Profitability is essential, but a positive workplace culture is the heart of a successful business. A people-first COO / General Manager in the food industry, I lead with authenticity, understanding, and integrity, but I always expect results.With a genuine passion for what I do, I direct the day-to-day operations of food distribution and food retail businesses across multiple sites. Someone who always follows through on my word, I hold teams accountable to set KPIs, and drive procedures and business standards to maximise conversions and reach incredible levels of growth. I pay attention to detail, shaping improvement plans based on P&L results and executing store roll-out plans. With a knack for spotting individual strengths and building teams that maximise potential, I select key members while ensuring safety, equipment, and financial performance. Operational business strategy in the food and QSR industry is in my blood, but with a Diploma in Accounting I'm good with the numbers, too. I ensure profitability and have skills around budgeting, accruals and financial forecasting. I also enjoy identifying cost-saving initiatives and revenue development opportunities. In evaluating the performance of F&B products I suggest new ideas in line with trends and innovations, and am skilled in negotiating contracts. A strategic thinker, I see all the moving parts, identify patterns, and optimise systems for maximum efficiency. I use this insight to uplift others, to be a leader and coach who conveys policies and guides people toward solutions to key challenges in their roles. A champion of honest communication, I bring people together, have the tough but necessary conversations, and build a positive, productive culture that energises my team to achieve commercial results.Although I have an outcome-focused mindset, I'm a big believer in giving back—if you can do good, you should. That's why I was on the Starlight board and raised over $350k for sick children. Hardworking, proactive, and highly collaborative, I'm a people person who thrives in a growth environment. I know franchising inside and out and am comfortable with media—I spoke on Sky News about the huge successes my team and I achieved at Soul Origin.With a Greek background, family and food are everything to me. I ran the family café from age 18, and today, I enjoy nothing more than catching up with my adult children and their partners over a casual lunch.If you believe in building workplace cultures where people succeed and grow alongside profits, let's connect. 📩 Chris@ughinc.com.au