Acknowledging Intuitive Recognition: Recognizing Something Instinctively
Subheading: Got some meaty insights to chew on this Saturday!
Good vibes to you all for a groovy weekend! 🌞
As the scribe for the Top Tips and Frothy Fancies sections of our delectable newsletter, I'm forever thrilled to approach the close of the work week and share some snippets that caught my eye, ear, and heart - hoping they'll tickle your curiosity and savvy too!
These newsletters aim to be a tasty respite, a thought-provoking read, and a teeny-tiny entertaining nibble amidst the long-haul grind.
Our objective here is to serve an insightful weekend read on the Food Service & Hospitality industry that you'll find intriguing, useful, and maybe even have a chuckle or two over. Yes, we're also good friends with fun.
We at Branded subscribe to the school of thought or maybe ask the question: "Why walk when you can run?" and that's why we communicate with our audience with a smile - whenever we freaking can. 😉
Authenticity is sustenance for inspiration, which drives our creativity mentally and physically. And it's a very personal and idiosyncratic source.
I wouldn't have predicted, and maybe even scoffed at the idea, that Merriam-Webster, the most respected dictionary in the States, would inspire me. To quote the slogan that made the New York Lotto famous: "hey, you never know."
Each year, Merriam-Webster dishes out its "word of the year," and after the 2022 award went to gaslighting due to its omnipresence with the age of misinformation, I expected approximately zero interest in the 2023 winner.
But guess what? The 2023 choice is AUTHENTIC. Bravo, Merriam-Webster, you've knocked it out of the park. You've not only provided me with a refreshing moment, a reason to continue rooting for this annual awards ceremony for Dictionary enthusiasts, but you've even jump-started this week's newsletter.
AUTHENTIC is a cracker of a word, albeit slightly overused, which makes its selection as the 2023 word of the year all the more commendable, considering the era of artificial intelligence and misinformation we reside in.
For me, it's been somewhat of a wake-up call, and it's infused Branded and me with energy and joy this week.
So, you got it, people. What could possibly be more vital than being AUTHENTIC?
A living, breathing human being is when you see the word AUTHENTIC. It is manifested through realness, genuineness, originality, actually existing, truth, genuineness, authenticity, solidity, attested, undisputed, rightful, and legitimate. If you need a list of synonyms, well, life is just an open book, and you've got a free cheat sheet. 😊
Don't misunderstand me folks, being AUTHENTIC comes with challenges. With nearly everything being online and permanent ink, it's entirely reasonable to choose to hide one's true self or don a proverbial mask to shield oneself or to win the approval of others.
But being AUTHENTIC is worth the risk and the effort. It ain't easy, but it's essential and rewarding.
It reminded me of Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, who famously quipped, "I know it when I see it," in his concurring opinion in the Jacobellis v. Ohio case, a pornography decision by the court in 1964. This phrase has been fiercely debated and embraced ever since, and it's precisely what came to mind when I saw Merriam-Webster's word of the year - AUTHENTIC.
The word AUTHENTIC itself, in my opinion, evoked the phrase made most well-known by the worthy and legendary Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart.
Oh, and be prepared for a brief digression because this little tidbit will make your mind bounce, and it's quick.
This phrase, "I know it when I see it," is genuinely unremarkable, yet it was shockingly shocking when it surfaced in a Supreme Court opinion, and its application in the case of Jacobellis v. Ohio introduced a whole new level of profundity.
The phrase, "I know it when I see it," is universally understood and adopted, and it perfectly embodies the concept of AUTHENTIC. I couldn't help but compare the vague definition of the word AUTHENTIC to Justice Stewart's quote. I reckon it's possible to create an equation for comprehending the meaning of AUTHENTIC that would be definitive, yet the key to unlocking the sureness of AUTHENTIC remains elusive, much like the definition.
For the record, the people who might be baffled by my infatuation with AUTHENTIC, I provide a picture of the entrance to Branded's HQ and our coworking space, B Works, where the word is etched in stone - among other values that form the foundation of our investment, solutions, and media platform.
We didn't launch our platform to play follow the leader or do things they way they've always been done. We're not big fans of the herd, and that's a fact.
For the past almost five years, I've been subjected to being challenged to describe Branded and various things we do. And as I mentioned before, we've been lambasted for being too narrowly focused and too unfocused - for the same reasons and justifications.
To those who have lobbed critiques in my direction, I want to emphasize that I always welcome and appreciate your feedback - and I never hold messengers responsible for delivering it. It's always the message and the messenger, and I hold myself entirely accountable for its content. 😊
Branded sprung into existence because of sheer passion for this wondrous industry, the people who make it exceptional, and the notion that there was a place for an authentic group of experienced restaurant operators, hospitality experts, venture capitalists, strategic investors, advisors, and corporations united with a single, meaningful objective.
At Branded, our mission is to create value for all stakeholders by connecting the dots - to bridge the gap between hospitality, food service, technology, innovation, and capital.
With more than 50 investments across diversified funds, co-directs, and separately managed accounts on behalf of families and corporations, it's our ambition to not only have a seat at the table that's driving the digital transformation of this incredible industry we love, but to earn a dazzling seat at said table.
Is Branded authentically awesome? Does the combination of businesses focused on investments, solutions, and media make us authentically authentic?
I can't honestly say that I have the answers to such questions, but if I were to make a wild guess, I'd venture a potential yes. But AUTHENTIC, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder, and it's something you see in a person or you don't.
For those who have queries about my newfound infatuation with AUTHENTIC, I present a photograph of the entrance to Branded's headquarters and our coworking space for further explanation.
Being authentic is a challenging and dangerous endeavor because it requires exposing ourselves and increases the likelihood of receiving feedback - constructive or otherwise - and being wrong or failing publicly.
Yours truly,
The Finance Guy
[Lots of financey numbers and stuff go here for those who enjoy numbers and financey stuff]
In today's episode of the Hospitality Hangout, Jimmy Frischling, aka 'The Finance Guy,' is joined by Josh Kern, CEO of SPB Hospitality. You can tune in on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, iHeart, or your preferred listening platform!
Last week, I showcased a few of our newest portfolio companies and granted some shoutouts to our portfolio companies that are making waves in the industry. This week, I've got a bit more to say about those amazing companies we're pleased to partner with.
First up, our pals at Curbit, the personalized air-traffic controller for kitchens. This unicorn employs predictive ticket times to optimize kitchen output and balances efficiency without overwhelming the operations team.
Curbit's partnership with Smashburger led to remarkable improvements. Order promise times increased by 84%, there was a 22% increase in repeat rates, and an 11% improvement in Google review ratings. In addition, Curbit is now handling 1.2 million customer engagements per month - that's one hell of a lot of burger biz!
What's more, folks over at DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and the like, listen up! A partnership with Curbit could improve your order processing time, leading to smoother sailing for you, the consumer, and the restaurant!
Next on the docket, our mates and partners over at Chowly, the all-in-one ordering platform for the SMB market, are shining like a diamond. There's a ton of noise about Chowly, and for good reason! This combo of tech and restaurant wizardry is truly remarkable.
Chowly's engaged in a strategic partnership with Voicify, a company that specializes in AI for restaurants beyond the kiosk. Voicify's AI technology allows operators to process and respond to voice orders quickly and accurately. And guess what? All those orders are transmitted to Chowly's magnificent platform for seamless integration into a restaurant's systems.
As a Branded team, we're thrilled with the digital transformation happening in the restaurant space and find it especially rewarding to be part of the revolution that aims to democratize this incredible industry.
I've got one final shoutout for our partner and Branded's CMO, Julie Zucker. Julie is one outstanding mofo in the industry, and this week, she scored a coveted spot on the "Women in Restaurant Leadership" list. We're incredibly proud to call Julie our partner and friend!
Got a question? Hit us up because we've got answers!
Answer: The correct answer is 30 ingredients.
Ask The Headline:Thanks for joining us for another scrumptious issue of our delectable newsletter. We'd be thrilled to help answer your riddles, dilemmas, and curiosities. Simply drop us a line, and we'll do our best to enlighten you! Keep those brains sharp and curious, folks!
- The 2023 word of the year announced by Merriam-Webster is 'authentic', highlighting the importance of realness and originality.
- In the hospitality industry, some portfolio companies are making significant strides in improving efficiency and customer experience, such as Curbit, which optimizes kitchen output.
- Branded, a venture capital firm, aims to create value for all stakeholders by connecting the dots between various sectors like hospitality, food service, technology, innovation, and capital.
- The Hospitality Hangout, a popular podcast, features interviews with industry leaders discussing trends, challenges, and solutions in the food service and hospitality industry.
- The role of a mentor or leader is essential in the industry, providing guidance and inspiration to others, as seen in The Finance Guy's weekly podcast discussions.
- Education and self-development are crucial for professionals in the hospitality industry, with a lifelong learning mindset being vital for staying current and competitive in the rapidly evolving landscape of food-and-drink, entertainment, and general-news sectors.
