947: Ford Fry Founder of Ford Fry Restaurants

Ford Fry is the Founder and Co-Owner of many, many restaurants, including Jct. Kitchen. Ford was raised in Texas and attended the New England Culinary Institute. He worked for several respectable restaurants and people in Florida, California, Colorado, and Texas before finally opening his own restaurant in Atlanta in 2007, that being Jct. Kitchen. Ford doesn't like the term "restaurant group" but he founded an entity that is basically that, called Ford Fry Restaurants. Ford Fry Restaurants currently owns/operates 13 concepts across 19 locations in Atlanta, Houston, Nashville, and Charlotte, NC. Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Join Restaurant Unstoppable Network and get your first 30 days on me!  Connect with my past guest and a community of superfans. Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favor success quote/mantra: "Fine is not fine." In this episode with Ford Fry we will discuss: New England Culinary Institute Helping open massive companies Cooking for robust flavor rather than unique ideas Fundraising advice Training Employee benefits Today's sponsor: At Popmenu, we know that in today's world, a great hospitality experience usually begins online. Keeping the conversation with guests going beyond the meal also requires simple, powerful, fun technology capable of expression through all kinds of channels. Our team takes pride in helping restaurants put their best foot forward digitally so they can focus on what they do best. We think PDF menus are super boring, we believe 3rd party platforms have had too much say in how consumers find their next dining experience and we deeply feel that sharing your beautiful menu doesn't have to be so difficult, time-consuming and expensive. As a listener of the Restaurant Unstoppable, you'll receive $100 off your first month of Popmenu! Join the 60-day Restaurant Systems Pro FREE TRAINING. This is something that has never been done before. This 60-day event is at no cost to you, but it is not for everyone. Fred Langley, CEO of Restaurant Systems Pro, will lead a group of restaurateurs through the Restaurant Systems Pro software and set up the systems for your restaurant. During the 60 days, Fred will walk you through the Restaurant Systems Pro Process and help you crush the following goals: Recipe Costing Cards; Guidance in your books for accounting; Cash controls; Sales Forecasting(With Accuracy); Checklists; Budgeting for the entire year; Scheduling for profit; More butts in seats and more… Click Here to learn more. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? "Fine is not fine." What is your biggest weakness? I don't know how to say no What's one thing you ask or look for when interviewing/growing your team? "Where do you want to go?" Can I get them there? What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Disseminating the culture Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. Blame-free environments What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? Servant leadership What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? The Experience Economy by B. Joseph Pine II and James H. Gilmore GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM  What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations? Compeat If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? Treat your staff as your most valuable asset Fine is not fine; get better every day Ask what makes your experience more unique or more memorable Contact: Instagram: @fordfry Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Ford Fry for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!