in Restaurant Consultants By MulaikahUpdated on: 06/08/2024
Consultancy is providing expertise and knowledge to individuals or organizations to enable them to tackle problems. Every business faces some or other problems during its life. Some of these problems can be tackled easily, whereas others are difficult to deal with. So, for the problems that are difficult to tackle, expert advice is needed, which is provided by consultants or consulting firms.
The restaurant industry is developing at a rapid pace, with new restaurants opening every day. In today's era of fierce competition, restaurant consulting is essential for your restaurant to outshine and outperform the competition. Restaurant consultants offer certain benefits to survive in this competitive era. Some of them are:
So, now that you understand the importance of restaurant consultants in this competitive world, let us have a brief look at what these consultants do.
1) Develop the concept
If you want to start a restaurant, the first task is to develop the concept of how you would operate. A decision-making concept requires a lot of market research, as what you aim to offer must have the element of uniqueness. At such times, restaurant consultants appear to help you develop a unique, profitable, and efficient concept that also has credibility.
2) Decide the location
Location is of prime importance for restaurant owners. Location decides the profitability potential of your business. Therefore, it becomes essential to select the location that is most appropriate for both new restaurants and expansion. Many factors such as demographics, climate, and population density. Etc. are to be considered while selecting a location. At this time, the restaurant consultants appear as a blessing and assist you in selecting the most appropriate location.
3) Staff hiring and training
Restaurant consultants assist you in the recruitment process so that you can hire employees with the exact potential that is required for a particular position. Also, once the recruitment is done, it assists in designing the employee training priors to train the employee to comply with the needs of our business.
4) Menu planning
Menu planning or menu expansion is the most tedious task to perform. Your menu should be such that it quickly grabs the attention of visitors and lures them to order various cuisines. Restaurant consultants help develop a unique and aesthetically appealing menu that draws attention.
5) Restaurant design and ambiance
Designing the dining experience and giving it a touch of uniqueness is very essential. In this world of social media, the first thing a visitor sees is your ambiance and whether or not the place is picture-worthy. With the help of restaurant consultants, you can design your space in such a way that it is uniquely appealing and aesthetically beautiful.
6) Provide software solutions
The next most crucial function performed by restaurant consultants is to provide various software solutions to address business challenges and automate business operations by reducing reliance on human resources.
7) Financing
Restaurant consultants carry out financial analysis to determine the financial options or credibility of your restaurant. After this, they would suggest measures to improve the financial position and help you in the formulation of a new financial policy for your restaurant.
8) Marketing
Marketing is of prime importance for any restaurant. Multiple marketing methods are evolving every day. Restaurant consultants know all these methods and they help you to make use of the correct marketing mode at the correct time for the correct material to get maximum outcome.
Restaurant consultants play an essential role in developing and expanding a business. Moreover, they also assist in solving crucial day-to-day problems with their expertise.
How will restaurant consulting substantially benefit you:
The points above clearly illustrate the crucial role that restaurant consultants play in developing your restaurant business.
A restaurant consultant brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table, offering invaluable insights to help your business thrive. Here are some key benefits of obtaining professional advice from a restaurant consultant:
1) Objectivity
An outside perspective on your business activities can identify the problems that the regularly involved individuals tend to overlook.
2) Expertise
The expertise of a restaurant consultant can prove to be beneficial in the efficient functioning of the restaurant.
3) Risk mitigation
They have the expertise to identify potential challenges and can devise effective strategies to minimize their impact.
4) Peace of mind
Having an expert with you at every stage can reduce your dress and you can focus on the other important aspects of the business.
5) Improved efficiency
With the help of consultants, you can streamline operations and put effective systems in place to save both time and money.
So, now that you know how greatly beneficial restaurant consultants are for your business, let us see how some of the famous restaurants use restaurant consultants to up their game.
1) Starbucks
Uses consultants for advice regarding sustainable practices, digital innovation, and menu development.
2) Domino’s Pizza
Has hired consultant or supply chain management, technology integration, and menu innovation.
3) McDonald's
Uses consultants' expertise to obtain global branding strategies, menu localization, and digital transformation.
4) Chipotle Mexican Grill
Makes use of consultants for menu development, customer experience enhancement, and digital marketing.
5) Barbeque nation
Has hired a consultant for restaurant design, layout, and menu optimization.
6) Haldiram’s
Uses consultants' advice for product innovation and market expansion.
7) Cafe Coffee Day (CCD)
8) KFC India
Has hired a consultant for menu localization, digital innovation, and supply chain management.
Whether you're just starting out or already have an established restaurant, Waakif equips you with the essential tools to succeed in a competitive market.
How to Choose the Right Consultant for Your Restaurant
1. Identify your needs
Different consultants have expertise in providing consultancy on different topics and may not be able to consult on problems other than their niche. Therefore, it becomes necessary to first define your needs and then look for a consultant that meets your requirements.
2. Research potential consultants
Once you know what you need, you can then conduct market research on the available consultants that suit your requirements.
3. Study their achievements
Studying the achievements of the consultants helps you gain better insight into what exactly to expect from him/her.
4. Take interviews
Once you are satisfied with the consultant's profile, you may conduct an in-person interview to get more clarity and accurate analysis of what he/she is capable of. Some questions that can be asked in the interview are mentioned further.
5. Discuss the process and charges
After you have shortlisted some of the consultants, discuss the charges and how they would cater to your needs. This will help you get an exact understanding of how the consultant works.
6. Start with a trial project
Do not directly trust the consultant's words and profile, and start with a trial project to analyze the true potential of the consultant.
7. Enter into the final agreement
If the result of the trial project turns out to be satisfactory, then enter into a written agreement with the consultant to finalize the deal.
Here are some of the key factors that are to be considered while deciding on a consultant
Here’s a list of questions that you can ask the potential consultants and get better insight into their profile
Now, that you know exactly how to get a consultant, let’s see how the consultant process works.
The consultant first assesses the needs and the lagging factors of the firm and identifies the needs of the restaurant. After assessing the needs, the consultant arranges it on a priority basis.
Once the needs are assessed and arranged in hierarchical order, the next step is the development of a strategy to overcome the obstacle and cater to the needs of the restaurant.
Once the strategy is developed, it's time to put it into action and see the impact it has in the real world.
Once the plan or strategy is implemented, the consultant follows up and analyses if the strategy is implemented as per the plan.
If any deviation is found in the anticipated and actual result, corrective actions are instantly adopted to align the desired and actual result. Moreover, it is also analyzed if the strategy is giving the effective and anticipated Return On Investment.
Let’s see the actual effect of hiring a restaurant consultant by having a look at some of the successful restaurants that changed their outlook with the help of restaurant consultants.
Before: Faced consumer confusion due to cin fusing menu, reduction in customer traffic, food wastage
Consultation process: A restaurant consultant assisted in streamlining the menu by emphasizing popular, signature dishes and simplifying the preparation process. They also introduced a waste management strategy and provided staff training to ensure consistent food quality.
After: Increase in traffic by 50% within 6 months, reduced food wastage by 30%, became known for flavourful curries
Testimonial of owner:
"Working with the consultant was eye-opening. They helped us focus on what we do best, and our customers love the changes!" – Raj Sharma, Owner
Before: Outdated decor, ineffective marketing strategy, lacking online presence, stagnant consumer flow
Consultation process: A consultant conducted a brand audit, recommended a redesign of the restaurant’s interior, and helped develop a comprehensive marketing strategy that included social media engagement and local partnerships.
After: Attracted new customers with unique restaurant interior, 40% boost in sales within 3 months, effective online presence
Testimonial of owner:
"The consultant helped us breathe new life into our restaurant. Our new look and marketing approach have brought in a whole new crowd!" – Sanjay Desai, Owner
Before: Declining customer traffic, outdated decor, inconsistent service quality
Consultation process: A consultant conducted a SWOT analysis, streamlined the menu to highlight signature dishes, modernized the decor, enhanced service skills, and launched a campaign to reintroduce the restaurant.
After: Increase in positive feedback, refined and easy-to-understand menu, modern design attracted families and patrons
Testimonial:
"The consultant transformed Tandoor into a beloved destination again. We’ve seen a 40% increase in sales, and customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive!" — Rajesh Mehta, Owner of Tandoor
So, as you can see how drastically game-changing restaurant consultants have been for many of the restaurants across the globe, grab yourself and get yourself a restaurant consultant and up your restaurant game by getting the following benefits by hiring a consultant.
Recall that growth is a journey that calls for bravery, candor, and dedication. Engaging a consultant is an investment in your future achievements rather than just an outlay of cash. You're setting up your company for more success and a brighter future by making the initial move. Take advantage of this chance for development and transformation without delay! With the correct assistance, your vision can come to pass!
Here’s a directory of the top restaurant consultants that can be a game changer for your restaurant.
1. Restaurant Consulting India (RCI)
Website: restaurantconsulting.in
2. The Restaurant Co.
Website: therestaurantco.in
3. F&B Consultants
Website: fbconsultants.in
Website: nrai.org
5. The Culinary Consultancy
Website: theculinaryconsultancy.com
You should consider hiring when you face one of these problems:
The effect of the consultation may vary based on the need catered. It may last for a few weeks or some months based on the strategic planning and needs fulfillment.
The consultant fees range from ₹30,000 to ₹1,50,000 per month in India.
Some common challenges:
It's beneficial to implement all the recommendations of the consultant but you may also ask the consultant to make changes as per your needs or can selectively implement the recommendations of the consultant.
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