Staffing
Original ChopShop CEO: Why 'Feel Good' goes beyond the menu
CEO Jason Morgan details how he retains general managers and team members.
July 3, 2024 by Meredith Otte — Account Supervisor, Champion Management
In the competitive world of fastcasual dining, Original ChopShop stands out for its wholesome offerings and the unique culture that permeates every aspect of the organization. As the CEO, I have had the privilege of witnessing the transformative power of our growth-oriented culture, which places a high value on the continued development and well-being of our team members.
Cultivating a growth-oriented culture
At Original ChopShop, our vision is to "inspire others to just feel good," which starts with our team members. We hold two beliefs dear:
- The Service Profit Chain, i.e., happy members = happy guests = happy shareholders.
- The Growth-Happy Principle, which means team members' personal and professional growth = high performance = happiness.
From our Shops to the home office, we are dedicated to fostering a culture of continuous growth and learning. Our Shop-level teams are the backbone of our operation, and we have implemented comprehensive programs designed to develop every team member, regardless of their role or tenure. With a salaried general manager tenure of 3 -plus years and an hourly tenure of 2-plus years for one-third of our staff, we are proud to say that our team members stay with us because they feel valued and supported. We have assembled a team of proactive and driven individuals to push our vision forward.
We hire "doers" and not traditional "executives." Our Original ChopShop team is also composed of dynamic and passionate people who prioritize innovation and excellence over conventional leadership. We believe in setting an example by discussing our objectives and taking the necessary action to accomplish them. By fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and creativity, we can stay ahead of the curve and continuously exceed expectations.
Investing team members
Regarding compensation and benefits, we are unwavering in our commitment to providing our team members with the support they need to thrive. In a landscape where cost-cutting measures are prevalent, we doubled down on our commitment to our team members. Our salaried general managers can earn over $100,000 annually, and we have recently enhanced our benefits package to include 401k with a match, shift leader paid time off, next-day pay, service-level anniversary rewards and general manager tenure awards. We believe in investing in our team members because we understand that their well-being is equally as crucial as it is essential to the success of our business. We want our team members not just to "Feel Good" but to thrive in their roles.
In 2023, we removed the general manager bonus and replaced it with increased base pay because we believe that if we hire the right team members, they work just as hard with or without a bonus.
Additionally, diversity and inclusion are also paramount to our culture. The majority of our shop-salaried team and regional leaders are female, and we are proud to provide all team members equal opportunities for growth and advancement.
At Original ChopShop, success is about more than the bottom line. Instead, it is about the people who make it all possible. By nurturing a culture of growth, support, and inclusion, we are not just building a business — we are growing team members and their careers, and that's something truly special.
About Meredith Otte
Jason Morgan throughout his career has built and led successful growth companies across various industries. Currently, as Chief Executive Officer at Original ChopShop, Morgan has increased unit count from three units to 22 units in the past seven years achieving sales and operating results that are leading the fast casual sector. As Chief Financial Officer of Zoës Kitchen from 2008 to 2015, Morgan was instrumental in the growth of the company, increasing store count from 20 to 150 and revenues from $18mm to $223mm.
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