Creative Food Concepts News and Events
HOLIDAY COOKIES FOR SALE
CHOCOLATE CHIP - $13.25
OATMEAL RAISIN - $13.25
WHITE CHOCOLATE MACADAMIAN NUT - $14.25
Mixed Box - $14.25
All cookies are sold by the baker's dozen, boxed, and wrapped
for the holiday season.
Place your order today! Call Penny Wooten at 704-590-5861 for details.
Creative Food Concepts Wins Contract for South Piedmont Community College
Charlotte Business Journal Profile
enquirerjournal.com
County Firm Wins Contract for SPCC Food Service
Creative Food Concepts, a food and beverage management company based in Union County, has been selected exclusive caterer for the new conference center at South Piedmont Community College's Old Charlotte Highway campus.
In addition to the conference center, Creative Food Concepts will provide all food service at the Monroe campus, including an on campus Cafe' for students, faculty and staff.
"We are excited about this partnership." SPCC President John McKay said in a press release. "We interviewed several candidates, all of whom were excellent, but Creative Food Concepts exceeded all of our expectations. We look forward to a lasting relationship."
The conference center at South Piedmont is an 8,000 square-foot facility that can be divided into two smaller rooms. The center seats up to 500 guests. When divided, one salon seats up to 300, the other up to 200.
The center will serve as host for college training programs and other functions and can be rented for corporate, civic and private events.
The conference center at South Piedmont is equipped with state-of-the art audiovisual equipment, including two large projection screens, VHS and DVD players, CCTV, high-speed internet access, and sound system.
"South Piedmont's facility is one-of-a-kind for Union County," Greg Wren, owner of Creative Food Concepts, said in the press release. "We are privileged to be serving the college and community here.
Creative Food Concepts brings more than 50 years of collective experience to South Piedmont with its staff of Wren, Director of Operations Chad Nichols and Director of Catering Penny Wooten.
The company manages food and beverage services as several Union County locations, including Stonebridge Golf Club, Weddington Swim and Racquet Club and Weddington Optimist Park.
“We believe that our years of experience, affordable rates, and wide variety of menu options prepared by our executive chef will make this facility Union County’s first choice for private parties and wedding events”, Wooten said in the release.
Details about the conference center at South Piedmont may be obtained by contacting Wooten at (704) 290-5861 or via e-mail at pwooten@spcc.edu. Information about the company is available at nccreativefoodconcepts.com.
A fair way to growth: Creative Food sticks to golf, sports facilities
Charlotte Business Journal - October 4, 2002
by Ken Elkins, Staff Writer
Greg Wren created a business by combining his interest in golf with his experience with running restaurants.
"I've worked in food and beverage for 20 years, and I grew up playing golf," he says. "So I know what golfers are looking for." His Creative Food Concepts manages and provides the staff for food-service operations at area golf courses and other sports facilities, including pools and racquet clubs. "A typical golfer, swimmer, or racquetball player is always looking for a quick bite while playing," he says. "It has to be simple, affordable and fast."
For example, the golfer will routinely grab a hot dog and soft drink at the turn, with the tab totaling a meager $3. Wren has found a way to boost that take to $5 or so by improving the quality of the food. Items include the latest sports drinks and freshly prepared sandwiches.
"It's giving a quality product and being speedy about it," he says.
And to determine what foods the golfers, swimmers and players want, you have to be there behind the counter, listening to the customers.
"It's service, being consistent and supplying what they want," Wren says. "I'm a big preacher of owner-operated. You know your customer better."
Creative Food employs a staff of 14 at three sports facilities in the Charlotte area: Stonebridge Golf Club near Monroe, Weddington Swim and Racquet Club in Matthews and Optimist Park in Weddington.
Expansion is possible, he says. "I'm always looking for possibilities. It depends on the location and situation."
He was tempted to open a restaurant in 1998, when his last employer sold Loafer's Bar on Independence Boulevard in Charlotte. But the need for investors, capital, advertising and facilities management convinced him to abandon those ideas and focus on sports venues.
"This situation is debt-free," Wren says. "It's a much safer situation than opening a new restaurant from scratch."
The operation was profitable during its first year, though Wren declines to reveal details. And the financial return is far better than the loss that's common for full-service restaurants in their first two years.
But Creative Food shares this trait with a restaurant operation: Employees are crucial to success, Wren says. "The better you treat them, the better they treat the customers."
He says the keys to employee management are being considerate of the staff and taking their off-the-job activities into account when preparing the work schedule.
And Wren writes himself into that work schedule. "To me, a boss is someone who tells you what to do. A leader gets in there and does it with you."
