Executives share biggest business investments for 2017

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream

Jim Sahene, CEO of 200-unit Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, based in Pittsburgh, shared the company’s biggest business investment of the year.

“That would be the technology and loyalty program…We are expecting tremendous returns on it,” Sahene said.

Bruster’s put 83 percent of its system on the same loyalty program in 2017, and plans to roll out a new loyalty platform this summer.

“This will be very personalized communications to our customers who are already loyal to our brand,” he said.

Bruster’s, which is entirely franchised except for two corporate locations, made the transition to the same POS system an easy one by offering to pay for it.

“If we didn’t do it that way, it wouldn’t have been implemented,” Sahene said.

Suviche

“We’re creating a really well-thought-out and holistic training program. Something that’s really engaging.” —Sebastian Stahl, marketing director of four-unit Suviche, based in Miami

Billy Sims BBQ

“Our biggest investment this year is with a company called LightSpeed [VT]. They are taking all our training tools, and even some of our marketing, and building modules for interactive video training.” —Jeff Jackson, CEO of 60-unit Billy Sims BBQ, based in Tulsa, Okla.

New Bohemia

“Our growth is our people. That’s our single biggest investment….The talent market is so competitive, so our biggest thing is coming up with great packages, and how do you keep people happy and growing. Fortunately, we’ve been growing at a fast enough clip that we can grow from within.” — Brian Ingram, CEO of eight-unit New Bohemia, based in Minneapolis

Table 301 Restaurant Group

“Capital expenditures — furniture, china, glass, silverware and redoing the kitchen at Soby’s…It’s amazing how china and plateware change so much. We have to update it both for our customers and for our staff, so they can take pride in where they’re working…Then, after that, it’s personnel — investing in our people.” —Carl Sobocinski, CEO of multiconcept operator Table 301 Restaurant Group, based in Greenville, S.C.