Using Distributors To Your Advantage

Have you gone back to your food distributors for ideas or used their chefs to help create a unique menu? Distributors want to sell more food and will lend you their chef to help you.

Most quality food distributors know that the products that they sell are only one piece of the dining experience. They want to make sure that your restaurant succeeds. That's what you call job security. If a restaurant does not succeed, then they lose a valuable customer. So, most of them have hired staff to help with all kinds of challenges that people in the food and beverage industry experience everyday. The more they help you, the better their relationship is with you.

They can provide training materials for new employees, give you all the information on food cost advantages, as well as customer service ideas, and a fresh perspective on your menu.?

It's important to find a distributor, and most of them offer the types of solutions that I am talking about today, that will support you throughout your common challenges in the food and beverage part of your business. Most of them are dedicated to providing a support and solutions team. They have experts that can help no matter your struggle. For instance, if you need some new recipe ideas or if you need to have one of their experts analyze your menu and make it more profitable, or what if you need to assess your portions and cost, or perhaps inventory management? Your food distributor can help you in these areas.?

You can take advantage of their chefs so that you can create a unique line of menu items specifically for your brand. There are also restaurant operations consultants that can help you make your operation run smoothly and more efficiently. Need portion control?? Protein specialists can help you with the correct portions of protein per meal as well as produce specialists. Not to mention, they also have culinary equipment and supply specialists that will help you decide what type of kitchen equipment you are going to need for the dining experience that you want to give your guests!?

Liquor Distributors

Have you worked with your liquor distributors to get a great liquor program? If not, you should! They can help you get great deals and save money.

It is always important when you are looking for an alcohol distributor that you find the one that's right for you. Make sure that they are experienced in your business. You want to partner with a distributor that other family entertainment businesses have a history of working well with.?

If they have experience with our industry, they will have a good route-to-market strategy to share with you. It will only work in your favor if your expectations are aligned. If they understand the direction that you are going with your brand, they can contribute to the success of your liquor operation to make it a reality.

A good distributor will not only work with you on your vision for your brand but also have plenty of resources and business relationships to make it work and get you good deals. Not every distributor is going to have experience with all businesses that sell alcohol. So making sure that your values and your strategies work together with their promotions is essential.?

Have you read an article I’ve published here on LinkedIn and want to talk about the topic a little more? If you’d like to book a call with me regarding the Family Entertainment Industry or Private Equity, please feel free. I enjoy connecting & collaborating with others in the same professional space.

Tim Murphy is CEO of APX Operating Company, dba Boomers Parks, under the ownership of Cerberus private equity ($60B assets). Boomers Parks owns six family entertainment centers and two water parks with locations in California, Florida, and New Jersey.

As CEO of Boomers Parks since 2020, Tim took these eight parks from bankruptcy to profitability in just a year – in the middle of a global pandemic. When Boomers acquired these parks, they were operating at a $10 million loss. Tim transformed the customer experience and added new revenue streams to generate a 180% increase in revenue in 2021 and on a similar trajectory in 2022.

Tim launched his 35+ year career at Walt Disney World and has since served more than 150 entertainment, restaurant, and food & beverage brands across more than 10,000 locations in C-suite and senior positions.

Additionally, Tim is a Board Director with Coney Park & Happy City - Family Entertainment & Amusement Parks, part of The Carlyle Group ($276B assets), a private equity firm that operates 150+ family entertainment centers and amusement parks in Latin America.?

Tim has worked with top-tier entertainment and restaurant brands including Disney, Rebounderz Trampoline Parks, Darden Restaurants (Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, etc.), Red Lobster, Jimmy John’s, Applebee’s, Sonny’s Bar-B-Q, Denny’s, El Pollo Loco, Hardee’s, Golden Corral, and Firehouse Subs.

Tim has overseen more than 35 purchase transactions involving over 1,200 restaurants, stores, and park locations.? With extensive experience in buying and selling businesses, handling negotiations with buyers and sellers, and creating strategic partnerships to build strong brands, Tim has facilitated deals ranging from $11 million to $350 million+.

Tim is a member of International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA), California Attractions and Parks Association (CAPA), Florida Attractions Association (FAA), American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA), National Restaurant Association (NRA), California Restaurant Association (CRA), World Waterpark Association (WWA) and International Franchising Association (IFA). He is a licensed commercial real estate broker in the State of Florida. Tim earned a BS/BA in Accounting from the University of Central Florida and an MBA in Finance from Orlando College.