FSR January 2023

NEX TGEN TRENDSE T TERS

or with different ways of thinking.” When implementing new technology, such as a POS system, loy alty app, or ordering kiosk, The Greene Turtle tries to strike a balance between pushing inno vation and not letting technology overshadow the hospitality compo nent, Concepcion says.

the new group acquired award-winning barbe cue concept, Clark Crew BBQ. It also launched a program to jump start small (but growth minded), founder-led concepts, like Region Ale, Neo Pizza & Tap House, and Madrid Spanish Tavern. Now, The Greene Turtle is learning from these res

GEO CONCEPCION CEO AND PRESIDENT The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: LEARN FROM

OTHER INNOVATORS IN YOUR COMPANY AND BEYOND.

F or Geo Concepcion, CEO of The Greene Turtle, the greatest chal lenge restaurants still face is “creating an envi ronment where your employees are there with you long enough so you can create a really high-quality expe rience,” he says. Though Concepcion doesn’t anticipate labor challenges going away soon, he advises oper ators to plan far ahead to ensure they’re giving team members a “rea son to stick with you and be excited about what you’re doing,” he says. Concepcion attri

butes The Greene Turtle’s high retention rate, from managers to hourly workers, to the quality of the culture created by general managers at each restaurant. “To be able to open seven physical locations in a year and staff those with management that’s excited to do it, is a tes tament to how we’ve empowered our manag ers,” he says. Last year, The Green Turtle recapital ized, reorganized, and formed umbrella com pany ITA Group Hold ings. As part of the deal,

“I think at the end of the day, no matter how many various technol ogies we integrate, we still very much believe in traditional hospitality and ensuring that there’s great person-to-person interactions,” he says.

taurants, he says.

“In working with all the different concepts, it forces us to disrupt the way we do things,” Concepcion says. “We get to see in real time how to attack a chal lenge in a different way,

THE GREENE TURTLE (3)

JANUARY 2023

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