Chris Mitchell
Company:
The Genuine Dining Co.
Job title:
Managing Director
How did you get into the sector:
Working at McDonalds whilst I was at college. I wanted to be a film editor but
I got the bug for fast paced food service and I was amazed at the level of
detail specification.
Career high:
Buying Yes Dining Ltd with Luke Johnson. Attracting investment from Luke is a
massive achievement for me and my team are excited to continue making our
company a market leader
Career low:
When I lost the two juice bars I opened when I was 23. It was a real kick in
the teeth but I brushed myself down, picked myself up and kept pushing and
making sure I did not make the same mistakes twice.
What are your plans for the next year:
We have spent the last year refining our offer and losing some contracts
that have lost money so now it is about growth. We would like to double the
size of the company in the next 12 months. And I would love to finally get a
holiday!
What was the biggest break of your career:
When I lost my company it was hard to find work and Marc Warde from Couture had
faith in me and I became his Operations Director. I had the best time working
with Marc, hard work but fun .
What are you most proud of in your career:
Being the Managing Director of Yes Dining at 29.
What advice would you give to people keen to progress in the
industry:
Set yourself goals and work out the way you are going to reach your goals.
Don't give up until you have reached them.
Who inspires you:
People that think outside the box and do things with passion and stick to what
they know. (if you want a person Julian Metcalf at Pret).
What do you do in your downtime:
Run and ride my bike. Just about to ride from London to Paris for Fare
Share.
What question do you always ask in interviews:
Tell me about your biggest failure?
Tips that have made you a success:
Work hard and think outside the box. Keep an eye on the bigger picture.