Angelo Esposito interviews Gregg Majewski, founder and CEO of Craveworthy Brands about the journey of scaling restaurants, the importance of culture and leadership, and the innovative approach of Craveworthy Brands in the restaurant industry, including the use of virtual brands and shared kitchens to maximize efficiency and profitability.

Key Takeaways

Consistency and Execution Are Key to Success
Investing in Team Development and Growth
Customer Experience and Throughput

In this repurposed episode of the Wisking It All Podcast, Angelo Esposito interviews Gregg Majewski, founder and CEO of Craveworthy Brands. They discuss the journey of scaling restaurants, the importance of culture and leadership, and the innovative approach of Craveworthy Brands in the restaurant industry, including the use of virtual brands and shared kitchens to maximize efficiency and profitability.

In this conversation, Gregg shares his insights on building a strong team culture, the importance of employee growth and retention, and his leadership philosophy that prioritizes the well-being of his team. He discusses the challenges faced by the restaurant industry, particularly in terms of operational hurdles and pricing strategies, while also emphasizing the need for embracing technology to enhance customer experience.

Looking ahead, he outlines ambitious goals for Craveworthy Brands and the importance of supporting franchisees in achieving their dreams.

Consistency and Execution Are Key to Success

The Cornerstones of Success Gregg Majewski, CEO of Craveworthy Brands, emphasizes the power of consistency in restaurant operations.

"If your restaurants don't operate underneath that same checklist every day, why would a customer come in and spend that money with you if it's not duplicated exactly the same?" he points out.

Majewski stresses that success isn't about reinventing the wheel but about executing the fundamentals flawlessly every day. By following a proven playbook and maintaining high standards across all locations, brands can build customer trust and long-term loyalty.

Investing in Team Development and Growth

A focus on building strong teams and empowering employees is critical. The goal is to prepare team members to excel in their roles and potentially grow into bigger opportunities, even if that means leaving the company. For Majewski, team development isn't just a business strategy—it's a core value.

"My job is to make them better each and every day so they can go on and do their next thing," he shares.

While he'd love for team members to stay forever, he understands the importance of creating opportunities for growth. Majewski views team departures for bigger roles not as losses, but as evidence of effective leadership and mentorship.

Customer Experience and Throughput

Improving throughput without sacrificing hospitality is a balancing act that Majewski believes is essential for success.

"How do you improve the customer experience without taking hospitality out of the restaurant?" he asks.

Speed and efficiency are critical in today's fast-paced dining environment, but they can't come at the expense of genuine hospitality. Majewski's approach combines operational excellence with a commitment to making every customer feel valued and cared for.

Episode Links:

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About Gregg Majewski

Gregg Majewski has a vast amount of experience as a corporate executive in the restaurant industry. As the former CEO of Jimmy John’s, he played a major role in expanding the franchise from 33 to 300+ stores in just 5 years by surrounding the company’s marketing strategy around the innovative approach of delivering sandwiches and being “freaky fast”. Majewski has worked to develop restaurant concepts over the last two plus decades, before starting Craveworthy Brands in 2023, which currently includes a growing portfolio of restaurant brands. Craveworthy Media is Majewski’s gift back to the industry that has given him so much. The goal of Craveworthy is to inspire the up and coming industry leaders by providing important information, stories, and insights from titans past and present.

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Do you know someone who would be great on this show? Let us know by emailing us at roomforsecondspodcast@gmail.com or sending a DM on social media @craveworthybrands

Room for Seconds is produced and published by Cali BBQ Media on behalf of Craveworthy Brands

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