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Ops Excellence Awards Finalist Spotlight: Five Guys

Ops Excellence Awards Finalist Spotlight: Five Guys

With a steadfast focus on quality and simplicity, Five Guys has expanded into a global leader in the fast-casual dining space. By maintaining its core values—offering fresh, never-frozen ingredients and exceptional customer service—Five Guys has developed a loyal following worldwide. Their focus on consistency and brand integrity drives seamless operations across all locations.

Background and Challenges

In 2015, Five Guys was experiencing rapid expansion, with international growth starting and domestic expansion in full force. To support both growth strategies, Five Guys was looking to implement a new BOH operations solution that integrated with a new POS, with must-haves including:

  • A platform that could enable and empower 100+ franchisees 
  • Improved cost control
  • The ability to manage vendors differing by country, different units of measurement, different currencies, etc. all in one solution

Results

Since adopting Crunchtime, Five Guys has grown from roughly 1,300 locations in 9 countries to over 1,900 in 27 countries.

  • Managing 100+ franchisees, multiple vendors per country, varying units of measure, and different currencies is a complex challenge for any brand, yet Five Guys' internal team handles it all with remarkable efficiency
  • This mighty team with 45+ years of experience with solutions and more in the industry has not only converted all Five Guys US locations from its legacy system but also expanded the partnership to 1900+ locations across 27 countries (with many more to come)

Inventory Management, Purchasing, and Operational Intelligence 

  • Maintained AvT despite challenges with supply chain, inflation, and high labor turnover
  • Lowered both food and labor costs year over year
  • Manages operations for 94 franchises and 600+ corporate locations
  • Processes 6,488 bread invoices and 3,015 US broadline vendor invoices processed weekly

Labor & Scheduling

  • Staffing level templates are based on sales per hour on a given day while remaining compliant 
  • 42% admin time savings for labor management (about 4-6 hours per week)

Future Plans and Goals

Five Guys opened 39 domestic locations and 20 international locations in 2024, while managing 5 acquisitions affecting 38 locations. 

  • Growth is expected to ramp up in 2025
    • Estimating 100+ new locations
    • 2 new countries in Q1, 38 International locations
    • 73 North American locations
  • Vendor transitions, implementing new integrations, and solving emerging business challenges

Five Guys’ success story is a testament to the power of aligning technology with a clear operational vision. By partnering with Crunchtime to streamline inventory, purchasing, operational intelligence, and labor management, Five Guys has achieved remarkable scalability and efficiency while staying true to its commitment to quality. The company's ability to manage a complex global footprint with a lean internal team speaks volumes about its dedication to operational excellence and its ability to overcome challenges in a rapidly changing industry.

As Five Guys prepares to accelerate its growth in 2025, adding new locations and expanding into new countries, its focus on operational consistency and innovation remains unwavering. With a robust partnership and proven processes in place, Five Guys continues to set the standard for fast-casual excellence—building on a legacy of quality while paving the way for an even more impactful future.

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Leading up to Ops Summit 2024, Crunchtime customers were invited to submit nominations for Crunchtime’s 2nd annual Ops Excellence Awards. This program honors the outstanding achievements of restaurants and groups that have harnessed the power of Crunchtime to achieve unparalleled operational excellence. Awards nomination requirements included explaining how their organization has harnessed the power of Crunchtime solutions to manage profitability, deliver great customer experiences, and successfully grow their multi-unit operations.

Selecting the top five finalists for the 2024 Ops Excellence Awards was an incredibly challenging task, given the outstanding quality of nominations received. Crunchtime extends its sincere appreciation to every organization that participated and applauds the remarkable progress so many teams have made in advancing operational excellence.

The finalists—BBQ HoldingsFive GuysJersey Mike’sSPB Hospitality, and Triple T Hospitality—were recognized for their exceptional dedication to operational excellence. These organizations have successfully leveraged technology and collaboration to address challenges and consistently exceed expectations.

Representatives from all five finalists took the stage at Crunchtime’s 2024 Ops Summit to present their success stories. Their achievements underscore impressive leadership, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to operational excellence in a highly competitive landscape.

To learn more about all of the 2024 Ops Excellence Award finalists, click here.