| Passionate about Catering in Multi-Unit Restaurant Operations

May 14 2013

Heading to NRA 2013? – Join the Celebration of Technology Dinner, May 19, 2013

I always look forward to this time of year. As a restaurant operator in Vancouver years ago, I always made sure I attended the National Restaurant Association gathering, year after year. Mostly, it was for the learning. Lot’s of learning.

Even today, 15 years later, as the CEO of MonkeyMedia Software and the Founder of the MMS Catering Institute, I still go for the learning.

There are so many events to choose from in just 5 short days. One of my favourites is the Celebration of Technology at Zed 451 on Sunday night, May 19. I’d recommend you attend if you are in Chicago. You can register here.

But today, it’s become more than just learning for me. As our organization works with thousands of restaurant operators, day in and day out, all focused on their catering operations. We owe it to our community to reach high and be the best that we can be. A never ending commitment to make ourselves better. We can only do that by taking part in community based activities. We need the feedback, validation and the passion of others.

Well, over the years, you end up making great friends. Real friends. Nice people working in an amazing industry. I enjoy circling back, year after year. I really go there for community…. to be part of something fantastic and make sure that I have a place to “hang my hat”. Check out this video that Dawn Sweeney made, as the president and ceo of NRA.

I think she does a great job at setting her passion for her work in this video.

Well, there’s always alot to discuss. Me? I’ll look forward to meeting you on the show floor, or perhaps, if you have time, you might come by our booth where we are showcasing the services of the MMS Catering Institute and MonkeyMedia Software. Booth #6878.

Hope to see you there!

Order Execution – A key enabler for successful restaurant catering (erledardick.com)
Restaurant Catering Workshop Filling up – Chicago, June 6, 2013 (erledardick.com)
Save The Date June 6,2013 – Chicago Restaurant Catering Workshop (erledardick.com)
Professional Delivery Bikes – For Urban Restaurant Catering Deliveries (erledardick.com)

Tagged Cater, Chicago, dawn sweeney, Learning, MMS Catering Institute, MonkeyMedia Software, National Restaurant Association, Vancouver

May 08 2013

Order Execution – A key enabler for successful restaurant catering

This year, I am celebrating the beginning of my 16th year at MonkeyMedia Software. As an entrepreneur, I am pretty much “path dependent” on my journey at this point. For better or for worse. It’s not impossible to shift gears, but at my age, it’s logistically challenging. Just like catering out of restaurants. Logistically challenging. Don’t get me wrong; I am not looking to change careers! No Way! I’ve got way to much learning to do and everywhere I go, all I see is opportunity for the US restaurant industry’s catering channel. I absolutely love this business! I see a $100 Billion dollar business out there. It’s out there, but we HAVE to execute!

To keep myself interested every day, I am always looking for “shiny new objects”. Well, according to my friend and colleague, Fred LeFranc, from Results Through Strategy, I can’t help myself. ” It’s classic entrepreneurial behaviour “, he tells me. Oh, and by the way, those of you who might be looking for a great strategist, call Fred. He’s doing great work for some our restaurant community’s best known brands. So today, I will celebrate this part of me. The part that can’t stop innovating. Can’t stop imagining. Can’t stop hoping. It’s just that I feel SO certain! Some days I feel like a child in a candy store. I have to choose carefully or I will end up with a stomach ache!

As the founder of the MMS Catering Institute, it’s my job to document a business model for catering out of restaurants, that is predictable, scalable and repeatable. I spend hours thinking about it, days writing about it, and weeks working in the field with my customers. Customers like you. Restaurant operators just trying to survive day to day.

I have learned that one of the key enabler’s for successful catering out of restaurant operations is “order execution”. Too many of us fail at this. Why? Because logistics are complicated. Logistics matter. Like all industries, we can learn from others. And so, I found this fantastic video that really shows the logistics execution of Airline Catering Operations. It’s impressive, to say the least.

There are many takeaways for us as restaurant catering experts from this video. I’d like to hear your thoughts on what you take away from the video.

Drop me a line. Let’s talk Catering!

Creating an Efficient and Practical Kitchen (athomesense.com)
Save The Date June 6,2013 – Chicago Restaurant Catering Workshop (erledardick.com)
Catering business forensics the story unfolds… (chefjbs.net)

Tagged business, Cater, Logistics, MMS Catering Institute, MonkeyMedia Software, Path dependence, restaurant, United States

May 02 2013

View my Catering Presentation to Restaurant Leadership Conference attendees

My presentation on catering from Restaurant Leadership Conference is in post production. In the coming days, my team will be releasing the full presentation (45 minutes).

Here’s a peek ….

If you would like access to the full presentation (45 minutes), just visit this link and let my team know….

www.monkeymediasoftware.com/rlc

It’s all about catering!