Owners of successful multi-unit independent restaurant companies often misunderstand the real opportunities to cement success and reduce risk going forward. If you stop and ask an owner of a growing independent restaurant group, they will tell you that their number one concern is labor — and number two is competition. Guests and Employees Want the … Continued
“Is it possible to say with a straight face that Señor Frog’s is a better restaurant than Per Se? Too many restaurants have become church without the singing and costumes.” That is what New York Times restaurant critic Pete Wells wonders in an iconic New Yorker profile “Pete Wells Has His Knives Out”, essential reading for anyone interested in guests, restaurant reviewers, restaurants, … Continued
Last week, a manager who had worked with me — back when I was operating — asked me for advice. A 250-unit restaurant group was recruiting him to leave his current GM job with another well-known company — where, by the way, I am proud to say he has been selected GM of the year…twice. … Continued
My research shows you need more than great food, service, and atmosphere — the holy trinity of the restaurant business — to guarantee success for the units in the independent restaurant company you own. My best clients build their successful multi-unit independent restaurant companies around the branding and experience business, not around the restaurant business. … Continued
When my daughter was tiny, we had to make sure we kept her away from the stove, or a pot of hot tea. I would tell her, “The first rule is – don’t burn the baby.” Now she is three and when she walks through our kitchen, she recites that phrase with the sort of enthusiasm … Continued
It used to be you went to the food, now the food comes to you. At major events you scan your peripheral vision and see 20 food truck options from right to left. Positioning imitates real estate, where the end caps do better, and a parking lot can emulate a restaurant district. Some people may … Continued
“What is our company culture?” If you stopped five members of your organization today, would you get five different answers? Maybe something similar but, well, imprecise? Or, confused silence? What if you asked them to tell you what they did today to uphold that ethos? At the most successful businesses, you will get the same answer, … Continued
Nation’s Restaurant News recently published a special report, 2020 Vision, The Future of Foodservice, looking at what restaurant menus, design, consumers, and technology will look like when the next decade begins. NRN Senior Food Editor Bret Thorn asked me and three other industry experts to speculate on The Future of Menus, what restaurant menus will look like … Continued
The best businesses control themselves, keep things simple, stay on track, and do not allow themselves to be overwhelmed, overloaded, or confused. Their guests and customers are exposed to an ever-increasing daily barrage of messages daily from a million different points in the world. In order to engage people, it’s smart to understand that there is … Continued
Top companies are developing precepts about what content does and does not go on social media. These guidelines are outgrowths of training and culture. Beyond the basics of decorum, restaurants with a more defined culture are much better at knowing what fits on social media vs. what will cause their brand to deteriorate. So … Continued