How Confident Are You in Your Restaurant’s Growth Strategies? 4 Ways to Take Action

With leading brands like Jersey Mike’s, CAVA, and sweetgreen frequently making headlines for confidently crushing their location growth goals, it’s helpful to wonder:

• How did they do it?
• How can my team do it too? 

Like other operators, as your organization sets its sights on expansion, you need a solid plan to get from where you are right now to where you want to be. 

Not sure where to start? 

The Restaurant Ops Excellence Scorecards will help you map out the current state of your operations, while providing you with strategies to achieve operational excellence and help you grow with confidence.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, these scorecards are designed to help you take a hard look at your current operations and identify where you can tighten things up.

Here are four ways you can use any of the scorecards:

1. Assess your current state of operations

Maybe you’re already nailing food safety, but your labor costs could use some fine-tuning. Or perhaps you’ve got your costs under control but want to enhance your training methods. Before you can improve, you need to know where you stand. The scorecards allow you to take a comprehensive look at your current operations.

By marking your confidence level in various areas, you’ll gain a clear understanding of what’s working and what needs attention. Whatever your situation, these scorecards will help you create a focused action plan that aligns with your goals.

Why it matters: Self-assessment is the first step to improvement. By honestly evaluating your operations, you’ll identify strengths to leverage and weaknesses to address, setting the foundation for growth.

2. Prioritize where to focus

Not all operational issues are created equal. Some areas might need immediate attention, while others can be improved over time. The scorecards help you prioritize by showing you where the biggest gaps are in your performance.

Whether it’s reducing food waste or optimizing labor costs, you’ll know exactly where to direct your efforts. The scorecards don’t just point out what’s working; they also highlight areas where you might need a little extra attention. 

For example, did you know that having backup measuring utensils can drastically reduce food waste during prep? Or that evaluating high-cost, low-margin menu items regularly can save you big bucks?.

Why it matters: Focus is key to effective management. When you know where to concentrate your energy, you can make impactful changes that drive your restaurant forward, rather than spreading yourself too thin.

3. Create an action plan

Knowing what needs to be done is only half the battle. The scorecards guide you in creating an action plan to address the areas that need improvement. With actionable tips included in the scorecards, you’ll have practical steps to take, whether it’s conducting regular invoice checks or implementing better food safety practices. The beauty of the scorecards is that they're packed with best practices that are both practical and easy to implement.

Why it matters: These scorecards turn insights into action, giving you a clear path to follow and ensuring that your improvements are not just theoretical but implemented. Think of it as your roadmap to operational excellence.  

4. Guide conversations with leadership

Improving operations often requires buy-in from the top. Whether you’re discussing the need for new technology or justifying an increase in training budgets, these scorecards arm you with the evidence you need to make your case.

Why it matters: Communication is critical to getting things done. By using the scorecards to support your discussions, you can align your teams' goals and ensure everyone is on the same page, making it easier to implement changes that will benefit the entire organization.

At the end of the day, you’re not just looking to survive—you’re looking to thrive. It’s how you move from being just another restaurant to becoming a leader in your market. Your restaurant—and your bottom line—will thank you. 

Ready to take control of your operations and drive growth? Download the scorecards today and start your journey to operational excellence.

For more personalized advice or to schedule a demo, get in touch with our team.