Natalie Benninger Email & Phone Number

Kitchener, On, Ca

Cambridge, Ontario, Canada

MealSuite is a fully integrated, end to end, dietary, food production, inventory, kitchen management and point of sale solution on a mission to revolutionize the continuum of care through foodservice technology. The foundation of everything we do comes down to genuinely wanting to help the care foodservice industry thrive for the good of their patients and residents. That’s why I’m passionate about connecting with like-minded communities in the industry and explore the successes they… Show more MealSuite is a fully integrated, end to end, dietary, food production, inventory, kitchen management and point of sale solution on a mission to revolutionize the continuum of care through foodservice technology. The foundation of everything we do comes down to genuinely wanting to help the care foodservice industry thrive for the good of their patients and residents. That’s why I’m passionate about connecting with like-minded communities in the industry and explore the successes they can achieve with a turnkey foodservice solution. Show less

St. Jacobs, Ontario, Canada

Fat Sparrow based out of Waterloo Region, Ontario, was a hospitality curated group of restaurants and food shops that included The Fat Sparrow Block housing The Butcher and Market, The Charcuterie Bar, The Stone Crock Bakery, Jacob's Grill, Fat Sparrow Catering and Events, Fat Sparrow Marketplace and Fat Sparrow Foods Wholesale Production. Fat Sparrow successfully grew from Nick & Nat's Uptown 21 (2008-2019) to Taco Farm (2013-2022), Marbles Restaurant (2017-2020) and Harmony Lunch (2017-2020)… Show more Fat Sparrow based out of Waterloo Region, Ontario, was a hospitality curated group of restaurants and food shops that included The Fat Sparrow Block housing The Butcher and Market, The Charcuterie Bar, The Stone Crock Bakery, Jacob's Grill, Fat Sparrow Catering and Events, Fat Sparrow Marketplace and Fat Sparrow Foods Wholesale Production. Fat Sparrow successfully grew from Nick & Nat's Uptown 21 (2008-2019) to Taco Farm (2013-2022), Marbles Restaurant (2017-2020) and Harmony Lunch (2017-2020) and finally acquiring the Stone Crock Inc in 2018 with all its divisions. Natalie Benninger and the original founders of Fat Sparrow ended their ownership with the sale of all of their shares in October 2023.- Led daily operations in a multi division hospitality company with an established reputation for memorable customer experience- Skilled leader in product development and branding, took local presence into national recognition and sales- Managed multiple budgets ranging from $450K to $7M of 3 restaurants, 4 retail locations, 1 catering and event department, 1 wholesale food production department and 1 e-commerce department. Identified sales gaps and developed marketing plans accordingly- Collaborated with senior leadership to efficiently diagnose and isolate complex business and operational issues- Developed individualized strategic growth plans for multiple business operations in several communities with unique demographics- Proficient at developing new business and maintaining excellent relationships with customers, vendors, suppliers and other key stakeholders- Created opportunities to negotiate and order products at reasonable rates without jeopardizing quality- Utilized accounting principles to handle bookkeeping, payroll, accounts payable and receivables Show less

- Experienced event manager, meticulous in the planning and execution of events ranging from 10 people and up to 1200, virtually and in person, for corporate and non-profit organizations, weddings and social events- Co-ordinated event logistics, venue booking, equipment and audio visual needs, catering, staffing and finances based on client’s goal and desired theme- Assessed event success and implemented continuous changes to streamline and optimize future client’s experience-… Show more - Experienced event manager, meticulous in the planning and execution of events ranging from 10 people and up to 1200, virtually and in person, for corporate and non-profit organizations, weddings and social events- Co-ordinated event logistics, venue booking, equipment and audio visual needs, catering, staffing and finances based on client’s goal and desired theme- Assessed event success and implemented continuous changes to streamline and optimize future client’s experience- Proficiently managed social media marketing tools, website maintenance, including promotion and sale of special events, registration and ticketing- Designed marketing collateral for restaurants, retail shops and events - Evaluated and kept up-to-date on current trends and marketing strategies and seasonal changes to ensure the food and beverage program in multiple unique restaurant, catering and retail operations was always current and innovative - Avid community collaborator on innovative events and campaigns, restaurant unique outreach and marketing strategies- Skilled project manager in hospitality with experience in opening 5 new operations (Nick & Nat's Uptown 21, Taco Farm, Fat Sparrow at Killbear, The Butcher and Market, The Charcuterie Bar) overseeing various phases of development, including building plan consulting and review, marketing and branding, construction site visits, communication and direction with designers, architects, general contractors, engineers, and vendors to ensure accurate project timing and quality of work.- Experienced working with provincial and municipal governments, ensuring proper inspections, permits and approvals were acquired within a designated timeline Show less

- Facilitated recruitment, onboarding and training- Effectively led, coached and motivated different levels of managers, supervisors, chefs, and administrative personnel to support and guide the success of the company across 10 departments with over 100 employees- Cultivated an empowering, inclusive and creative work environment that consistently maintained a high retention ratio - Developed and implemented training programs in all aspects of the business in various roles including… Show more - Facilitated recruitment, onboarding and training- Effectively led, coached and motivated different levels of managers, supervisors, chefs, and administrative personnel to support and guide the success of the company across 10 departments with over 100 employees- Cultivated an empowering, inclusive and creative work environment that consistently maintained a high retention ratio - Developed and implemented training programs in all aspects of the business in various roles including customer service, culinary and hospitality management and event planning- Created employee motivation and recognition programs which positively impacted staff well being and desire to grow- Dealt with all matters and aspects of employee and labour relations, inclusive of employee engagement, performance management, and progressive discipline up-to and including termination Show less

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

- Instructor at the School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts- Demonstrated and provided technical customer service skills to national and international college students at various levels of experience, including the importance of understanding customer needs to build and maintain customer loyalty- Analyzed and identified the needs of students and utilized adaptive and creative teaching styles to cater to different and unexpected situations in the dining room classroom, with customers or… Show more - Instructor at the School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts- Demonstrated and provided technical customer service skills to national and international college students at various levels of experience, including the importance of understanding customer needs to build and maintain customer loyalty- Analyzed and identified the needs of students and utilized adaptive and creative teaching styles to cater to different and unexpected situations in the dining room classroom, with customers or students- Utilized understanding and empathy to react and adapt towards student needs, especially students with additional accommodation requirements and international students who faced language barriers- Motivated, engaged and mentored many graduates who needed guidance in the industry- Skillfully created a friendly and inviting classroom and teaching environment that allowed students to learn and thrive Show less

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Sudbury, Ontario, Canada