Dean Small - Synergy Restaurant Consultants
Dean Small – Founder and Managing Partner, since 1988
Dean Small, the founder and CEO of Synergy Restaurant Consultants, has more than 35 years of hands-on food service experience. In addition to leading Synergy for nearly three decades, he has owned and operated restaurants, bakeries, juice bars, and retail specialty food concepts.
Upon graduating from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), Dean completed a two-year culinary apprenticeship at Windows On The World, at the time the number one sales volume restaurant in the world, located atop the World Trade Center in New York City. During his apprenticeship, Dean also served as personal executive chef to former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former Vice President Nelson Rockefeller. In 1985, Dean became Director of Culinary Development and Purchasing Manager at El Torito Restaurants, which operated more than 220 units and 12 restaurant concepts, with operations grossing over $420 million.
In 1988, Dean founded Synergy Restaurant Consultants to provide innovation and efficiency strategies to restaurants and food manufacturers. Since then, Synergy has been a food, beverage, and operations resource to over 225 national restaurant chains and independent operators. Dean earned a bachelor’s degree from Hofstra University and an AOS from the CIA.
About Our Restaurant Consulting Firm
Passion Statement
We have a distinct passion for food that inspires every aspect of our consulting practice. This passion is an outgrowth of 28 years of successfully helping existing and aspiring restaurateurs through everything from concept development, restaurant design, financial modeling and menu ideation to marketing, training and grand opening. We help shape and share in our clients’ visions and joyously celebrate in their ultimate successes. Ours is clearly a journey of passion.
28 Years of Restaurant Consulting Experience
The cornerstone of our brand has always been innovation and efficiency in the foodservice industry. As a premier restaurant consulting firm, Synergy Restaurant Consultants is a team of restaurant management professionals that develops innovative ideas and creates sustainable brands to drive top-line sales. As efficiency experts, this same team produces strategies to improve our clients’ bottom-line profits.
Our restaurant consulting team specializes in both launching new restaurant startups and jump-starting struggling or financially distressed brands. Since 1988, Synergy Restaurant Consultants has been a strategic resource to more than 250 national and independent restaurant companies within every dining segment, from Applebee’s to Z’Tejas. We’ve supported 30 of the top 50 national restaurant organizations in the U.S. Moreover, we serve restaurants across the globe and are proud of our international restaurant expertise.
A Proven Track Record of Excellence
The highly specialized restaurant professionals of Synergy Restaurant Consultants have a proven track record, with each member of our extraordinary team boasting decades of experience in his or her field. We all understand that the restaurant business is just that—a business—and it must be operated and managed as a money-making venture.
It’s especially important for first-time restauranteurs to understand that their business has many moving parts. New restaurant owners are strongly advised to consult with a reputable restaurant professional as a coach and mentor to guide them through the maze of critical decisions associated with a restaurant startup.
In addition, we highly recommend engaging a restaurant professional who understands how to minimize risks and maximize your investment. Synergy Restaurant Consultants can prepare a low-risk feasibility study to provide essential information that supports your ability to make sound business decisions and know what’s required to optimize the performance of your business.
The Synergy principals can guide you through a seamless process of:
Discovery
Incubation
Concept development
Menu development
Feasibility study creation
Financial analysis