This project was conducted to address hiring challenges and improve cost efficiency for a rapidly growing F&B client, ultimately strengthening long-term competitiveness. The focus was on assessing the company’s recruitment structures, compensation frameworks, and CAPEX reduction opportunities. The outcome was a set of actionable recommendations designed to secure sustainable store expansion and operational stability.

1. Strengthening On-Site Manager Recruitment and Competitiveness

With aggressive store openings, the client faced a shortage of essential on-site personnel. Reduced staffing per outlet heightened operational risk. The project tackled recruitment bottlenecks, improved compensation competitiveness, and reinforced internal talent development.

• Optimizing Job Postings: By analyzing job ads on major portals and gathering insights from candidate interviews and surveys, we refined the company’s recruitment messaging. This included aligning compensation and benefits with industry standards and considering incentives like signing bonuses.
• Enhancing Compensation Competitiveness: Benchmarking revealed that on-site manager salaries lagged industry averages. We proposed raising base pay by role level, introducing a signing bonus, and refining incentive structures to remove key hiring barriers and offer more attractive opportunities to candidates.
• Building Internal Talent: We redesigned the training program to shorten promotion timelines and clarify promotion criteria. Improving the trainee experience reduced attrition and fostered a stronger talent pipeline.

2. Reducing CAPEX and Streamlining Store Operations

The client’s per-store CAPEX exceeded that of key competitors. We identified cost-saving levers centered on construction expenses and developed tailored strategies by store type.

• Introducing Competitive Bidding: Shifting from a sole-vendor model, we recommended adding multiple vendors and running competitive bids for construction components, especially for high-cost items like kitchen equipment and interior materials.
• Redefining Standard Construction Scope: We proposed substituting expensive materials (e.g., tiles, lighting) with viable alternatives. Additionally, we refined the construction scope for mall-based vs. standalone stores to achieve cost optimization for each format.
• Adopting a Hybrid Construction Management Model: To maintain quality while maximizing cost efficiency, we advised a hybrid approach, utilizing both in-house management and external construction management (CM) firms. Complex or remote projects would be managed by CM firms, while the client’s core team handled key outlets directly.

3. Enhancing Long-Term Organizational Efficiency

Beyond short-term hiring and cost challenges, the project focused on reinforcing organizational efficiency to support sustained store growth.

• Optimizing Roles & Responsibilities (R&R): We clearly defined R&R across hiring, construction management, and operations. Separating procurement and construction oversight roles improved efficiency, with the option to add staff as needed.
• Implementing a Monitoring Framework: By redesigning KPIs, we enabled real-time tracking of recruitment, store operations, and construction progress. This enhanced executive decision-making and ensured rapid issue resolution.

Project Outcomes and Expected Impact

This initiative bolstered the client’s on-site managerial capacity, reduced CAPEX, and enhanced organizational effectiveness. The resulting improvements provide a solid foundation for sustainable expansion and operational stability in a highly dynamic F&B market. More efficient hiring and lower per-store CAPEX free up resources for future growth investments. These measures mark an important milestone as the client strengthens its competitive position and confidently pursues long-term industry leadership.