Since being acquired by Greene King four years ago (although it retains its own identity) Hickory’s Smokehouse, which was founded in 2010 in Chester, has continued to expand beyond its north-west heartland, with now 36 sites and expansion plans of 10 Hickory’s a year and to triple the estate by 2030.
Hickory’s Smokehouse was also praised for its strong investment into the ops team in the past year, which has blended external talent with the progression of internal super stars.
Continuous growth
This is successfully balancing the brand’s ongoing growth with retaining great site performance and standards, as well as maintaining its excellent people culture and ensuring the Hickory’s magic is kept alive.
It embodies a small business mentality with a big business approach, with the low number of sites its operations chefs and area managers look after, ensuring they can be in the detail and focus on the small details that help drive big performance.
How the talented ops team for this creative, family-friendly American barbecue brand, renowned for its authentic Southern-style smoked meats, immersive dining experiences (including cinema rooms) and outdoor play areas ensure its famously warm southern hospitality is extended to all team members, as well as guests, is another key strength.
Supportive culture
This high-performing team also help drive its ever-evolving learning and development opportunities, strong internal progression and retention, impactful benefits and reward and recognition initiatives.
The supportive and listening culture of the ops team is driven from the top, with managing director John Welsh acting on the feedback he and the senior team receive from employees at yearly roadshows across its estate, and employee ideas continually encouraged, acknowledged and rewarded.
