Rich Sweeney
About Rich Sweeney
Rich Sweeney is a Solutions Engineer at Restaurant365 with extensive experience in the culinary industry, including roles as an Executive Chef and Director of Culinary Development.
Current Role at Restaurant365
Rich Sweeney is currently employed as a Solutions Engineer at Restaurant365. In this role, he utilizes his extensive experience in front-of-house and back-of-house management, menu costing, and food cost analysis to improve operational efficiency and profitability for restaurants. His strong background in training and development and his involvement in new unit openings are pivotal in his current responsibilities. Additionally, his expertise in deploying AI and machine learning applications to enhance restaurant operations is a significant asset to the company.
Previous Experience at Restaurant365
Before becoming a Solutions Engineer, Rich Sweeney served as an Account Executive at Restaurant365 from 2021 to 2023. In this position, he focused on developing client relationships and implementing solutions that maximized restaurant efficiency and profitability. His knowledge of the industry and hands-on experience in various culinary and management roles enabled him to provide invaluable insights and support to the company's clients.
Career in Culinary Management
Rich Sweeney's career includes multiple high-profile roles in the culinary sector. Notably, he was the Executive Chef at Stone Brewing from 2020 to 2021 and the Director of Culinary Development at Tocaya Organica for six months in 2020. He also served as the Area Culinary Director for Tocaya Organica from 2019 to 2020. At North Italia, he held the position of Executive Chef from 2018 to 2019 in San Diego - Fashion Valley. His varied roles provided him with a broad range of skills in menu development, research and development (R&D), and training within the food and beverage industry.
Educational Background
Rich Sweeney studied at the San Diego Culinary Institute from 2006 to 2007, where he earned a Diplomme d' Commis de Cuisine in Culinary Arts/Chef Training. This formal education laid the foundation for his extensive career in culinary arts, equipping him with technical skills and knowledge that he has applied across various executive and developmental roles in the industry.
Expertise in Menu Optimization
Rich Sweeney specializes in menu optimization and identifying profitable dishes. He has shared his expertise on how to find a menu's most profitable items and maximize margins. His insights into menu engineering to improve restaurant profitability have been highlighted in various presentations and webinars, including one discussing the end of invoice and AP inefficiency in the restaurant industry.
Community and Industry Contributions
Rich Sweeney has a strong orientation towards community and social services. His involvement in community-focused initiatives showcases his commitment to giving back to the industry and society. Additionally, his skills in research and development for culinary projects offer valuable contributions to the advancement of the food and beverage sector.