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Expert Restaurant
Advisory
SR Solutions is the premier consulting partner of the foodservice and restaurant industry. We bring unrivaled insights, strategies, tools, technologies, and talent to every engagement. We’ll help you mobilize for change, navigate uncertainty to create value and drive profitable growth.
ABOUT SR Solutions
At Strategic Restaurant Solutions, we are a results-driven consulting firm with a proven track record of success in the restaurant industry. Our team of experts has over 30 years of experience in both the private and public sectors, and we are dedicated to providing fast and collaborative solutions to help your organization grow and succeed.
Our comprehensive range of advisory and consulting services is designed to support you every step of the way.
Developing A Collection of Restaurants with a Purpose
Coming Soon to Katy, TX
We are committed to improving the quality of adult life for the special needs community. Our purpose is to connect neurodiverse individuals with meaningful career opportunities in the restaurant industry.
We believe a great meal is inspired by fresh, seasonal ingredients and served with kindness, love and hospitality.
Jim Mazany is a seasoned restaurant CEO and influential executive in the hospitality industry with over 30 years’ experience in both public and private sectors. Throughout his career has held leadership positions at several highly esteemed restaurant companies, including TGIFridays, Joe's Crab Shack, and SPB Hospitality. Jim is an award-winning executive in the casual, fast casual and quick service dining earning him the prestigious honor of the 2021 & 2022 Nation’s Restaurant News “Most Influential CEO’s in the Country”. As CEO of SPB Hospitality, Jim led the successful acquisition of J. Alexanders (JAX) for $250M, setting the standard for M&A targets in 2022. Under his leadership, the organization significantly improved its performance and now operates over 300 restaurants, as well as 500 national virtual and ghost restaurant concepts, generating over $1B in revenue annually. Prior to SPB Hospitality, Jim successfully worked as Chief Operating Officer for TGI Fridays strengthening the operations platform and successfully integrating over 125 franchise units back into the corporate system. In 2020 under his leadership and during the global pandemic, Fridays emerged as an industry leader in menu optimization, systematic operations, and innovative organizational collaboration. As President and Chief Operating Officer of Joe’s Crab Shack, Jim established himself as a revolutionary force in the industry growing average unit volumes by 50% from $2.3M to $3.3M during the recession in 2008. During his tenure, the organization transformed into a powerhouse of the restaurant industry leading to explosive unit growth and an IPO in 2012 trading under the NASDAQ clicker (IRG). Jim and the Joe’s Crab Shack organization received several critically acclaimed accolades including the “Technomic Consumer Choice Award” in 2014 and the “Golden Chain Operator of the Year” in 2013. His visionary perspective and track record of driving organizational transformation has earned him opportunities to work with top industry professionals as well as led to partnerships with nationally respected organizations including NCR technology, UKG workforce management, Ecolab solutions, Sysco, PFG, and Coca Cola. He has also worked with industry pioneers such as OLO online ordering, Toast software, Crunchtime back office, Daily Pay, Wisley and more. Jim attended the Culinary Institute of America and the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University. He is the founder of Strategic Restaurant Solutions, a consulting firm where he creates strategic partnerships to increase enterprise value, stabilize performance, advise, and offers insights on the restaurant, foodservice and hospitality industry. Jim is an inspirational leader who empowers others to make their mark on the industry. He accredits his successful career to his unwavering dedication to diversity of thought, embracing exceptional people and holding steadfast to his personal and organizational core values. Throughout his career, he has advocated and raised over $10 million for various charitable causes and believes this to be his greatest achievement.
The team
JIM MAZANY
Founder & CEO
HOLLY SMITH
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Holly Smith is a highly accomplished executive in the restaurant industry, with experience across both private and public organizations responsible for producing over $1B in revenue annually. As an SVP, she has led cross-functional teams spanning Operations, Learning & Development, Human Resources, Marketing and Risk Management. Her diverse experience working with multiple brands at various stages of development has successfully enabled her to create transformative growth and increase enterprise value. Holly possesses a wide range of skills and her leadership has consistently driven strategy and innovation in the hospitality sector, with notable achievements including overseeing a strategic shared service team at SPB Hospitality that created over $26M in additional revenue channels. Throughout her career, Holly has demonstrated a commitment to people, transforming culture through her passion for the industry. Her advocacy for women's professional development is evident in her sponsorship of every female GM and Director within SPB Hospitality for membership in WFF (Women Food Service Forum). She also partnered with the National Restaurant Association to pioneer a new industry accreditation program, providing new and robust career pathways for restaurant professionals. Additionally, Holly oversaw a 501C charity organization dedicated to assisting restaurant team members in need and she actively promotes work opportunity programs for people with disabilities. Holly holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The University of Texas at Arlington and is a published researcher in graduate analysis of qualitative and quantitative consumer behavior data. She also is currently a student of Cornell University SC Johnson School of Business earning her Executive degree in Business Strategy.
THE BEST WAY TO PREDICT THE FUTURE IS TO CREATE IT
LETS CREATE SOMETHING GREAT TOGETHER
Services
Strategic Restaurant Solutions offers a wide range of expertise to advise restaurants of all types and sizes succeed. We work closely with investors, private equity sponsors, restaurant owners and operators to understand their unique needs and goals, and then provide customized solutions to improve their operations and bottom line. Our services include restaurant insights, due diligence, market research and analysis, menu development, kitchen design and layout, HR, training, and marketing strategies. We also have experience in financial analysis and forecasting, branding, and digital marketing. Furthermore, we can help with optimizing the guest experience by providing feedback on the service, atmosphere, and overall guest satisfaction. Whether you are a new restaurant looking to get started or an established business looking to take your performance to the next level, our team has the experience and knowledge to help you succeed.
