Coaching Culture in JOEY Restaurant Group: How Cool Is That?
14 Coaching World | February 2012 | www.coachfederation.org
Joey Restaurant Group began its coaching initiative while
the rest of the entertainment/dining industry were facing
deep recession struggles. In early 2008, JOEY identified
priorities in their development program; they wanted it to
be heavily focused on leadership development, conflict
management, and personal growth. They also wanted an
internal program that could be sustained and replicated –
and would be the best fit for their organization and culture.
Headquarters:
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Industry Sector:
Entertainment/Dining
Number of Employees:
3000
Annual Revenue:
N/A
Start date of coaching project:
2009
Status of coaching project:
Active and ongoing
Prism Nominating Coach:
Marjorie Busse, MCC
Research
JOEY Restaurant Groups’ commitment to coaching
has seen them experience a more than 30 percent
Their Story
The JOEY Restaurant Group
provides their guests an exceptional
dining experience by offering globally
inspired menus and engaging in a
fun, lively setting. In 2010 and 2011
the company was recognized as one
of the Best Workplaces in Canada
in the annual ranking produced by
the Great Place to Work Institute in
partnership with the Globe and Mail.
Marketing
A closer look at JOEY shows that it’s not so much a
formula for success they’ve perfected as it is a strategic
focus on developing their employees. Like many other
restaurants, JOEY hires numerous people who are just
starting their careers, many of them college students.
JOEY has focused on the development of these younger
employees so they will have an abundance of talent to
step to the next level of leadership when needed. Guided
with the understanding that coaching can benefit any
organization, JOEY began its coaching initiative and has
since experienced great success.
“The International Prism Award is an amazing
acknowledgement” said JOEY Restaurant Group Vice
President of Human Resources Andrew Martin. “To be
recognized by the coaching community for taking on an
innovative approach to leadership development, causes
us to take a breath and celebrate what we have
accomplished to date.”
About:
JOEY Restaurant Group
Benefits
JOEY Restaurant Group, headquartered in Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada, has over the past 20 years
expanded from one to 25 restaurants across Canada
and Washington State. Combining flavors from around
the world, JOEY prides itself on having food that “brings
people together.”
revenue growth, and reduced turnover. They have done
so through booms and busts in the economy and have
been recognized in 2010 and 2011 as one of the Best
Workplaces in Canada by the Great Place to Work
Institute. JOEY is the only restaurant group to ever have
made this exclusive list. JOEY calculates a 682 percent
return on investment from their coaching initiative. This
level of success awarded JOEY Restaurant Group the ICF
International Prism Award in 2011. JOEY, along with BC
Housing (also of Canada) received the award at the Annual
International Conference in Las Vegas last September.
Profiles
F
ood and drinks are not the only things that
JOEY Restaurant Group is now serving. While
they are known for producing award winning cuisine
and cocktails inspired from around the globe, they
are also in the business of cultivating the leaders
and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.
Leadership
< Watch JOEY accept their 2011 Prism Award