Siheyuan: Starting as a Chef Apprentice

The representative of Yuehailou stood in a small, shabby restaurant, surrounded by several restaurant owners. The representative's face was full of sincerity, and he slowly said, "We really have no other purpose, but just hope to develop together. Today's catering market is highly competitive, but we also see the potential and characteristics of small restaurants. You have a unique taste of home-cooked dishes, affordable prices, and a strong sense of fireworks. We at Yuehailou have a more complete service system and more extensive publicity channels. I believe that through cooperation, we can provide customers with more delicious food and better services together."

A small restaurant owner frowned and asked in confusion, "Why would a big restaurant like Yuehailou want to cooperate with small restaurants like us? Is there any trap?"

The representative of Yuehailou waved his hands and explained: "There is absolutely no trap. We have also seen the current market situation. It is not enough for us big hotels to fight alone. Small restaurants have their advantages. For example, you are closer to community residents and understand the taste preferences of local people better. We can learn from each other and make the catering market bigger and stronger together."

Another small restaurant owner interjected, "But how can we trust you? What if after the cooperation, you learn our characteristics and abandon us?"

The representative of Yuehailou said patiently: "Don't worry, we will sign a formal cooperation agreement to clarify the rights and obligations of both parties. Our goal is to develop together, not to harm everyone's interests. Moreover, through cooperation, everyone can also learn some of our Yuehailou's management experience and marketing skills and improve their own business level."

Although the representative of Yuehailou spoke sincerely, the small restaurant owners were still a little hesitant. They exchanged glances with each other, their hearts full of doubts.

At this moment, a small restaurant owner who had participated in other cooperation projects but failed stood up and said in an excited tone: "I have participated in similar cooperation before, but was cheated by the big company. They just used us and finally dumped us aside. I don't believe there will be any good results from this cooperation."

The representative of Yuehailou was not scared off by his words. Instead, he said more firmly: "I understand your concerns, but this time is really different. We at Yuehailou sincerely hope to cooperate with you and develop together. We will use practical actions to prove our sincerity."

After some intense discussions and communication, the doubts of the small restaurant owners were gradually alleviated. However, they still decided to observe for a while to see what Yuehailou did.

Yuehailou did not give up the idea of ​​cooperation because of the hesitation of the small restaurant owners. They began to take positive actions to show their sincerity.

The chef team of Yuehailou took the initiative to visit some small restaurants and exchange cooking skills with the chefs of the small restaurants. In the kitchen of a small restaurant, the chefs of Yuehailou and the chefs of the small restaurant gathered together to discuss the cooking method of a home-cooked dish.

The chef of Yuehailou said: "If we add some of this seasoning to this dish, it will taste better."

The restaurant chef asked skeptically, "Really? We've always done this."

The chef of Yuehailou smiled and said, "You can try it. Different seasoning combinations can bring different tastes."

The chef of the small restaurant tried it according to the suggestion of the chef of Yuehailou, and the taste was indeed greatly improved. He said in surprise: "It's really different. It seems that the chefs of your big hotel are experienced."

The service team of Yuehailou also came to the small restaurant to provide service training for the waiters of the small restaurant. In the dining room of a small restaurant, the service manager of Yuehailou was explaining service etiquette to the waiters of the small restaurant.

"Smile is the key to service. When customers walk into the restaurant, greet them with a warm smile and greeting," said the service manager.

The waiters in the small restaurant listened carefully and took notes from time to time. One waiter asked: "What if the customer is picky?"

The service manager replied: "Listen patiently to the customers' opinions and try to meet their needs. Don't argue with the customers and try to maintain harmony."

Through these practical actions, the small restaurant owners gradually saw Yuehailou's sincerity and began to reconsider cooperation.

At the same time, Wang's entire chain of hotels is also actively promoting cooperation with small restaurants. They invite owners of small restaurants to participate in seminars and share their business experience.

In the conference room of Wang's Full-line Hotels, Wang Jianye, the owner of Wang's Full-line Hotels, sat in the main seat, surrounded by a group of owners of small restaurants.

Wang Jianye smiled and said: "We are all practitioners in the catering industry. We have a common goal, which is to provide customers with delicious food and high-quality services. Through cooperation, we can jointly cope with market challenges and achieve win-win results."

A small restaurant owner said: "Boss Wang, we also want to cooperate, but we are worried that we will lose our own characteristics after the cooperation."

Wang Jianye said with understanding: "Don't worry, our cooperation is based on respecting everyone's characteristics. We will not ask you to change your style, but hope that through cooperation, everyone's characteristics will be more prominent."

With the joint efforts of Wang's entire hotel chain and Yuehailou, the small restaurant owners finally put aside their doubts and began to actively participate in the cooperation plan.

Together with Wang's All-inclusive Hotel and Yuehailou, they planned a series of food events. During the preparation of the event, everyone gave full play to their respective advantages and worked together for the success of the event.

At a planning meeting for a food event, everyone sat together and enthusiastically discussed the details of the event.

“We can set up some display areas for the special dishes of small restaurants during the event to allow customers to better understand the food of small restaurants.” suggested a small restaurant owner.

“This is a good idea. We can also invite some food bloggers to participate in the event to expand its influence.” said a representative of Yuehailou.

"All of our Wang's hotels can provide some venue and equipment support to ensure the smooth progress of the event," said Wang Jianye.

However, during the preparations for the event, we encountered some unexpected problems, such as delays in the approval of the event venue and some food bloggers being unable to attend the event due to time conflicts.

Faced with these problems, everyone did not get discouraged, but actively sought solutions. They communicated and coordinated with relevant departments to adjust the time and content of the event to ensure that the event could be held as scheduled.

After everyone's joint efforts, a series of food activities were finally successfully held. These activities attracted the participation of many customers, and the entire catering market gradually regained its vitality.

The food event was very lively, with customers walking between the stalls and tasting all kinds of food.

"This event is really great. It has both the food from big restaurants and the specialties from small restaurants. We can hold more events like this in the future," said a customer.

"Yes, I didn't know these small restaurants had so many delicious dishes before. I can try them more often in the future," said another customer. Small restaurants have also found their own living space through these activities. Together with Wang's All-inclusive Hotels and Yuehailou, they provide customers with more delicious food and better services.

"I didn't expect that cooperating with a big hotel would have such good results. Our business is much better than before." A small restaurant owner said happily.

“Yes, we must continue to work hard to improve our quality and work with big hotels to do better in the catering market.” Another small restaurant owner also said confidently.

……

With the rapid development of economy, the appearance of the city is also changing. The commercial areas that were once bustling are now gradually losing their former glory. The flow of people is like the receding tide, slowly withdrawing from the originally prosperous areas, while the newly emerging areas are like the rising sun, full of infinite opportunities and hope.

In this turbulent era, Wang's Hotels and Yuehailou, two influential hotels in the catering industry, were inevitably affected by the shift of commercial centers.

In a branch of Wang's All-inclusive Hotel, the manager looked at the empty restaurant with a serious expression, his heart full of worry. He said to the waiter beside him: "Look, there are fewer and fewer customers these days. In the past, the restaurant was full of people at this time. Now the business center has moved, and our business here has also been greatly affected."

The waiter sighed helplessly and said, "Yes, Manager. Now that customers are going to the new commercial center, our business here is becoming more and more difficult."

The manager frowned, thinking about how to deal with it: "We have to think of a solution. We can't just sit there and wait for death. We have to report the situation to the headquarters and see what countermeasures they have."

At the same time, a branch of Yuehailou was facing the same dilemma. The owner, Zhang Yuehai, personally came to inspect the branch and saw the deserted restaurant, and his face was very ugly.

"What's going on? Why are there so few customers?" Zhang Yuehai asked.

The branch manager replied cautiously: "Boss, the business center has moved now, and our location is not so good, so there are fewer customers."

Zhang Yuehai frowned and said, "We can't let this situation continue. We must find a way to save the situation. Do you have any ideas?"

The branch manager hesitated for a moment and said, "Boss, I think we can consider opening a branch in the new commercial center. This will attract more customers."

Zhang Yuehai pondered for a moment and said, "This idea is somewhat feasible. However, opening a branch in a new commercial center requires a lot of capital and manpower. We must consider it carefully."

At the headquarters of all Wang's hotels, owner Wang Jianye is urgently discussing countermeasures with management.

"Now that the commercial center has moved, the business of some of our branches has been greatly affected. Everyone, please share your thoughts and what should we do?" said Wang Jianye.

A management staff member said, "Boss, I think we can increase advertising efforts to attract customers to return to our branch."

Another management staff member expressed a different opinion: "I think that increasing advertising may not be very effective. Now that customers are going to the new commercial center, we should consider opening a new branch in the new commercial center."

Wang Jianye listened to everyone's opinions and fell into deep thought. He knew that whether it was increasing advertising efforts or opening branches in new commercial centers, it required careful consideration because it involved a lot of money and resources.

"Everyone's opinions have some truth to them. But we can't act blindly. We need to conduct market research first to understand the situation of the new commercial center and the needs of customers. Then we can make decisions based on the research results," said Wang Jianye.

Faced with the impact of the relocation of commercial centers, all Wang's hotels and Yuehailou took active actions.

Wang Jianye, the owner of Wang's All-inclusive Restaurant, decided to send a market research team to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the newly emerging commercial center. The research team consisted of experienced market specialists and several senior chefs.

On the street in the new commercial center, marketing specialist Xiao Li was talking with chef Lao Zhang.

Xiao Li: "Lao Zhang, you see this new place has a lot of traffic, and most of them are young people. We have to think about how to cater to their tastes."

Lao Zhang: "Yeah, I think so too. Young people nowadays like new things, so we may have to make some innovations in our dishes."

After a period of research, they found that the office workers in the new commercial center had a great demand for fast and healthy meals. Therefore, Wang's All-in-One Hotel decided to launch a series of light meal packages suitable for takeout, and promote them in office buildings near the new commercial center.

"Hello, this is the light meal set newly launched by our Wang's entire restaurant chain. It is nutritious, convenient and fast. Welcome to try it." The waiter Xiao Wang enthusiastically introduced it to the office workers in the office building.

On the Yuehailou side, the owner Zhang Yuehai, after listening to the advice of the branch manager, decided to cautiously open a small specialty restaurant in the new commercial center. This restaurant focuses on a fashionable and casual style, which is different from the traditional style of Yuehailou.

At the decoration site of the new restaurant, Zhang Yuehai said to the designer: "We must highlight the sense of fashion and comfort to make young people willing to come here to consume."

After the new restaurant opened, it attracted many young people to check in. They were attracted by Yuehailou's new style and special dishes.

"Wow, this place is so stylish. I didn't expect there is such a place in Yuehailou." A young customer exclaimed.

The old restaurants that were originally affected, such as Wang's All-inclusive Restaurant and Yuehailou, did not give up. They launched promotional activities and held themed dining events to attract nearby residents and old customers.

At the old branch of Wang's All-Inclusive Restaurants, the manager is announcing new promotions.

Manager: "To thank you for your continued support, we are now offering a special offer. If you spend a certain amount of money, you will get a special dish." (End of this chapter)