What’s the Definition of Insanity in the Restaurant Business?

There’s a familiar saying often linked to Einstein: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and

over again and expecting different results.” Whether he said it or not, the message resonates

deeply in today’s restaurant industry.

Across my 40 year career, I’ve had the privilege of working with countless restaurant owners and

operators. Some were innovators. Some were fighters. Some were masters of hospitality. But the

leaders who consistently improved profitability all shared one trait: they stayed open to new

ways of thinking.

I’ve always been comfortable admitting, “I don’t know what I don’t know.” That mindset has

kept me learning, adapting, and seeking out better solutions. I only wish more operators

embraced that same philosophy—because the cost of not doing so is showing up in their margins

every single day.

The Hard Truth: COGS Problems Don’t Fix Themselves

Too many restaurants continue to battle rising food costs, vendor inconsistencies, supply chain

disruptions, and outdated purchasing habits with the same tools and assumptions they used ten

years ago. They negotiate the same way. They source the same way. They accept the same

explanations from suppliers. And then they wonder why their COGS never improves.

The reality is simple: You can’t solve modern supply chain challenges with yesterday’s

playbook.

Where Strategic Supply Chain Partners Makes the Difference

At SSCP, we spend every day helping operators break out of that cycle. Not by telling them what

they “should have known,” but by bringing the expertise, data, and industry visibility they

simply don’t have time to build on their own.

We help restaurants:

Reduce COGS through strategic sourcing, vendor consolidation, and category
optimization
Navigate supply chain complexity with realtime insights and proactive planning
Strengthen vendor relationships through structured negotiation and accountability
Identify blind spots that operators often don’t realize are costing them money
Implement alternative schools of thought that challenge outdated assumptions and
unlock new profit

The most profitable operators aren’t the ones who claim to know everything. They’re the ones

willing to ask better questions, explore new approaches, and partner with experts who live and

breathe supply chain strategy.

Curiosity Is a Competitive Advantage

In an industry as volatile as ours, intellectual humility isn’t optional, it’s a strategic asset. The

restaurants that thrive are those willing to rethink, relearn, and reimagine their supply chain.

After 40 years in this business, one thing is clear: operators who stay curious outperform those

who stay comfortable.

At Strategic Supply Chain Partners, we help turn that curiosity into measurable profit.

Micah Moore

SVP Business Development | Partner

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