Restaurant consultancy Suited Hospitality launches in Napa Valley
Suited Hospitality, an upscale dining consultancy, was founded in Napa, California.
The company’s four-person team, who got to know each other while working at the three Michelin-starred restaurant Saison, have extensive industry knowledge in the areas of public relations, menu development, training, operations and marketing.
The company, founded in December 2020, offers chefs, restaurateurs, winery owners and entrepreneurs a comprehensive range of services for public relations and marketing, culinary processes, menu development, business operations and strategic partnerships.
The Suited Hospitality team consists of founders Kristine Keefer, David Sisler, Mitch Lienhard and Martha Cromar. Keefer previously served as communications director at The French Laundry and the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group for more than a dozen years. Lienhard was previously head chef at Manresa, another three Michelin-starred restaurant, and head chef on campus at Bon Apétit.
Sisler has extensive experience managing and operating restaurants. Previously, he was Director of Operations at SingleThread and General Manager at Saison. Cromar has worked as an in-house and consulting digital marketer for nearly ten years and was previously a professional chef.
Suited’s current customer list includes SingleThread, Manresa and Piper Sonoma Wines.
“As long-time veterans who have worked tirelessly to distinguish themselves in the industry, [we] have a real understanding of its complexity and its challenges, especially in this new era, ”said a press release from the consulting firm. “[We] strive not just to rise [our] Customers to more excellence, but also to all facets of the industry. “
Restaurants are among the industries hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Fine dining was even more affected than certain parts of the express service segment, which are better suited to pivotal points for take-away, delivery and mobile ordering. Fine dining is ultimately something that depends heavily on the food and the excellent service as well as the personal restaurant experience. That doesn’t translate particularly well to digital delivery apps and take-out containers.
The National Restaurant Association reported that approximately 90,000 – or 14% – of US restaurants have closed permanently or for a long time. Restaurant and hospitality sales were $ 290 billion lower than pre-pandemic forecasts for the past 14 months, according to the industry association.
With vaccinations moving rapidly, many restaurateurs are looking forward to a more prosperous summer, especially with the prospect of outdoor dining. 44 percent of restaurant operators expect higher average sales from April to June than in March 2021.
However, restaurants are also facing widespread labor shortages despite an industry decline of 1.7 million jobs. Many workers who left the industry during the pandemic have chosen not to return, and restaurants are turning to various incentives, including cash rewards and free food, to lure them back.
