CULINARY COACHING

Program Overview

At CKG Hospitality, we take a hands-on, personalized approach to culinary coaching, designed to empower chefs, kitchen managers, and culinary teams to operate at their highest potential. Whether in-person or virtual, our coaching bridges gaps in leadership, strengthens operational systems, and cultivates a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence.

Drawing on years of frontline and executive industry experience, we deliver custom strategies tailored to the specific challenges of your kitchen or foodservice business. The result? Clear improvements, stronger teams, and long-term success.

Key Areas Covered in Our Culinary Coaching

• Leadership Development

  • Coaching for chefs and sous chefs to become confident, effective leaders

  • Communication training, accountability frameworks, and decision-making support

• Technique & Skill Refinement

  • One-on-one culinary coaching for plating, consistency, prep efficiency, and station management

  • Tailored to team experience level and concept type

• Operational Excellence

  • Line flow assessments, ticket time reduction, prep system improvements

  • BOH organization, cost control, inventory management

• Menu Optimization

  • Menu cost analysis, redesign, and engineering for margin and flow

  • Alignment with brand identity and operational capability

• Team Building & Retention

  • Culture-building strategies to boost morale and reduce turnover

  • Onboarding systems and daily pre-shift coaching structures

• Stress & Time Management

  • Burnout prevention, mindset coaching, task prioritization

  • Building sustainable leadership habits

Virtual Culinary Coaching

CKG Hospitality Virtual Coaching brings our experience to your screen—on your schedule. We provide flexible, on-demand support for culinary professionals and restaurant leaders seeking expert guidance without the need for on-site consulting.

Our virtual coaching includes:

• Live strategy calls and coaching sessions

• Personalized video instruction for skills, systems, and mindset

• Digital resources and planning templates tailored to your goals

Whether you’re a:

• Chef ready to grow into leadership

• General Manager needing operational perspective

• Owner/operator refining your concept for scale

…our coaching meets you where you are and helps you get where you want to go.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Who is this coaching designed for?
A: Our coaching is for executive chefs, sous chefs, general managers, operators, leadership teams and owners in restaurants, hotels, manufacturing and foodservice concepts looking to elevate performance and leadership.

Q: What’s the difference between on-site and virtual coaching?
A: On-site coaching allows us to work shoulder-to-shoulder in your teams, assessing and implementing in real time. Virtual coaching offers more flexible, ongoing support, ideal for time-pressed or remote teams.

Q: How long are coaching engagements?
A: We offer one-time sessions, short-term (3–6 week intensives), and long-term partnerships depending on your goals. Everything is fully customizable.

Q: Do you only work with restaurants?
A: No — we also work with catering companies, hotels, test kitchens / R&D teams, concept groups, manufacturing, sales teams, and other foodservice operations.

Q: What kind of results can we expect?
A: Clients typically see faster times overall, improved food consistency, stronger leadership, lower turnover, and more confidence in their team and systems.

Q: How do we get started?
A: It starts with a discovery call to understand your goals. From there, we build a custom coaching roadmap and schedule based on your needs and team availability.

With CKG Hospitality, you gain a trusted partner committed to helping you and your team reach new heights of culinary excellence.

GENERAL HOSPITALITY CONSULTING

Program Overview

General hospitality consulting provides tailored solutions for businesses across the hospitality industry, addressing needs ranging from answering specific operational questions to full-scale restaurant development and creation. Consultants bring expertise in operations, culinary development, design, branding, and financial planning to help businesses thrive in a competitive market.

Services can include:

• Streamlining daily operations and improving guest experiences.

• Menu design, recipe development, and cost optimization.

• Concept creation, including branding, layout, and market positioning.

• Staff training, leadership development, and operational best practices.

• Assistance with pre-opening tasks, including permits, vendor sourcing, and marketing strategies.

Whether enhancing an existing operation or building a concept from the ground up, hospitality consulting delivers practical insights and strategies to drive profitability, efficiency, and long-term success.Program Overview

CKG Hospitality offers a full-spectrum General Hospitality Consulting Program designed to serve hospitality businesses at every stage—from early concept development to day-to-day operational improvement. Our consulting engagements are tailored to meet the unique challenges of restaurants, hotels, cafés, food halls, and hospitality-driven venues in an evolving and competitive marketplace.

Whether you need expert insight into specific issues or end-to-end guidance on launching a new business, CKG brings deep industry experience across operations, culinary development, branding, design, financial modeling, and team building to support your success.

Our approach is collaborative, actionable, and always aligned with your business goals.

Core Services

1. Operational Assessment & Optimization

   • Full front- and back-of-house evaluations

   • Service flow, systems improvement, ticket time reduction

   • Cost control, labor planning, and performance tracking

2. Culinary Development & Menu Strategy

   • Menu design and item strategy aligned with market and operations

   • Recipe standardization, costing, and kitchen efficiency planning

   • Local sourcing and vendor evaluation

3. Concept Development & Brand Positioning

   • Business planning and feasibility analysis

   • Branding and visual identity collaboration

   • Kitchen and FOH layout guidance with designers and architects

4. Team Building & Training Systems

   • Pre-opening hiring plans and leadership team development

   • Onboarding systems, training manuals, and SOPs

   • Culture development, service style design, and pre-shift systems

5. Pre-Opening Planning & Launch Support

   • Licensing and permit process navigation

   • Vendor sourcing and purchasing systems

   • Marketing strategies, soft opening planning, launch execution

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What types of businesses do you consult for?
A: Restaurants, bars, cafés, hotels, food halls, ghost kitchens, and multi-unit concepts at any stage—startup, expansion, or reinvention.

Q: What makes CKG’s approach different?
A: We’re not just consultants—we’re industry operators. We combine real-world kitchen, leadership, and branding experience with strategic planning, so you get solutions that work practically and profitably.

Q: Do you offer one-time consultations or full development?
A: Both. We can step in for a single issue—like menu engineering—or lead your entire concept from business plan to grand opening. Everything is tailored.

Q: Can you help with financial modeling and budgeting?
A: Yes. We build out detailed P&L projections, breakeven analyses, and capex plans, and we help align your concept goals with realistic financial performance targets.

Q: How involved are you during a concept build-out?
A: As involved as you need us to be—from menu creation to working with architects on kitchen layout to helping hire your opening team. We collaborate closely with all stakeholders.

Q: How long do consulting engagements typically last?
A: It varies. Pre-opening projects may last 3–6 months. Operational consulting can be delivered in 3–6 week intensives or ongoing monthly retainers.

From Vision to Execution

Whether you’re refining an existing operation or starting from scratch, CKG Hospitality delivers practical, experience-backed support to help you operate smarter, delight guests, and build long-term success.

PRIVATE EQUITY / M&A

Program Overview

CKG Hospitality and Graham Hospitality Strategy deliver a specialized Investment & Acquisition Readiness Program designed to position hospitality businesses—including restaurants, food manufacturers, and multi-unit groups—for successful private equity investment, strategic acquisition, or sale. Our comprehensive, tailored approach ensures your business is not only running efficiently but is also primed to attract serious investor interest and command a premium valuation.

We work closely with ownership teams to enhance operational systems, clarify financials, develop leadership infrastructure, and align brand positioning with market expectations. The result: a more scalable, profitable, and buyer-ready business.

Program Pillars

1. Operational Readiness & Standardization

   • Streamline kitchen and service operations

   • Standardize SOPs across departments

   • Strengthen procurement, labor, and inventory systems

2. Financial Clarity & Profitability Enhancement

   • Deep-dive financial analysis (COGS, labor, waste)

   • Improve EBITDA through cost controls and menu margin optimization

   • Establish clean, investor-ready reporting & KPI dashboards

3. Brand Positioning & Market Differentiation

   • Refine brand identity and guest experience

   • Ensure alignment with market trends and growth audiences

   • Position brand for scale or franchise development

4. Leadership & Organizational Infrastructure

   • Build mid-management capability and reduce owner dependency

   • Implement leadership SOPs, org charts, and training frameworks

   • Increase operational autonomy for investor appeal

5. Growth Strategy & Expansion Planning

   • Create location rollout and market entry strategies

   • Develop franchise models or investor pitch decks

   • Model projected ROI and resource allocation plans

6. Due Diligence Preparation

   • Organize lease, vendor, legal, and HR documentation

   • Ensure health, safety, and compliance readiness

   • Support owner/operator through negotiation prep

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Who is this program for?
A: Restaurant operators, food manufacturers, and hospitality brands preparing for private equity investment, partnership, or sale.

Q: How long does the program take?
A: Typically 6–12 weeks depending on business size and readiness level. We also offer fast-track 4-week programs for businesses with imminent deal opportunities.

Q: What if my financials aren’t clean or current?
A: That’s part of what we help with. We’ll work with your bookkeeper or accountant to organize and refine your reporting and identify profitability improvements.

Q: Do you work with brokers or M&A advisors?
A: Yes—we often collaborate with investment bankers, brokers, and legal teams to ensure alignment across your advisory board during a sale or investment process.

Q: Will you help present to potential investors?
A: Absolutely. We assist in pitch preparation, investor Q&A readiness, and can even co-present or provide investor-facing materials.

Q: What happens after the deal?
A: We offer post-deal integration support, transition planning, and continued operational leadership during the first 90–180 days of ownership change.

Case Study #1: Positioning a Manufacturer for Private Equity Investment

Client: Regional Specialty Protein Manufacturer (Midwest) Challenge: A private equity firm was evaluating a majority stake in the company, but operational inefficiencies and unclear financial reporting were raising red flags.

What We Did:

• Conducted a full plant audit and restructured the labor flow and yield tracking systems

• Standardized recipe and production SOPs to ensure consistency and compliance

• Worked with internal accounting to clean up reporting, improve inventory valuation, and clarify EBITDA

• Built investor-facing dashboards and pitch support materials

Result: The client secured a strategic investment with a 20% higher valuation than projected due to improved operational and financial clarity. Post-investment, GHS stayed on to assist in scaling to a second facility.

Case Study #2: Getting a Restaurant Group Ready for Sale

Client: Upscale Casual Dining Group (Southeast) Challenge: Ownership was looking to exit after 10 years of growth but lacked SOPs, formal leadership layers, and had a brand that hadn’t been refreshed in years.

What We Did:

• Refined and documented all FOH and BOH systems and cross-trained key staff

• Introduced a mid-management structure and daily accountability frameworks

• Conducted a menu profitability analysis, leading to a 4% improvement in food cost

• Revamped the brand look, guest journey, and created a pitch deck for potential buyers

• Organized all documentation needed for due diligence, including health records, vendor contracts, and training manuals

Result: The group was acquired by a regional investment firm looking to scale the brand to adjacent markets. The seller achieved a strong multiple on earnings, and CKG supported the transition over 90 days post-sale.

Let’s Position Your Business for Its Next Big Chapter

Whether you’re preparing for investment, ready to scale, or looking for a strategic exit, CKG Hospitality and Graham Hospitality Strategy offer the tools, insight, and execution to get you there.

Contact us today to schedule a discovery call and begin the readiness journey. [Email Address] | [Phone Number] | [Website URL]

RECIPE / MENU R&D

Program Overview

At CKG Consulting, we believe that a menu is more than a list of dishes—it’s a strategic tool that defines your concept, drives guest satisfaction, and supports financial performance. Our Menu, Recipe & Retail Product Development Program is built for hospitality businesses that want to align their culinary offerings with brand identity, operational efficiency, and profitability.

Whether you're refreshing an existing menu, launching a new concept, or expanding into retail product lines, our approach combines culinary artistry with data-driven strategy to create offerings that perform in the kitchen and resonate with your target market.

Core Services

1. Custom Recipe Development

   • Unique, brand-aligned dishes tailored to your audience

   • Balance of creativity, taste, plating, and production efficiency

   • Portion sizing and ingredient sourcing for cost control

2. Strategic Menu Design

   • Cohesive menu layouts built around guest flow and ordering psychology

   • Seasonal and regional ingredient integration

   • Dietary and lifestyle preference alignment (e.g., plant-forward, gluten-free, allergen-aware)

3. Profitability Optimization

   • Plate cost analysis and food margin improvements

   • Menu engineering to feature high-margin items

   • Waste reduction and purchasing efficiency recommendations

4. Operational Integration

   • Standardized recipe cards, plating guides, and prep instructions

   • Staff training materials for consistent execution

   • BOH workflow and station alignment with menu flow

5. Trend Adaptation

   • Research and implementation of emerging culinary trends

   • Competitive benchmarking and guest behavior insights

   • Agile menu strategies for evolving guest preferences

6. Retail Food Product R&D

   • End-to-end development of packaged food products and retail SKUs

   • Ideation, formulation, shelf-life testing, and regulatory compliance

   • Labeling guidance (nutritionals, allergen statements, FDA guidelines)

   • Co-packer sourcing and scale-up coordination

   • Brand alignment for in-store, e-commerce, and wholesale channels

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What types of businesses is this program for?
A: Restaurants, cafés, hotels, food halls, ghost kitchens, multi-unit groups, and emerging CPG brands—any concept looking to improve or refine their culinary offerings or launch packaged retail products.

Q: Can you help if we already have a menu but need to improve performance?
A: Yes. We offer full menu audits that assess profitability, layout logic, guest experience, and operational challenges—then deliver a plan to improve.

Q: Do you provide on-site training?
A: We offer both on-site and virtual support. In-person services include line training, pre-shift run-throughs, and rollout support.

Q: How long does a full menu or product development engagement take?
A: Typically 4–6 weeks for a menu build and 6–12 weeks for retail product development, depending on testing and compliance requirements.

Q: Do you source ingredients or assist with vendor relationships?
A: We help identify sourcing options, optimize vendor lists, and create spec sheets—but you maintain control of vendor relationships unless otherwise requested.

Q: Will this help us reduce food cost?
A: Absolutely. Cost control is built into every part of our process—from portioning and prep to sourcing and pricing.

Q: Can you help us prepare for retail launch or co-packer readiness?
A: Yes. We guide formulation for scale, assist in finding co-packers, and ensure your product meets regulatory and shelf-life requirements.

From Menu to Market Success

With CKG Consulting, your menu and product line become true reflections of your brand and powerful contributors to operational and retail success. Let’s create something exceptional—on the plate, on the shelf, and on the bottom line.

FOOD SAFETY ASSESSMENTS & QUALITY ASSURANCE

Program Overview

At CKG Hospitality, we recognize that food safety and quality assurance are foundational to building a sustainable, high-performing hospitality business. Our Food Safety & Quality Assurance Program is designed to help restaurants, food manufacturers, hotel kitchens, and culinary operations maintain industry-leading standards while boosting team accountability and guest confidence.

Through comprehensive assessments, hands-on team training, and clearly documented protocols, we ensure your operation not only meets local and federal regulations but delivers consistent product excellence—every service, every shift.

Food Safety Assessments

CKG Hospitality delivers full-spectrum food safety evaluations to identify gaps, mitigate risk, and align your practices with health codes and industry best practices.

Our Food Safety Services Include:

• On-Site Kitchen Assessments

  • Walk-throughs of prep areas, line stations, dry/cold storage, dish areas, and receiving zones

• Sanitation & Hygiene Audits

  • Review of cleaning protocols, handwashing systems, glove usage, cross-contamination prevention, and PPE compliance

• Temperature & Holding Control Monitoring

  • Validation of holding logs, equipment calibration, cooling procedures, and cold chain maintenance

• HACCP Review & Implementation

  • Customized HACCP plans based on menu and kitchen flow; documentation and training

• Staff Training & SOP Development

  • In-service education on allergen handling, food safety basics, chemical safety, and personal hygiene

• Regulatory Compliance Check

  • Preparation for local health inspections, OSHA compliance, labeling audits, and risk management plans

Quality Assurance (QA) Programs

Our QA programs ensure that every plate delivered to the guest meets your brand’s promise of excellence.

Our QA Services Include:

• Recipe & Portion Control Audits

  • Ensure proper execution, consistency, and cost-alignment across all locations and shifts

• Vendor Quality Monitoring

  • Audit suppliers, review receiving logs, and ensure ingredient standards and specs are met

• Product Specification Development

  • Build product guides and prep specs for consistent quality, presentation, and allergen tracking

• Mystery Dining & Plate Testing

  • Scheduled or surprise service assessments that review execution, temperature, taste, and presentation

• Pre-Shift Quality Protocols

  • Design and implement daily quality checks: mise en place reviews, tasting routines, and checklist systems

• Guest Feedback Analysis

  • Analyze complaint data, online reviews, and guest feedback to address recurring quality issues

The CKG Advantage

• Real Culinary Experience: We’re operators at heart—our coaching is practical, relevant, and designed for real kitchen life.

• Tailored Solutions: Programs are based on your operation’s style, scale, and goals.

• Documentation that Works: We deliver user-friendly SOPs, checklists, and visual guides.

• Team Empowerment: We teach staff how to maintain high standards—not just pass inspections.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Who is this program designed for?
A: Restaurants, hotel kitchens, food manufacturers, caterers, ghost kitchens, and commissary operations looking to enhance or formalize their food safety and QA systems.

Q: How long does a food safety assessment take?
A: On-site evaluations typically take 1–2 days, followed by a report with recommended action items and optional training sessions.

Q: Do you provide staff training?
A: Yes. We offer tailored training sessions on food handling, allergen safety, hygiene practices, and pre-shift quality checks.

Q: Can you help us prepare for an upcoming health inspection?
A: Absolutely. We’ll conduct a full compliance review and prepare your team and paperwork for inspection.

Q: Do you work with multi-unit operators or franchises?
A: Yes. We offer QA programs for groups needing consistency across multiple locations and help roll out scalable SOPs.

Q: Can your services reduce liability or risk?
A: Yes. Identifying and correcting risks in food handling, cleanliness, and documentation helps avoid costly health violations and brand damage.

Ready to Raise the Bar on Food Safety & Quality?

Let CKG Hospitality help you build trust, consistency, and operational excellence from the inside out.