive of P.F. Chang's China Bistro Inc.

Phil Hickey, former chairman and chief executive of Rare Hospitality International Inc., received the award in 2011. "Jon has an incredible track record of performance,” he said, “but like Norman Brinker, he is known for developing people, inspiring employees, management, and franchisees and mentoring leaders at every level."

This year’s MUFSO Super Show will be held at the Hyatt Regency at Reunion Tower in Dallas. The event is presented by Nation's Restaurant News, Restaurant Hospitality and Food Management.

Visit the MUFSO website or call (813) 627-6992 for information about the event and to register.