Small staffing needs, comprehensive training and a simple business model make Great Steak a great place to work
Most of the fast-casual industry is plagued with employee turnover, but not Great Steak™ cheesesteak franchise.
“Great Steak is a fun, part-time place to work for young people. We are very proud of the fact that our brand has higher-than-average retention rates when compared to most fast-casual restaurants. The company culture of our brand emphasizes an unwavering commitment to quality customer service, and that skill benefits franchisee employees who are new to the workforce and exploring future options — like business ownership,” says Kari Combs, Vice President of Operations. “Our franchise owners work alongside front-line employees in a tight-knit team, and these collaboration skills will benefit those workers beyond the Great Steak counter.”
Simple menu help build brand and employee loyalty
Customers who visit a Great Steak cheesesteak franchise have a very specific food experience in mind, Combs says. This keeps our menu simple, which makes it easy for customers, and our franchise owners and their employees, to remember. There isn’t a lot of complicated prep work or high-tech machinery to operate, either, which are contributing factors to today’s record-high fast food turnover rates, according to a Business Insider article.
Great Steak doesn’t rely on LTOs or menu overhauls that sometimes veer off brand. Instead, we stick with the signature products that fans have relied on for years — cheesesteaks, salads or baked potatoes. It’s a consistency that helps build brand loyalty and employee loyalty.
“A lot of brands will keep adding to what they have to stay competitive, but we don’t have to do that,” Combs says. “Our franchise owners’ high-quality staff can learn the menu quickly and then focus on creating a great customer experience. They’re not having to look at ‘cheat sheets’ all the time because of new menu additions.”
Strong training begins at the top down
New Great Steak owners receive 40 hours of training at the Kahala Brands™ headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, while their location’s food-court or freestanding buildout is completed. Our comprehensive training covers everything from food handling and safety to payroll processing and inventory management. Once their location opens, a new owner and their team work side-by-side with their corporate team at Kahala Brands to help make sure all systems are operating smoothly.
“I have been a franchise business owner, and I understand the desire to have the freedom of owning your own business,” says Doug Merenda, Great Steak’s West Coast Director of Franchise Development. “People know they need to work hard and to be able to manage people, but that isn’t always enough. You have to know how the business runs, and we make sure that Great Steak cheesesteak franchise owners get the level of support and training they need so that they completely understand all operations before they serve their first customer.”
Over time, he adds, those early customers’ visits turn into repeat business, and employees build relationships in their local community while they build their business.
“Our franchise owners know that once they’ve got an employee on board who does the job really well, he or she isn’t going to have to waste time learning new things,” Merenda explains. “New customers become regulars, and they really like knowing the person behind the counter. Franchise employees are well-qualified, great at what they do, and terrific brand ambassadors. They really are a differentiator for every Great Steak cheesesteak franchise.”
Great Steak is a low-cost investment opportunity with a proven business model in the $19 billion sandwich industry. Since our brand’s founding in 1982, the Great Steak cheesesteak franchise family has grown to more than 50 locations nationwide as it partners with entrepreneurs who are passionate about bringing the classic American cheesesteak experience to their communities. Franchise owners enjoy the support not only of Great Steak’s top-shelf management team, but also that of Kahala Brands, one of the most trusted names in franchising with nearly 30 brands in more than 3,000 locations worldwide. Whether you’re looking to bring authentic cheesesteak sandwiches to a shopping mall near you or wanting to open a friendly neighborhood eatery, Great Steak offers the right opportunity. There has never been a better time to open a Great Steak.
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