As part of this multi-part series, we’re highlighting four focus areas of operational excellence that, if executed well, pave the way for confident growth:
1. Inventory, purchasing, and food costs
2. Employee scheduling and labor costs
3. Operating procedures and task management
4. Employee training and development
In this final part, we’re focusing on employee training and development.
Across any industry, people are one of the most critical factors that determine the success of a brand. In the restaurant world, your staff can make or break the guest experience. However, as your organization grows, it becomes increasingly challenging to get each and every employee up and running fast, consistently and proficiently.
Organizations that want to help their employees grow as their brand grows must also fuel the growth of future leaders and nurture the culture created in top-performing locations. But, this is easier said than done.
Here are some of the most common training and development-related challenges that stifle growth:
- Onboarding new employees is inconsistent and/or not enforced
- Different stores perform work in different ways, impacting customer experiences
- No clear career development paths for employees to guide them into new positions or management
Investing in your team–helping them learn and grow–is key to achieving operational excellence, and the only way to add new locations confidently. Take Jersey Mike’s: with a culture of continuous improvement across all locations, Jersey Mike’s continues to pave the way for successful growth. The brand is an incredible example of how a culture of supporting your team members, and consistency in training across all stores, drives location growth. The company has added 1k+ locations in the last 5 years alone, and shows no signs of slowing down.
Here are some ways they’re accomplishing this:
- Getting employees shift-ready faster
- Delivering better guest experiences by getting new team members onboarded quickly.
- Ensuring compliance from every employee on harassment training, food safety, and more
- Making it easier for employees to stay up to date on compliance training and reduce liability and risk for HQ.
- Improving employee retention
- Nurturing employee growth with certifications and development tracks to become managers.
As a result, Jersey Mike's ensures consistency in training, whether a store is in Alabama or Alaska. Listen to the video below to learn how they do it.
Click here to learn what other brands are doing to reach their location growth goals, and explore best practices for operational excellence.