Starting from scratch or needing to improve existing operations, we have the tools to work across diverse Food & Beverage concepts.
HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE PROJECTS WE’VE WORKED ON:
Green Fine Salad Co.
Denver, CO (Multiple locations) START-UP & MULTI-UNIT DEVELOPMENT
Task: Complete restaurant startup; concept, menu and business development, capital raise, design, build, launch and operations management through 3-store buildout.
Action: Following completion of a detailed business plan, and extensive menu development, investors were solicited and start-up capital raised. Negotiated leases, oversaw design, contracted with builders, and forged partnerships with vendors. Led training and operations and eventual exit through private equity acquisition.
Concept Development
Business Plan
Special Projects
Management Services
Results: The first of three restaurants opened successfully exceeding all sales and margin projections in year one. Serving lunch only 5-days a week, GFS’s strategic achievement was that efficiency equaled profitability, and detailed programming of the operation both in-house and via delivery was the key to success.
Pekoe Sip House
Boulder, CO (Multiple locations) TURNAROUND & TRAINING
Task: The Pekoe Board initially approached Rise seeking an outside perspective on ways to improve operations and profitability for their 3-unit café’ operation, and online tea business.
Action: Following a detailed operations analysis that included on-site observations, interviews and thorough P&L audit, a strong partnership was formed and the board hired Rise to implement its recommendations. Our work expanded to include a 1-year interim CEO role. The second phase of our work focused on streamlining FOH and BOH systems, rolling-out a breakfast menu and hiring a Director of Operations. Phase three focused on building and documenting a training program for new managers and staff.
Operations Analysis
Turnaround
Menu Development
Interim Management Services
Results: Allowing the Pekoe board to hand over day-to-day operations to a senior leader with time-tested operations expertise, with a high-level focus on margin expansion, cost reduction and improved reporting, was invaluable. Rise provided ownership with a new perspective and toolkit on industry best practices.
Benchmark Global Hospitality
Houston, TX
NEW CONCEPT & CAFE DESIGN
Task: Rise was initially engaged by this hotel management company to come up with a concept and design for a prototype Grab-and-Go Market for hotel lobbies. The objective was to research, build and document a toolkit manual that could be used as a turnkey solution for hotel operators and ownership groups looking to deploy Grab-and-Go Markets.
Action: The objective was to attract hotel guests by providing a convenient and elevated food and beverage offering, no matter the time of day or night. This required a highly flexible model and layout that a diverse group of hotels could adopt and deploy. The goal was to surprise and delight hotel guests with fresh, local products and unique menu choices not typically found in hotel lobbies.
Business Planning
Supply Chain Management
Operating Model
Technology Solutions
Results: By leveraging a detailed business plan with contemporary design options, branded name and logo package, CapEx, a simple yet inventive menu, and BOH technologies, Rise aligned and documented a turnkey manual for building, purchasing FF&E, and operating a prototype, Grab-and-Go market.
Number Thirty Eight
Denver, CO
NEW BUILD FOOD & BEER HALL
Task: As part of a start-up company’s vision to develop a new multi-concepted food and beer hall, Rise was engaged as operational experts with the internal food team to build upon their existing knowledge. Rise was also tasked to assist with their capitalization strategy and, more recently, on operational challenges related to Covid-19.
Action: Focusing intently on the guest experience and financial discipline, Rise directed conversations that uncovered details that became reality.
Concept Development
Pro-Forma & Market Analysis
Capitalization Strategy
Management Advisory Services
Results: Drawing on current food and beverage trends as well as operations design, Rise played an integral part in raising the necessary capital to launch this project and brought exciting and scalable ideas to a multi-concepted F&B experience.
Aloy Modern Thai
Denver and Boulder, CO
OPERATIONS & STRATEGIC ADVISORY
Task: Aloy Modern Thai, a family owned and award winning Thai restaurant, engaged Rise to provide pre-opening advisory and market analysis, guidance on labor and inventory reporting, and vetting POS and back-office technology solutions for their second location. The owners sought support on how to sustain financial viability while abiding by Covid-19 restrictions.
Action: Beginning with a multi-day onsite evaluation of back-office financial measures and systems, we crafted a detailed strategy for managing prime costs and internal reporting. Beyond crafting these strategies Rise worked with the management team for proper execution of these best practices. The owners later looked to Rise to interpret the COVID-19 guidelines and develop a customized reopening action plan.
Operations Analysis
Technology Solutions
Administrative Work-Flow
Strategic Advisory COVID-19
Results: With a family owned and operated restaurant like Aloy Thai the goal is not to change the customer experience from their beloved first location. Rather the task for Rise was to ensure that staff and customers alike enjoyed the same quality experience. Rise continued to work with management following opening to ensure lasting results and to fine tune as needed.
Testimonial: “We spent a week going over food cost and labor strategies, inventory management, manager training materials, and negotiated better pricing from our broad-liner. The knowledge Jon gave me in that week was invaluable.” -Bo Bean. Owner
Slim’s Tortilleria
Broomfield, CO (In development) Concept Development & Business Plan
Task: Rise led an entrepreneur and his team in realizing a vision of creating a modern Mexican restaurant, tortilla bakery, and small beer garden within a shared space. The focus was to develop an immersive dining, retail and drinking experience blending old and new world attributes.
Action: Slims looked to Rise to develop a schematic design, brand package, menu, operating-model and food-service plan for the coexisting guest experiences: a fast-paced, interactive eatery, tortilleria, bar, and community events.
Feasibility Study
Business Plan
Menu Development
Technology Vetting
Results: Every detail of the business was considered and menu-tested to deliver a cohesive, cravable guest experience. While the project is still in development amidst the pandemic, the high functioning, energy-efficient kitchen set within the industrial, country inspired ambiance will surely make an impression someday soon.
Testimonial: Jon took my conceptual idea for a modern tortilleria and eatery and brought it to life. He helped me define my goals and position for capital development. Jon and team were money well spent!” -Hans Desai, Founder