How Crazy Pita Leveraged Takeout and Technology to Thrive During Tough Times

How Crazy Pita Leveraged Takeout and Technology to Thrive During Tough Times ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Youtube]( [Linkedin]( September 12, 2024 How Crazy Pita Leveraged Takeout and Technology to Thrive During Tough Times Mehdi Zarhloul, the visionary CEO of Crazy Pita Restaurant Group, joins us in this episode for a deep dive into the innovative strides he has taken to navigate his restaurant business through unprecedented challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. We explore his use of technology, the importance of customer-centric approaches, and his future plans for the growth and franchising of Crazy Pita. Tune in if you’re passionate about hospitality, tech innovation, or entrepreneurship. Welcome to the 'WISKING IT ALL' Podcast – the series where we engage with hospitality professionals and trailblazers who've wagered it all in their pursuits. Join us in exploring their journeys, understanding their motivations, and uncovering the secrets behind their success. Every week, we'll deliver two impactful ideas and one essential insight from our podcast episode, offering perspectives that could fundamentally transform your hospitality business. If you find value in our show, please consider subscribing and leaving a rating on [Spotify](. Your support is vital in helping us grow. Curious about the challenges and lessons I learned while building WISK? Sign up [here]( and join me as I reveal exclusive insights and effective strategies from our successful journey. Your Host, Angelo Esposito THIS WEEK’S EPISODE Meet [Mehdi Zarhloul.](  Mehdi Zarhloul is the CEO and founder of Crazy Pita, a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain established in 2006. Drawing from his experience at Four Seasons Hotels, Mehdi built Crazy Pita with a focus on consistency, quality, and customer experience. The brand has expanded across the U.S., leveraging technology such as AI-driven inventory systems and virtual cashiers to streamline operations and meet evolving customer demands. In this episode, Mehdi Zarhloul, CEO of Crazy Pita Restaurant Group, shares his journey from dishwasher to navigating the challenges of COVID-19 with innovations like virtual cashiers and AI-driven scheduling. He offers insights on franchising, using technology to streamline operations, and his vision for expanding his brand. Tune in to hear how Mehdi is transforming the hospitality industry and building a lasting legacy. 5 Keys You'll Learn: - Discover how Mehdi revolutionized his business during COVID by implementing virtual cashiers for his restaurant, covering over 6000 shifts and emphasizing a customer-centric approach. - Learn about Mehdi’s innovative use of AI for scheduling and an advanced inventory system to streamline operations, making his restaurants run smoothly even with minimal staff. - Hear Mehdi’s passionate plans to franchise Crazy Pita, Salad Madness, and Chicken Genius, providing investment opportunities through regulation cf and d, all while securing a brighter future for his family. - Mehdi shares valuable lessons from his time at the Four Seasons, highlighting the importance of quality service, teamwork, and the unique "be kind" customer service approach. - Gain insights on how Mehdi navigated the economic challenges of 2007-2008 and the pivot during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to success through takeout-focused models and online orders. [Watch the full episode]( 2 IDEAS FROM THE PODCAST Idea #1 Adapting to Changing Restaurant Trends and Technology Mehdi Zarhloul discussed how Crazy Pita adapted to changing trends in the restaurant industry, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift toward technology-driven operations.  Key Action Items: - Embrace Technology: Implement virtual cashier systems and remote working technology to overcome workforce shortages. - Pivot Business Model: Focus more on takeout and delivery as a larger part of your business, especially during unpredictable economic conditions. - Leverage Data: Use AI and predictive technology to manage scheduling, inventory, and customer preferences to streamline operations. - Experiment with Virtual Brands: Explore creating multiple virtual brands within a single restaurant location to diversify offerings and maximize revenue. - Optimize Restaurant Size: Consider reducing physical dining space in favor of more efficient operations focused on takeout and delivery. Idea #2 Building a Customer-Centric Restaurant Culture A strong focus on creating an authentic customer experience is central to Crazy Pita's success. Mehdi emphasizes the importance of hospitality, kindness, and personalized service. Key Action Items: - Train Employees on Kindness: Develop a service culture that emphasizes kindness, authenticity, and customer connection, from onboarding through daily operations. - Deliver Personal Touch: Ensure every customer interaction feels personal, from taking orders to delivering meals, by maintaining eye contact and offering complimentary items. - Prioritize Customer Retention: Focus on keeping customers coming back through loyalty programs and personalized offers, like the “Epita Club.” - Ensure Product Knowledge: Train employees to be knowledgeable about menu items and ingredients, enhancing the customer experience by providing informed recommendations. - Maintain Authenticity: Promote consistency in service and authenticity in customer interactions, ensuring that all touchpoints, including social media, reflect the same values and experience. [Listen on Spotify]( [Listen on Apple Podcast]( 1 KEY LEARNING ❝ The best advice I can give you is to have a strategy in place. You got to build a team. You cannot do it by yourself and your team has to believe in your strategy [❞]( This quote emphasizes that a strong strategy is essential for success, but equally important is having a dedicated team that believes in and executes that strategy. Leadership isn't about doing everything alone—it's about inspiring and aligning your team toward a common goal. When your team is invested in the vision, collective success becomes possible.  [Listen & Subscribe]( P.S. Love our podcast? Share your feedback and recommend our podcast to other restaurateurs who might appreciate a sprinkle of our episodes! #WiskingItAllPodcast [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Youtube]( [Linkedin]( [TikTok]( Sent to: {EMAIL} [Unsubscribe]( © 2024 Wisking It All... by WISK.ai WISK.ai, 488 Wellington St W , Suite 304, , Toronto, ON M5V 1E3, Canada