Restaurant Consulting
Our restaurant consulting experience — strategy, operations, finance, technology, marketing, real estate, construction, and franchising — runs deep within public and private companies. The rules of engagement have dramatically changed, and the industry must now reinvent itself through more scrupulous approaches to systems, safety, technology, automation, training, and the creation of sustained public trust.
Restaurant Transformation
Essentials for Restaurant Success
The core principles of a successful restaurant remain unchanged:
- Exceptional culinary offerings
- Dedicated, well-trained, and hospitable staff
- Continuous emphasis on food safety, cleanliness, sanitation, and hygiene
- Strategic site selection tailored to your target market
However, today’s restaurant landscape is significantly shaped by environmental, societal, economic, and technological dynamics. Mastery of these forces is now crucial for achieving and sustaining success. Key new influencers include:
Adapting to New Customer Expectations
Today’s diners demand efficient service, stringent safety protocols, and transparent communication about your brand’s values and practices. Excelling in these areas is crucial to navigating the changing landscape of dining. By meeting these expectations, restaurants can significantly boost customer trust and loyalty, reinforcing their position in a competitive market.
The Impact of the Internet and Social Media on Consumer Behavior
The widespread use of the internet and social media platforms has cultivated a well-informed consumer base that actively shares their experiences online, both positive and negative. This digital transparency requires businesses to manage their online, digital presence meticulously. Skillfully steering this landscape can enhance your reputation and customer loyalty, while mismanagement can quickly escalate into public relations challenges. Engaging positively with this informed and vocal customer base is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge.
Transformational Technology
Now, more than ever, enhanced POS capabilities, online ordering & delivery, digital food safety, social media & guest sentiment monitoring, loyalty integrations, just-in-time order management, kitchen robotics, IoT, and AI “inflection point technology” (some of which is yet to be conceived), will continue to shape the future of the industry. A sophisticated technology stack is required to stay competitive and relevant in the evolving market.
Radically-Changing Labor Base
The restaurant labor landscape has drastically evolved, characterized by escalating costs, labor shortages, and evolving perceptions of industry roles. The imperative to invest in employee safety, welfare, and retention is paramount. Addressing these shifts requires a strategic overhaul of your hiring and retention practices to ensure adaptability and success in this new environment.
Your Brick & Mortar Footprint
Dining rooms are being re-imagined, reduced, and sometimes eliminated. Digital ordering has upended traditional restaurant footprints and transformed kitchen configurations. Adapting to trends in drive-thru, delivery, and curbside pick-up is becoming essential for all restaurant operators to meet changing consumer demands.
The “Health Halo”
Whether you embrace it or not, addressing the nutritional impact of your offerings is essential. Increased online nutritional awareness has cultivated a more informed and discerning customer base, raising expectations for health-conscious options.
Delivery
You will find a brave new world that you are forced to assess and navigate for the benefit of both your customer and your brand. Delivery is not going away, so come to terms with its challenges.
An Emboldened Competitive Landscape (Smarter & Stronger)
In today’s market, for every innovative idea you develop, competitors are striving to surpass it. The current environment favors those who are robust both financially and operationally. Instead of fixating on the competition, concentrate on impeccably executing your unique value proposition.
Why Choose Profit Objective?
Success in today’s restaurant industry requires adopting cutting-edge systems, processes, and infrastructure that address both traditional fundamentals and emerging influences. At Profit Objective, we accelerate your journey to success by equipping you with the tools and strategies needed to thrive.
Are you a restaurant brand considering franchising?
- Products and services should be highly-differentiated, recognized as such by the consumer, and “craveable” in a manner that would create consumer demand on a return cadence that supports ample purchase pattern frequency
- Your financial model must be sustainable and must produce a restaurant level operating profit margin > 20% (after all franchise fees and payments); and a sales to capital investment ratio (investment turnover) of > 2.75: 1
- Geographical clustering should be disciplined as your first-phase of franchise development, to create efficiencies of operations, marketing, and a brand-halo impact
- Significant takeout and delivery component should be achievable
- Culinary operations must be manageable and replicable with consistency
- Visit our franchise section to understand what a commitment to franchising signifies
Areas of Restaurant Expertise
- Strategy and Concept Evolution
- Financial Analytics and KPI Engineering
- Business & Financial Plans for Capital and Financing Requirements
- Process Engineering
- Real Estate/Site Selection and Decision Logic
- Purchasing/Procurement/Logistics
- Franchise System Development
- M&A – Due Diligence and Integration
- Your Technology Stack — POS Systems, Project Management Systems, Online Ordering & Delivery , BOH Financial Management, Social Media Management/Digital Marketing, Loyalty and Payment Processing , Kitchen Robotics , AI, Learning Management Systems
- Cloud/Virtual Kitchens, Virtual Brands