Super chef Rick Bayless offers caterers advice during his keynote address at the 2009 Sterno Group Advisory Board Meeting in Chicago: Protect your brand. Encourage innovation in every part of the organization. Invest in employee growth and education. Be thoughtful about the environment. You will be rewarded when the economy improves.
“Managing longevity and customer loyalty while keeping costs down is a balancing act,” said Rick Bayless, head chef and owner of Frontera Grill, Topolobampo and XOCO in Chicago. “The trick for long-term success is to know your business’ core values and then stand by them.”
Bayless addressed a group of premier North American caterers gathered in Chicago for a two-day event hosted by the Sterno Group, a global leader and supplier of “portable fire.” Known for delivering the hottest, most consistent burn temperatures in the industry, Sterno Brand chafing fuels and butane products have a long history of serving the needs of premium catering establishments in the United States and Canada.
“Maintaining a premium image while staying innovative, keeping employees engaged and meeting the calls for green initiatives is an uphill climb for the best in the industry,” said Bruce Williamson, president of The Sterno Group. “Our aim with this event was to not only hear from this important group of customers, but to leave them with tangible ideas, insights and best practices to find new avenues for success.”
Top Tips for North American Caterers
Like the makers of most premium brands, caterers want to deliver a high quality product even when client budgets are at an all-time low. Indeed ensuring profitability in this economy appeared at the top of the list of business challenges voiced by the Sterno advisory group. Other challenges that made it to the top of this list included: juggling staffing and training issues, acquiring new business and maintaining customer loyalty.
To meet these challenges and succeed in the midst of a recession, the Sterno event attendees agreed with Chef Rick Bayless on the following four strategies:
1) Encourage and Reward Innovation
Bayless urged the attendees to welcome change and have a process to encourage new ideas from every member on the team. “We are nothing but an innovation machine here,” said Bayless of one of the key drivers of success at his restaurants. Executive chefs can find inspiration from trends such as Molecular Gastronomy, Precision Flambé and Live Action Cooking to keep their menus vibrant and add fresh translations to classic recipes.
2) Invest in your Employees
Providing career growth opportunities and smart incentives can have a big impact on both the employee’s performance and willingness to stay. Bayless takes some of his staff for a four-day annual trip to Mexico so they can learn firsthand about the local flavors and recipes. He also incorporates simple, low-cost training techniques into the day-to-day operations at his restaurants. Making smart investments in their people, offering the right incentives and learning to delegate meaningful work will help caterers improve employee satisfaction and reduce turnover.
3) Think Green
While there are varying levels of customer demand for green products and services at catered events, a majority of the attendees had taken some steps towards “going green.” A strong supporter of buying local produce, Bayless is all for one’s ecological footprint. Caterers would do well to work with professional organizations to get green certified, insist on green products from their vendors where possible, and market their eco-friendly practices to showcase value and quality in their catering package for discerning clientele.
4) Protect Your Brand
While preserving a premium brand in a down economy is not easy, caterers must stay true to their brand and avoid any knee-jerk reactions to cut costs and price. Instead, caterers can look for ways to improve customer service and offer short-term incentives that do not devalue their brand nor risk alienating their core group of customers.
“We were inspired by the catering professionals at the Sterno Advisory Board event who refuse to compromise on quality even in the face of intense pressure from lower-cost alternatives,” says Thaddaeus Smith, director of business development at The Sterno Group. “Strong brands who guard their hard-earned reputations today will be best positioned to jumpstart growth and take advantage of new opportunities as the economy starts to turn around.”
About The Sterno Group
The Sterno® Group is a global leader and premium supplier of “portable fire” that is dedicated to supporting the global food service industry with tools that fuel innovation and drive profitability. A longtime champion in chafing fuel, the Sterno Group offers some of the finest, most dependable products on the market. This includes a butane culinary line and a complete offering of decorative table lighting products.
Founded in the United States in 1893, the Sterno Group helps caterers, restaurateurs and other food service professionals serve the best possible food in any situation — from a black tie event to a summer barbeque. All Sterno Brand heating products offer safety, reliability and top food quality by delivering the hottest, most consistent burn temperatures in the industry. The firm also makes continuous improvements to its manufacturing and marketing practices to reduce its impact on the environment.
For more information visit www.sterno.com or call 1-847-294-1100 or the Toll Free Customer Service number at 1-877-478-3766.
Read More »