When you launched your hospitality venture, what was your focus—the creative vision or the business strategy? For most, it was the creative side—the thrill of crafting menus, designing spaces, and creating memorable experiences. It’s what makes hospitality so enticing—those creative dreams will get you out of bed faster than a spreadsheet ever could.
But while creativity is a powerful driving force, many hospo owners soon realise that passion alone won’t keep the doors open.
Balancing creativity with solid business strategy is essential for long-term success. Yet the “business stuff”—profit margins, pricing, operational strategy—can feel like a chore. The irony is that once you master the business side of things, stress melts away, giving you more time to get back to the creative aspects you love.
Introducing Crunch Live — Practical help for real challenges
If you’re ready to sharpen your business skills in a way that feels just as engaging as the creative work, there’s an event you’ll want to know about: Crunch Live.
Happening in Melbourne on Monday, October 7th, the event offers two masterclasses aimed at early stage and ambitious café, restaurant, and food venue owners who want practical, easy-to-apply strategies to boost their business know-how.
This isn’t a typical corporate event. In an intimate setting, two of the brightest minds in hospo will break down these critical topics and serve up their must-know insights in a practical, straightforward, and definitely non-boring way.
Finding your strategic edge with Leon Kennedy
One of the masterclass sessions is led by Leon Kennedy, CEO of The Mulberry Group. With nearly 20 years in hospitality, from serving as Global Head of Product & Operations at Proud Mary Coffee to his current role as CEO of The Mulberry Group—the team behind iconic spots including Hazel, Dessous, Lilac Wine Bar, and Common Ground Project to name a few—Leon’s got a front-row seat to what makes a hospitality business thrive—or falter.
In his masterclass, you’ll delve into the essence of business strategy:
- Why having a clear strategy is essential to growth (and survival).
- How to craft a business strategy that sets you up for success.
- The secrets of product/market fit and how missing the mark could be costing you big bucks.
- Applying a framework that helps you build and execute a solid, adaptable strategy.
- A simple framework for designing and implementing your own winning strategy.
Profit activation with Andrew Van De Beek
Then, there’s Andrew Van De Beek, Founder & Head of Purpose at Illumin8. Andrew’s not your typical accountant—he’s a financial strategist who aims to make the numbers side of business feel a little more human and a lot more fun. His approach cuts through the jargon and helps owners see their financials in a fresh way that’s easy to understand and act on.
Andrew’s session will dig into:
- The key drivers of profitability within your venue (hint: it’s more than just cutting costs).
- How to align your financial goals with your broader business strategy to maximise profit.
- The ripple effect of financial choices, empowering you to make more confident decisions.
- A straightforward, templated profit formula to help you hit your profit targets.
Takeaways to help you thrive
Beyond expert advice, Crunch Live attendees will leave with bonus resources:
- A Strategy Template to help you create and implement a winning strategy with ease.
- A Numbers Workbook designed to help you assess your own finances and take decisive action.
- Access to masterclass recordings via the Crunch App, so you can revisit what you’ve learnt.
Community matters
The reality is, hospitality can be isolating, particularly for owners. Despite being surrounded by people every day, many find themselves without a support network to talk shop, swap ideas, or even vent.
A strong business strategy is vital, but so is connecting with those who understand the unique pressures of running a café, restaurant, or venue. Events like Crunch Live offer a space to do just that—step back, rethink your approach, and connect with like-minded business owners who get what it’s like to run a hospo business.
Event Details
Date: Monday, 7th October
Time: 10 am – 1:30 pm
Location: Glasshaus Brucke, 368 Bridge Road, Richmond
Tickets: $99 for a single masterclass or attend both for $148.50 and save 25%.
Secure your ticket to Crunch Live.
Can’t make it in person? Stream it live through the Crunch app.
Whether you’re busy running the café or relaxing at home, you can still catch all the action. Join the live stream, ask questions, and soak up insights in real time. Plus, you can try Crunch free for 30 days. Download the app now on Apple or Google Play and dive in!
If you’re a café, restaurant, or food venue owner looking to sharpen your business strategy, rethink your approach to profit, don’t miss this chance to learn live—secure your tickets here. Learn more about Crunch at crunchhospo.com.
