The Word of ‘G’

No it’s not the word of ‘God’, but the inspired learnings of Gordon Ramsay – chef, TV icon, empire… whatever you want to call him, he’s been an inspiration to us all. If any of you have watched his ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ programmes, you’ll also know that the guy speaks a lot of sense. From a business perspective, he radically changes the fortunes of seemingly lost restaurateurs with drastically failing cafés and restaurants, with an all too similar set of criteria.

Here’s a snapshot of 10 key rules from the series for running a successful food business;

1. Research – know your local community. Where are the trendiest places, what are people talking about and why? Look at your pricing compared to local competition and keep reviewing everything. When in doubt ask the experts! We’re here to help you at every step of the way, even before you open.

2. Menu – don’t make it too big, keep it manageable and cost efficient. The menu is possibly the most important factor in your restaurant; it’s what sets you apart from everyone else. If possible try and be known for something great. Succulent steak dishes, longest spaghetti, the creamiest mash!

3. Seasonality – keep costs down and customers coming back for more by updating your menu along with the seasons. Keeping quality produce fresh all year round. Customers will also enjoy coming back and trying something new each time.

4. Suppliers – customers do enjoy the fact that their food is made up of ingredients from their local area. It gives them a sense of pride that the area is doing well, and that the food is the freshest possible. But don’t let this go to your head. Local suppliers, although ‘local’, may be more expensive than their counterparts so try to haggle wherever possible.

 
5. Décor – suit your environment to your food and style, keep it fresh and when in doubt ask Eat With Your Eyes! We work with award winning interior designers to help enhance your environment.

6. Local community and PR- embrace the local community as they’re your number one customers, especially if you are situated in a town or village with no great tourist traffic.

7. Customer is always king – treat your customers as if they were your family. You have to earn that service charge. 

8. Treat your staff well – they are your eyes, ears and hands on deck. Don’t let them down and they wont let you down.

9. Government positives – Some businesses, depending on the rateable value of their building, could receive some much needed reductions in their taxes. Just enquire with your local MP; & Government negatives - Secret ‘stealth’ taxes are crippling smaller businesses meaning ½ of all new businesses close after just one year. Be aware of all your local taxes. 

10. Marketing – always be aware of what your competitors are doing but don’t be afraid to be bold and do something different. That’s where we come in! Contact us on 01234 838 932 for more info.

Paolo Ventrone