Email - john@johnbensonsmith.com
Why Choose Us?
Our heavyweight industry achievements to date ...
The two fundamental cornerstones of any business are ... COMMERCIALITY AND PROFITABILITY
We think differently ... thanks to OUR award-winning industry experience of many years standing, which is underpinned with our PASSION, SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE and INSIGHT.
We thrive on ... ASSISTING AND SUPPORTING OUR CLIENTS to give them the UNFAIR ADVANTAGE (either virtually or in person)
We don't create dramas or pretend that our industry is complicated
We are human, we cut the bull and become team players with your existing team. We will help you to understand what is wrong and suggest how to fix it. We won't send you a junior, a replacement or fob you off. We are open, clear, concise, conscientious, to the point and really great communicators.
Blue Chip, Middle East or Local neighbourhood?
We arrived in Consultancy due to sheer demand for our services from Clients, and our industry achievements. We have great energy, make good connections, enjoy a 'feet on the ground' approach and always aim to leave a legacy. We don't do boring!
MARKET KITCHEN, MORRISONS CAMDEN, LONDON, UK
Opened February 2021
CLIENT business cases over the years
We see, listen and understand
Nothing beats independent viewpoints, experience, knowledge, wisdom and background. To enthuse in a trade is essential to finding great solutions, driving passion and integrity to improve and fix
Extensive Leisure Business in Balearics
CLIENT SCOPE –
Deliver substantial change, regain control losing £420k pa
WHAT WE DID – Investigated on multiple levels, realigned leadership, security, accounting procedures, robust processes, systems procedures, cost base and operating expenses, reviewed productivity, identified financial drain
OUTCOME - Recovered breakeven then into profit, restored control, 80% improved membership loyalty, 40% sales increase, reputation restored, new services & products, improved reputation and profile.
Five Star, High Profile City Centre Hotel
CLIENT SCOPE -
Significant kitchen service issues with huge wage cost, big adverse customer feedback, mad house!
WHAT WE DID - Worked in kitchen spaces to master food specs, delivery pressures, dish builds, reinvented kitchen service, set up methodology, understood workflows, crossovers, service times, preparation.
OUTCOME - Rectified by improving speed, quality, morale, better hygiene, organisation, controlled food cost, customer feedback reputation, improved sales, became a nice place to work.
Arts Council (Food for Thought)
CLIENT SCOPE -
360 degree review of catering areas inc. provisions and services within high profile Art Galleries, Museums and Theatres.
WHAT WE DID - Delivered detailed recommendations which were supported, actioned and implemented.
OUTCOME - Reworked, streamlined and rationalised services and products. Created and introduced unique quality smart offers and brands (fit for purpose) and also deleted catering offers from venues which were swamped locally with high level competitors.
Our Abilities - Supporting the Key Business
Joining an existing team and slotting into it almost instantly is a skill, especially if the business is under threat or has a looming set of timelines to meet and deliver
CLIENT - Café / Brasserie Chain
ISSUES - Huge menus with massive choice, absence of financial control and calculations, few policies, no review of pricing, rising overheads, customer complaints with regards to poor consistency. Constant undermining of the management by ownership.
WHAT WE DID - Educated the business with blanket processes, systems and procedures, clear reporting lines, reviewed individual outlet profitabilities etc
OUTCOME - Good financial and business control, increased sales, repeat custom and into profit.
CLIENT - National Contract Caterer
ISSUES - Outdated food, lack of fresh ingredients, absence of food ethos or values, bizarre menu mixes, antiquated kitchens, yesteryear management approach. Profit expectations unreasonable, overall model unsustainable.
WHAT WE DID - Summary findings were to review the businesses leadership, either sell and get out or build a longterm plan, take note of the market, the clients, the trends and the competitors.
OUTCOME - The business was remodelled, changed its principles and ensured innovation.
CLIENT - Events Company
ISSUES -Very adventurous food and menus, multi-choice menus with hundreds of dish variations and requests. Operating without food and labour cost control, confused business identity. Inconsistent management and leadership. A lot of running around for a breakeven P&L.
WHAT WE DID - A tough open forum report which was shared with key players.
OUTCOME - a lot of listening, then a huge complete new set of changes were rolled out.
Now back into profit, increased sales and uplift in reputation.
Complementing Our Client's Leaders
Forensics in F&B is fascinating detective work. It's about collating information and evidence ... sometimes under pressure. We are asked "surely you must have come across this issue previously"?
CLIENT - Key UK Supplier & Distributor
ISSUES - Market's perception was that it was out of touch, outdated and wouldn't listen. Lacked modern day ingredients for sale, offered cheap, low quality items, heavy, unhealthy foods. Brochure was difficult to understand and its' style and communication twenty years out of date.
WHAT WE DID - Identified opportunities and the need to be on trend and understand the market.
OUTCOME - Business facelift, new marketing relaunch & hit back into the market. Radically improved sales and bottom line.
CLIENT -Restaurant
ISSUES -
High profile 'ego based' food and beverage operation on a mission for Michelin recogniti. But what changes and improvements could be made to drive poor revenue, confused reputation, historically loss making
WHAT WE DID - Listened, understood and presented a tough detailed plan.
OUTCOME - Change leading to a new concept. The principle was removed by the business and it flourished. Its' pursuit of award stardom ceased as it simply enjoyed profit, smiles and contented customers.
CLIENT - Private Members Dining Club
ISSUES - Longstanding traditional membership only business of good repute which had slowly seen its' sales eroded and customer base wither. Running at a financial loss with sales on the dip and rising costs, it needed delicate input to assist it with what should be its' future identity.
WHAT WE DID - Detailed forensic investigation
OUTCOME - Huge changes in committee thinking and the need for one direction and one plan, which led to its slow resurrection. However indecision reigned supreme.
Catering Sectors Where We Excel ...
Restaurants - Casual Dining - Café - Fast Food - Pubs
Restaurants - Casual Dining - Café - Fast Food - Pubs
Restaurants - Casual Dining - Café - Fast Food - Pubs
Hotels - Resorts - Independents - Brands
Restaurants - Casual Dining - Café - Fast Food - Pubs
Restaurants - Casual Dining - Café - Fast Food - Pubs
Stadia - Training Academy - Events - Venues - Arenas
Restaurants - Casual Dining - Café - Fast Food - Pubs
Stadia - Training Academy - Events - Venues - Arenas
Arts & Culture - Theatres - Museums - Art Galleries
Arts & Culture - Theatres - Museums - Art Galleries
Stadia - Training Academy - Events - Venues - Arenas
Theme Parks - Amusements -
Arts & Culture - Theatres - Museums - Art Galleries
Food Service - Healthcare - Education
Food Service - Healthcare - Education
Arts & Culture - Theatres - Museums - Art Galleries
Food Service - Healthcare - Education
A Brief Overview of Our Work in Stadia ...
Manchester City Football Club
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
For twenty years 1999 - 2019 we were strategically involved with City Football Group - Academy - Etihad - First Team - New York City Football Club. Catering, designs, layouts, kitchen areas, concepts restaurants - overall shaping catering content and hospitality
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
We assisted Tottenham Hotspur as Catering Consultants with the Catering tender contract prior to the new Stadium opening, moving from old Stadia to new, Spurs were looking for a third party contract caterer.
FC Bayern München
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
Crystal Palace Football Club
Working for the Alliance Stadium senior team of Arena One in Munich Germany, AO often take over conceptualisation, planning and execution of sporting and corporate events around the globe.
Crystal Palace Football Club
Crystal Palace Football Club
Crystal Palace Football Club
Our Consultancy worked on a key project for Crystal Palace FC in 2019 to great effect, overviewing the Food & Beverage business and proposing changes and improvements.
Real Madrid CF Spain
Crystal Palace Football Club
Real Madrid CF Spain
In-depth review of Catering facilities at the Bernabeu Stadium, Spain for Legends international USA. Also future view of proposed rebuild of the venue over the next five years.
Fulham Football Club
Crystal Palace Football Club
Real Madrid CF Spain
Worked with FFC (then in house Catering team) and new proposed Catering development including layouts, drawings and specification of kitchen areas for Fulham Pier
Our Work is Diverse & Extensive within Catering ...
Theatres, Museums & Art Galleries
Commissioned by the Arts Council to look into Food & Beverage in the Arts and Culture. Our experience includes Birmingham Hippodrome; Urbis Manchester; Octagon Theatre, Bolton; Manchester Art Gallery; Rochdale; Bradford; Edinburgh Festival Theatre; Oldham; Yorkshire Playhouse; Blackpool Grand and others
Ultimate Theme Park Attractions
We worked for the UK's most visited Zoo plus luxury Resort Village and Theme Park at Flamingo Land; Blackpool Pleasure Beach; Granada Theme Parks and others. We are experienced in fast food and have detailed knowledge of this sector
Our Consultancy is assisting restaurants in establishing focus upon profit yields .... without engineering out the essential quality!
Branded restaurants or independents in the Jersey CI, Middle East, Spain, France, Greece, UK etc. From city centres and towns to location destinations, be it casual dining to franchise either Rosette and Michelin star rated* (*where we learnt part of our trade) we enjoy it all
Kitchen space and associated areas
Design, layout, spec and "making the Catering space work"
CAD, M&E, ergonomics, logistics, time and motion, work flows and productivity - we work with the 'all important' end users and drive a "fit for purpose" approach.
ARABIA - Saudi - 2020 / 2021 travel and tourism
News ... proud to announce our key role in travel & tourism
We were exclusively commissioned to create structured and detailed high profile Culinary & Gastronomic adventures, experiences, courses and activities in the Kingdom for 2021 and onwards
Further news ...
New Restaurant Solia opening in Grand Avenues, Kuwait, Middle East - August 2018
Fresh authentic Mediterranean style concept 120 seater within Phase Four of Grand Avenues Mall, Kuwait - favoured in the Kuwaiti summer months
New Restaurant Solia opening in Murouj, Kuwait, Middle East - January 2019
Favoured in the cooler months, this restaurant is enjoyed in the Kuwaiti winter months as has the benefit of a large external terrace
New Restaurant Solia & Restaurant Khaneen opening in Saudi - January 2020
We played a key role in the opening of two 500 seater Restaurants for our client in U-Walk Riyadh in January offering Mediterranean and also Kuwaiti cuisine
OUR AMAZING 20 YEARS WITH BLUE CHIP CHAMPION CLIENT
CATCH OF THE DAY TO MATCH TO THE DAY
Twenty fantastic, hugely memorable, historic years in Stadia as Consultant Chef (Catering Consultant) to Manchester City Football Club, which I loved but it was time to move on. So in 2019 it was time to give back the badge (yes after 20 years) and pay my big respects.
During the years I also worked for and with many others including Tottenham Hotspur FC, Fulham FC, Scottish FA and two handfuls of other Clubs inc two high profile Arenas in Europe. All done and told my work as a Consultant totalled around nineteen Clubs in total.
It is all about the fans and customers (Clubs often use an expression Fans experience) their food and drink and developing the business, understanding the demographics of fans and the county country and area. Embracing and listening to market, the trends (or driving and creating your own). Getting an opinion, ethos, belief and set of values and agreeing your vision and mantra. It is maybe the frenzy of Beers and Burgers, Hospitality or what I call Restaurants, first team player feeding or whatever.
Commonly Stadia is about change, fix and sort or it is new builds, expansion or tender or a bit of each. Whatever it can be tough but the human element probably like in most businesses, is the bigger challenge.
PS to let you into a secret I am not a Mancunian!.
I arrived in Manchester in 92 and experienced a minimal Food & Beverage / Restaurant / Hotel / Events scene which probably required huge energy.
My industry peers and profiled Chefs from Lancashire initially did not get Madchester or the opportunities, thinking “who the hell wants to eat in a City etc”. Amusingly a few years afterwards thousands of operators woke up and flooded the City. Many arrived and many departed.
Attempting to be Mancunian, paying respect and embracing Madchester and its fantastic people and culture to me was 100% important if not essential. Especially as a Yorkshireman, I embraced the City and attempted to leave the legacy thing and not what is commonly called the Seagull effect.
Stadia and Arena has been hit like many businesses very badly by Covid-19, it has so many great people but let us work to get back on top together.
John Benson-Smith Consultant Chef to MCFC for twenty years !
February & March 2020
Saudi Cup Horse Race Riyadh 2020
As part of IVM team of associates we were commissioned to create and support the catering at the inaugural Saudi Cup 2020 at King Abdul Aziz Racecourse, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
We get about
Travel & Location
We work with establishments and businesses around the World, Channel Islands, Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Kuwait and Saudi
We join existing teams
Able to understand challenges and the essential fixes with speed
We appreciate cultures - and build new teams
We become one of you and also can work remotely
We get ahead
How we work with clients
Our relationship with clients and the focuses scopes and projects usually works on a retainer of services basis or whatever enables all parties to focus upon achieving a great end result.
We commonly work with CEO's, Managing Directors, Investors, Architects, Design houses, Boards, Accountants, Commercial directors, Culinary directors and Executive/Head Chefs.
Our other lines in food
www.restaurantconsultants.info
Our support and strength in Restaurant Consultancy
www.stadiumcatering.co.uk
Working with nearly twenty Stadia and Clubs in Food
www.hotelcateringconsultants.com
Underpinning great Hotels with good food and service
What We Do ...
We have big ears and are all listeners, we are national, local or international
Hands-on and renowned for our business turnaround skills, also our understanding as operational analysts, we bring a fresh, knowledgeable approach to any team.
We understand detailed, real world Food & Beverage, be it Five star Hotels, Theme Parks, High Street Restaurant chains, Premiership Stadia, R&D, real Fresh Fast Food or collaborating with Marco Pierre White.