Speakers

Jhonny Mercado lived most of his early life in Caracas, Venezuela.  At the age of 18, he joined his family’s business in the textile industry where he remained for 14 years, learning from his family the values of entrepreneurship, hard work, and perseverance.

In 1998, Mr. Mercado ventured into the food service industry when he became a Wendy’s franchisee in Venezuela.  Due to his success in Venezuela, it inspired him to expand and he began pursuing other restaurant brands with great success. In a short span of time, he became a multi-brand franchisee in Venezuela with various restaurant concepts including Benihana Restaurants and Chili’s.

 Aside from his passion for the restaurant business, Mr. Mercado decided to build his business venture portfolio and branched off into other industries. In 1998, he founded Global Express, an inter-urban transportation line, where he served as CEO until 2004.  In 2004, he acquired an aluminum structure company, Reynolds Aluminum Venezuela (ALCOA), but decided to focus on the restaurant industry and sold it off in 2006.

 In 2005, Mr. Mercado acquired American Deli, a local bakery brand (comparable to Panera Bread).  He turned the financially struggling company around, re-named it and founded Miga’s.  In a few short years, he developed and expanded the brand from its original six restaurants to 18 successful locations.  His achievements in Venezuela were recognized and he was awarded with the prestigious, Most Innovative Franchiser award (2006 – 2007) and the Highest Projection Franchiser award (2008 – 2009).

In 2006, Mr. Mercado partnered with other local investors to develop a strip mall and office buildings; currently owning six properties in Venezuela.

 In 2007, Mr. Mercado decided to pursue the ‘American Dream’ and ventured into the US market.  His first operation in the United States was the purchase of five Wendy’s restaurants located in Florida as JAI International Investment. Shortly thereafter, he became a Corner Bakery franchisee, opening the brand’s first restaurant in South Florida.

 In 2010, Mr. Mercado wanted to enhance his restaurant portfolio and became a franchisee of Pizza Hut. That same year, he extended his Wendy’s operations to Panama, where he opened 10 restaurants, which he continues to own today.

By 2013, he expanded to 77 Wendy’s restaurants and five Corner Bakery Cafes throughout Venezuela, Panama and the United States.  That same year, he was presented with the Exceptional Employer Award by Florida’s former Governor, Rick Scott.

In early 2014, Mr. Mercado sold off Pizza Hut and focused on the 64 Wendy’s across Florida and New Mexico and negotiating to acquire 15 restaurants in the El Paso, TX market.  At that time, he expressed his vision to growth as a company to former Wendy’s CEO, Emil Brolick.  Soon after, he invited another Wendy’s franchisee to join his company.  Due to their merger, JAI International Investment became JAE Restaurant Group.  Shortly after, they acquired the Florida restaurants in the Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach markets from The Wendy’s Company.  In 2017, JAE was presented with the Mega Growth Leadership MVP Award at the Multi-Unit Franchising Conference (MUFC) and that same year, received the Business of the Year Award by the South Florida Business Journal.  Since then, they have acquired the Knoxville, TN and Daytona, FL markets and became one of the largest multi-unit franchisees in the United States. Today, the company operates 235 Wendy’s restaurants with a gross revenue of over $370 million in annual sales.  JAE has become the fifth largest Wendy’s franchisee in the US, with additional locations in the pipeline.

 Mr. Mercado is currently an owner and Co-Chairman of JAE Restaurant Group and has been actively involved in overseeing the real estate, development and acquisition sectors.  In 2018, Mr. Mercado expanded his portfolio by purchasing Japan Inn and Kimura Steakhouse and most recently, became a franchisee of Wingstop in south Florida.

Mr. Mercado is a prominent businessman and philanthropist.  He actively lives the Dave Thomas legacy of “Give Something Back”.  With the Wendy’s organization, he proudly supports the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.  He has also been a long-time supporter of San Juan de Dios Hospital in Venezuela for the past 14 years, as well as a supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the United States.  In 2019, he became actively involved with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).  His participation with LLS in the Man and Woman of the Year campaign honors his friend and former business partner who recently lost his battle to cancer.  He broke records during the fundraising campaign. In February 2020, he became a member of the Board of Trustees for Dave Thomas Foundation.

Mr. Mercado is a devoted husband to his loving wife, Gabriela and loving father to four beautiful children.  He is faithfully committed to his family and continues to actively build his legacy with honesty, integrity, and with a generous philanthropic heart.