nickshanagher

  The US edition of Setting the Table , Danny Meyer’s inspiring guide to success as an independent restaurateur, has a brilliant blue cover with a single saltshaker. The edition I bought does not and that is the only weakness with this useful guide to setting up your first shop, moving from one to two, from two to four, and from four to infinity. The saltshaker is relevant because it is attached to a brilliant story about leadership from Meyer’s early days in the mid-1980s when he had opened his first restaurant and was developing his business style. Pat Cetta, an experienced restaurateur who informally mentored Meyer asked him to clear a table of everything except a saltshaker. He asked: “Where is the saltshaker now”. “Right where you told me in the centre of the table.” “Are you sure it’s where you want it?” I looked closely. The shaker was actually about a quarter of an inch off centre. “Go ahead put it where you really want it.” I moved it very slightly...

The Sun devoted 34 words on its business page to talk up the latest quarterly results for "independent" symbol group Spar. Its 2583 outlets achieved a 3.1 per cent rise in sales in the quarter to the end of July compared to last year - "in contrast to a fall at the rival Co-op chain", added The Sun. Industry data shows that around 30 per cent of the Spar universe are multiple outlets but as it markets itself as Britain's biggest group of independent neighbourhood stores there are clearly lessons for other local shops. The Co-op has spent billions in its aim to dominate the local shops market but clearly is being outperformed. Spar gives four reasons for its success: a substantial increase in the numbers of promotions, up 28.8 per cent year on year building its own label range, up 4.4 per cent improving its fresh food offering, up 3.9 per cent redeveloping its wine portfolio, up 3.5 per cent. The first two of these trends are evident in most local shops,...