Georgia Restaurant Association Names 2026 GRACE Awards Lifetime Achievement Honorees
GEORGIA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION NAMES WAYNE SAXE AND HOWARD AARON
2026 GRACE AWARDS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT HONOREES
Goldbergs Group leaders recognized for more than three decades of leadership and contributions to Georgia's restaurant and hospitality industry
ATLANTA, GA (October 22, 2026) – The Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) is proud to announce Wayne Saxe and Howard Aaron of Goldbergs Group as the recipients of the 2026 GRACE Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. The two longtime business partners will be recognized at the Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence (GRACE) Awards Gala on Monday, December 7, 2026, for their outstanding careers and lasting contributions to Georgia's restaurant and hospitality industry.
For more than three decades, Saxe and Aaron have been influential figures in Atlanta's restaurant community, transforming a small neighborhood bagel shop into a thriving, diversified company with operations spanning restaurants, food manufacturing and aviation food service. Under their leadership, Goldbergs has expanded well beyond its restaurant operations into catering, food manufacturing and aviation food service, all while maintaining the quality, consistency and customer service that established its reputation. Their success reflects not only their ability to recognize new business opportunities, but also their commitment to creating jobs, providing long-term career opportunities and building a company that has become a familiar part of Atlanta families' lives.
Their story began in Johannesburg, South Africa, where both men entered the restaurant industry through different paths. Saxe was working as an accountant when an opportunity to invest in a struggling restaurant led him to discover his passion for the business. Aaron began working in restaurants in 1972, learning the industry from the ground up before eventually opening his own establishment. Their paths crossed when Aaron became a meat supplier for Saxe's restaurant, and what began as a professional relationship developed into a lasting friendship, family connection and business partnership. Sharing similar values and a desire to build something of their own, the two eventually made the decision to relocate to the United States and pursue new opportunities.
In 1992, Saxe and Aaron acquired Goldberg & Son, a small Atlanta bagel business that would become the foundation of their future success. Through years of hard work, careful expansion and a commitment to serving quality food, they established Goldbergs Fine Foods as a respected name in Atlanta's restaurant community. As the company grew, they continued to look for ways to improve operations, expand their offerings and reach new customers without losing the neighborhood atmosphere and personal service that made Goldbergs successful. Today, the restaurants remain a gathering place for generations of Atlanta families, many of whom have been customers for decades.
Saxe's entrepreneurial vision has been instrumental in the company's expansion beyond traditional restaurant operations. Recognizing the importance of controlling product quality and consistency, he began producing food in-house from a small kitchen at Goldbergs' West Paces Ferry location. What started with preparing deli favorites such as tuna salad, chicken salad and other products eventually developed into the company's broader food manufacturing capabilities. This approach created opportunities to serve customers through new business channels, including aviation food service, and helped establish Goldbergs Group as a diversified food and hospitality enterprise serving customers both in restaurants and through broader aviation and food service channels.
Equally important to the company's success has been Aaron's focus on its employees and customers. Having worked in nearly every aspect of restaurant operations throughout his career, Aaron believes that successful leadership begins with understanding the people who make a business run. He has consistently emphasized the importance of listening to employees, remaining involved in day-to-day operations and leading by example. That philosophy has helped shape a company culture centered on teamwork, accountability and providing employees with opportunities to develop their skills and build long-term careers.
"Wayne and Howard have made an incredible impact on Georgia's restaurant industry, and we are thrilled to recognize them with this year's Lifetime Achievement Award," said Stephanie Fischer, President and CEO of the Georgia Restaurant Association. "What they have accomplished with Goldbergs is a testament to their vision, determination and commitment to doing things the right way. They have successfully grown and diversified their business while never losing sight of the importance of their employees, their customers and the communities they serve. Their story is a wonderful example of the opportunities our industry provides and the lasting impact that great hospitality leaders can have."
While their individual strengths and experiences have contributed to different aspects of the business, Saxe and Aaron share a common philosophy that has guided their partnership for more than three decades. Both believe in working hard, maintaining high standards, taking care of employees and remaining personally invested in the success of their business. Those values have helped Goldbergs navigate changes in the restaurant industry while continuing to grow and explore new opportunities. For both men, the most meaningful measure of their success is not simply the growth of the company, but the people who have built careers with them, the families their business has supported and the relationships they have developed along the way.
The GRA's Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals whose careers have demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication and a lasting commitment to advancing Georgia's restaurant and hospitality industry. Through their entrepreneurial accomplishments, investment in people and decades of service to Atlanta's dining community, Saxe and Aaron exemplify the qualities this award was established to honor.
Saxe and Aaron will be formally recognized at the 2026 GRACE Awards Gala on Monday, December 7, 2026, alongside other outstanding individuals and businesses representing Georgia's restaurant and hospitality industry.
To learn more about the GRACE Awards or to sponsor and purchase tickets, visit garestaurants.org/GRACE.
About the Georgia Restaurant Association: The Georgia Restaurant Association’s (GRA) mission is to be the trusted source where hospitality owners and operators gain a competitive edge to grow their business and strengthen the hospitality industry in Georgia. The Association is the voice throughout the hospitality industry in Georgia. We provide a statewide platform for collaboration and leadership on advocacy issues, along with valuable resources for our members. As your trusted ally, the GRA empowers hospitality owners to focus on their passion – delivering exceptional dining experiences. With the GRA, Georgia’s restaurants can thrive, evolve and elevate their vital role in the state’s economy and community. For more information, visit www.garestaurants.org.
About the GRACE Awards: The GRACE Awards stands for the Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence Awards. The Awards Gala is an annual event honoring Georgia's restaurant industry. The Awards are peer-nominated and honor the top finalists in the following categories: Lifetime Achievement, Restaurateur of the Year, Emerging Restaurateur of the Year, Future of Hospitality, Chef of the Year, Restaurant Manager of the Year, Restaurant Employee of the Year, 'Georgia On My Mind' People's Choice Awards, and the GRA Hall of Fame. All winners are announced and honored at the event and presented with handcrafted crystal works of art created by world-renowned local artist Hans-Godo Frabel.
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