Productivity & Cost Control

The Fraud Triangle: Could it Hit Your Cafe or Restaurant?

June 28, 2020 No Comments

Ever had a trusted employee rip you off? When I spoke with a bar owner recently, she was still in shock after uncovering a six-figure fraud carried out by a ‘trusted’ manager over more than 4 years. I hope that doesn’t sound familiar. Most people who commit fraud against their employer are not career criminals. The vast majority are trusted staff who have no criminal history and don’t even consider themselves lawbreakers. Donald Cressey, a

The 7 Day Food Cost Diet – help your cafe or restaurant to lose the fat!

June 18, 2020 No Comments

Feeling heavy, slow and financially unfit? Time for some urgent action – cut, reduce and tighten. Staff might complain and want to quit – lazy is always more comfortable. But the business will be slimmer, healthier and much more sexy after you’ve pushed through the pain barrier! Day 1 – Lighten up the Fridge and Freezer. That’s where up to 80% of product value is stored. Do you really need to hold enough for a

5 Ways to Drive Word of Mouth Marketing for a Cafe or Restaurant

June 15, 2020 No Comments

Many people assume ‘word of mouth’ works automatically, and it’s always positive. As if people will say the nicest things without you making any effort. Sorry, that’s not going to happen! And word of mouth can also be negative – ‘OMG did you hear that place got a food poisoning fine, and they’ve been underpaying their chefs!’. However there are ways to guarantee that people have a lot to talk about, and you rise above

Suddenly, Everything Needs to be Negotiated!

May 9, 2020 No Comments

Restaurant & cafe operatiors now have to do a lot more negotiation, and it’s not just the small stuff. Three months ago you were arguing over a 20c increase in chicken prices, or the chef wanting a $30 wage rise. Now you’re dealing with a stubborn landlord, an unknown bank manager, impatient suppliers and a cranky partner. Most of what you did before was haggling, now it’s time to work like a grown-up! Negotiating with

Why The E-Myth is Still So Relevant for Cafe & Restaurant Owners

May 5, 2020 No Comments

It was published 24 years ago in 1986, and reverberated like a thunderclap in the world of business. You’ve heard that saying ‘work on your business, not in your business‘ so many times you could scream. That’s from the The E-Myth!, and author Michael Gerber’s message is still electrifying, even in a world run by digital systems… and facing virus restrictions and dislocation. Years ago I ran one-day management events for restaurant owners and would

Talking about Covid and Hospitality on the Hospitality Mavericks podcast – May 2020

April 26, 2020 No Comments

I enjoyed talking with Hospitality Maverick Michael Tingsager from Brighton in the UK, about Covid and Hospitality, and what we think is coming in the cafe, restaurant and foodservice industry ‘post Covid’. There’s much speculation, as things change on a weekly basis, but it’s useful to think about the fundamentals of business that don’t change, and how they will be relevant in a new business environment with less money and more restrictions. I hope you

How Hospitality & Restaurant Trainers can Work Remotely: a Survival Guide…

March 15, 2020 No Comments

Hospitality training has usually been done in person – we hospo people like to ‘stand up and do it’. With the restrictions and closing of many restaurants and cafes, there’s an urgent need to present training in new ways. We need very different tools and completely new methods – traditional workbooks with pen & paper don’t translate very well. Here’s a bunch of tools, resources and ideas to use and experiment with… Understand the world

The Fraud Triangle: Could it Hit Your Cafe or Restaurant?

The 7 Day Food Cost Diet – help your cafe or restaurant to lose the fat!

5 Ways to Drive Word of Mouth Marketing for a Cafe or Restaurant

Suddenly, Everything Needs to be Negotiated!

Why The E-Myth is Still So Relevant for Cafe & Restaurant Owners

Talking about Covid and Hospitality on the Hospitality Mavericks podcast – May 2020

How Hospitality & Restaurant Trainers can Work Remotely: a Survival Guide…

Recent Highlights:

Questions in the Minds of Restaurant Job Applicants

Taste the Difference: 40 Flavour Training Activities for Restaurant Staff

We all need the Support Team!

Have you chosen the wrong person to be manager?