Eric Holm, the Winter Park-based operator behind 18 Central Florida Golden Corral buffets, has been named one of the International Franchise Association’s 2026 Franchisees of the Year. Golden Corral highlighted the recognition in an October 22 announcement, pointing to his restaurant teams, work with other franchisees and long-running community service.
The IFA’s original announcement named its recipients in September, ahead of a September 15 awards luncheon in Washington. Holm is among the year’s honorees across several franchise businesses, rather than a single overall winner.
For buffet followers, the name connects to a substantial local operation. Golden Corral says Holm’s Metro Corral group currently runs 18 buffets throughout Central Florida. The company also credits him with mentoring other operators and serving multiple terms on its Franchise Advisory Council.
The more personal part of that history started before his Golden Corral business. Eric and Diane Holm founded Helpings from the Heart in 1992, building a Thanksgiving meal effort that became closely associated with The Salvation Army in Orlando.
According to a local historical profile, Holm initially fed people from the parking lots of his Angel’s Diner restaurants. The effort moved to his West Colonial Drive location, near The Salvation Army, the following year. A holiday meal in a diner parking lot became something far bigger than an extra pan of turkey.
The Salvation Army’s own account documents more than 24,000 free meals served in Central Florida on Thanksgiving in 2011. Golden Corral’s current release describes Holm’s continuing involvement in helping provide approximately 20,000 Thanksgiving meals.
The award also recognizes the quieter work of keeping restaurants and their teams running. Golden Corral says Holm’s organization has one of the system’s lowest management turnover rates, though the release does not provide a percentage. IFA’s selection criteria include workforce development, service to the community and assistance to fellow franchisees.
That commitment has a personal starting point. Golden Corral says Holm’s family once relied on The Salvation Army for a Thanksgiving meal when he was growing up with a single mother and four siblings. Helpings from the Heart grew from his wish to give back to the organization that had fed them. The program began in 1992 and remains part of the community work recognized in this year’s award.
