Episode #435 - From Pop-Ups to Multi-City Restaurants: Scaling Restaurants with Passion and Precision - with Dorian Kirk
Release Date: 12/02/2024
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ScaleUp Radio
In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, host Kevin Brent dives into the fascinating intersection of motorsports and leadership with Dr. Tarek Jomaa. Dr. Jomaa’s journey from a PhD in vehicle dynamics and motorsports engineering to leadership training offers unique perspectives on building high-performance teams and scaling businesses. Dr. Jomaa introduces the 4C Model – Consolidation, Clarity, Consistency, and Collaboration – a framework that parallels the precision of motorsports to create and sustain high-performing teams. From understanding non-linear thinking in decision-making to...
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ScaleUp Radio
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ScaleUp Radio
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Episode #441 - Scaling with Values and Vision – Creating a High-Performance Culture - with Steve Rawlingson from Samuel Knight Group
ScaleUp Radio
In this special episode of ScaleUp Radio, we’re joined by Steve Rawlingson, a returning guest and the founder of Samuel Knight Group. With a remarkable scale-up journey under his belt, Steve shares insights on building a scalable team, maintaining a high-performance culture, and staying focused on strategic goals. Samuel Knight Group, a global recruitment company specialising in the renewable energy sector, has achieved impressive milestones, including £35 million in sales in 2023 and the potential to reach £1 billion+ within five years. From hiring strategies to leadership approaches,...
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Episode #440 - Ensuring Fairness In A Competitive World - with Jeremy Stern from PromoVeritas
ScaleUp Radio
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ScaleUp Radio
Hi there and welcome to another inspiring episode of ScaleUp Radio, the podcast designed to make navigating the ScaleUp journey a little easier by learning from the experiences of others. This week, I’m joined by Stephnie Gribble, founder and owner of Canine Collection, an innovative online dog store launched in January 2024. Stephnie has achieved remarkable growth in less than a year, combining eco-conscious values with an eye for modern marketing strategies. In this episode, we’ll dive into the fascinating story behind Canine Collection, explore the challenges Stephnie has...
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Episode #438 - Thinking Big For Growth; Going From The Street To A Full Content Agency - with Inge Hunter from Clue Content
ScaleUp Radio
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Episode #437 - Redefining the Art World: How To Empower Artists Without Gallery Representation - with Kate Enters from ArtCan
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ScaleUp Radio
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Episode #435 - From Pop-Ups to Multi-City Restaurants: Scaling Restaurants with Passion and Precision - with Dorian Kirk
ScaleUp Radio
Hi, I’m Granger Forson, business coach and host of ScaleUp Radio. You can find me at [BizSmart Gloucestershire](www.bizsmart-gloucestershire.co.uk) or connect with me on LinkedIn. In this episode, I’m joined by Dorian Kirk, founder of Art Hospitality, whose restaurant group journey has transformed from humble pop-up beginnings to a powerhouse of chef-led concepts across multiple cities. Dorian’s experience in the industry—starting at the age of 14 as a dishwasher—has nurtured a deep-rooted passion for culinary innovation and authentic leadership. Dorian shares how he and his brother...
info_outlineHi, I’m Granger Forson, business coach and host of ScaleUp Radio. You can find me at [BizSmart Gloucestershire](www.bizsmart-gloucestershire.co.uk) or connect with me on LinkedIn. In this episode, I’m joined by Dorian Kirk, founder of Art Hospitality, whose restaurant group journey has transformed from humble pop-up beginnings to a powerhouse of chef-led concepts across multiple cities. Dorian’s experience in the industry—starting at the age of 14 as a dishwasher—has nurtured a deep-rooted passion for culinary innovation and authentic leadership.
Dorian shares how he and his brother began Art Hospitality with just £500 and a single concept, expanding into a multi-brand group with six thriving restaurants. He emphasizes the importance of empowering talented chefs by offering ownership stakes, creating what he calls “Chef-preneurs.” This innovative approach has become the heartbeat of Art Hospitality, blending creativity with entrepreneurship to drive each new concept's unique flair.
One of the highlights of Dorian's journey is his ability to adapt under pressure. Faced with the pandemic’s challenges, Dorian quickly pivoted, investing in outdoor spaces and launching fresh concepts to not only survive but thrive. His dedication to his team and his relentless pursuit of excellence have helped Art Hospitality come out stronger, with plans for significant growth in the coming years, including expanding their Maneki Ramen brand and new ventures into pub and fine dining sectors.
Leadership has been a transformative aspect of Dorian’s journey. Transitioning from a hands-on chef to a strategic leader, he has implemented a culture where “the best ideas win” and empowered his team to take charge. With a keen focus on operational excellence and team growth, Dorian continues to drive Art Hospitality forward while remaining true to his values of quality, resilience, and creativity.
Join us for an inspiring episode filled with lessons on navigating growth, adapting to adversity, and fostering an innovative workplace culture. Dorian’s story of growth and empowerment is a powerful example of what it means to build not just a successful business, but a legacy.
To ensure you don’t miss any inspirational future episodes, do subscribe to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.
So, let’s now dive into the inspiring journey of resilience, creativity, and empowerment with Dorian Kirk.
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Kevin's Latest Book Is Available!
Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up.
More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/
Dorian can be found here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorian-kirk-9516b53b/
Resources:
The E-Myth by Michael E Gerber - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-e-myth-revisited-why-most-small-businesses-don-t-work-and-what-to-do-about-it-michael-e-gerber/82114?ean=9780887307287
The Surrender Experiment by Michael A Singer - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-surrender-experiment-my-journey-into-life-s-perfection-michael-a-singer/3695367?ean=9781473621503
The Diary of a CEO podcast - https://stevenbartlett.com/doac/
Monday - https://monday.com/