As an advisor and brand creator for some of the world’s most iconic restaurant brands, I find myself often tapped to help address the challenges they are facing in real-time. Recently I was asked to write this article for a publication about top restaurant brands and how they are dodging tariffs. Our team has advised every scenario with hotels and restaurants - from pivots for ongoing operators and major value engineering scopes for development/pre-opening projects. The effects of tariffs and overall economic uncertainty are being felt across the board - something I’m sure I don’t have to tell anyone in our audience of savvy small business owners, hospitality operators, and real estate leaders.
We have a rare vantage point about what areas are plaguing restaurants and hotels - both the larger “top” dogs and the smaller indy shops. Sharing insights openly is at the core of what we have always done at Cohere -
For establishments that are currently operating - Restaurants are evaluating their menus, food costs, and sourcing of American-made products. From well known brands such as Minetta Tavern and Pastis, to smaller more independent establishments, we are seeing people succeed who embrace a nimble and solution-oriented approach to tariffs and economic uncertainty. You must empower your leadership and day-to-day team to:
Go Local Often - Review the current menu and determine where you could go more seasonal; adjust menu items to prioritize locally sourced ingredients.
Shift Beverage Programs to North American Purveyors - Have your beverage director and/or sommelier research North American and Mexican liquors, spirits, and wines. Treat the process with an urgent but fun approach, setting internal tastings and re-education around how far along these regions have come in developing comparable taste profiles (or sometimes even better) than European makers.
Build New Sourcing Processes and Bring in Peers - Take the opportunity to update your supply chain infrastructure with new spreadsheets/systems grouped by region, clearly showing what is coming in from local sources and what isn’t. At the same time, prioritize relationships, both with direct providers and peers - be unashamed to ask who peers are using and redesign your systems with vigor.
