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Articles on companies that have grown by building an impressive portfolio of restaurant concepts.

2018 RH 25: Cameron Mitchell Restaurants

Finding good workers and keeping them

Tara Fitzpatrick, Senior Editor

September 24, 2018

1 Min Read
RH 25: Cameron Mitchell Restaurants
The lobster cobb salad at Cameron Mitchell Restaurants’ Ocean PrimeCameron Mitchell

RH25_2018_200x200_3.jpgThe 2018 class of Restaurant Hospitality's annual RH 25 looks at bold moves made by multiconcept operators — the companies that are crossing segments, shifting operations, building big or pivoting in some way. There is no ranking. These are companies to watch. See all concepts >>

HQ: Columbus, Ohio

Leadership: Cameron Mitchell, founder and CEO; David Miller, president and COO/operating partner; Diane Smullen, CFO

Systemwide sales FY2017: $300 million

cameron-mitchell-restaurants-2.gif

Marcella's

Concepts: 32 restaurants under 15 concepts, including Cameron’s American Bistro, Guildhouse, Marcella’s, The Avenue, Harvey & Ed’s and the Ocean Prime brand. CMR is building Columbus’ first modern food hall in an old dairy building, set to open 2019

At a time when finding and keeping workers is a top challenge, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants boasts some impressive numbers: A management turnover rate of 5.4 percent, compared with the 50 percent industry average. The company’s hourly turnover is 42 percent, versus 100 percent industrywide, and 80 percent of hires are promoted from within.

How do they do it? By closing for holidays, offering flexible, family-positive scheduling, generous personal time off, and extending benefits like a 401(k), as well as giving workers a path for moving up within the organization.

“Our culture is not a strategy or tactic — it is part of CMR’s DNA,” said Mitchell.

Next: Front Burner Restaurants L.P.

Previous: Tao Group

About the Author

Tara Fitzpatrick

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group

Tara Fitzpatrick is Food Management’s senior editor and a contributor to Restaurant Hospitality and Nation’s Restaurant News, creating editorial content for digital, print and events. Tara holds a bachelor of science degree from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Kent State University. Before joining Food Management in 2008, Tara was associate editor at National Association of College Stores in Oberlin, Ohio. Prior to that, Tara worked as a newspaper reporter in her hometown of Lorain, Ohio, where she lives now. Tara is a fan of food history, legends, lore, ghost stories, urban farming and old cookbooks. 

Tara Fitzpatrick’s areas of expertise include the onsite foodservice industry (K-12 schools, colleges and universities, healthcare and B&I), menu trends, sustainability in foodservice, senior dining, farm-to-table and innovation.

Tara Fitzpatrick is a frequent webinar and podcast host and has served on the board of directors for IFEC (International Food Editors Consortium).

Tara Fitzpatrick’s experience:

Senior Editor, Food Management (Feb 2008-present)

Associate Editor, National Association of College Stores (2005-2008)

Reporter, The Morning Journal (2002-2005)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-fitzpatrick-4a08451/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tara_Fitzie

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/tarafitzie/

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