[SpotOn Series] Changing Course Post-Pandemic With Matthew Guelke, CEO and Co-founder of The Plant Cafe Organic

Top Business Leaders Show

Matthew Guelke is CEO and Co-founder of The Plant Cafe Organic, a San Francisco Bay Area restaurant group. In 2023, The Nature Conservancy selected The Plant as the most sustainable restaurant in the San Francisco Bay Area. In January 2023, The Plant was recognized among the top 30 global food & beverage brands by the Real Leader's Sustainable Impact Award. Its goal is to bring 100% organic food and healthy alternatives to the mainstream.

In this episode…

Imagine this — you own a group of eight restaurants popular with a niche audience based in the most expensive part of the US, and the pandemic happens. Your local government implements severe precautionary measures and six of your restaurants have to permanently close. How do you keep the brand alive and leverage its good name?

According to Matthew Guelke, CEO and Co-founder of The Plant Cafe Organic, the answer has been franchising. His San Francisco-based group of eight restaurants was rocked by the pandemic and reduced to two locations. Nevertheless, Matthew knew the brand — known for its honest approach to clean food and sustainability — still had great value. Rather than try to rebuild by opening new locations on their own, Matthew says he and his co-founder are offering the opportunity to franchisees.

On this episode of the Top Business Leaders Show, Matthew Guekle, CEO and Co-founder of The Plant Cafe Organic, join’s Rise25’s Chad Franzen for a conversation about building and sustaining a restaurant brand based on belief and passion. Matthew shares The Plant’s origin story, what the early days were like, the pandemic’s disastrous effect on the business and their strategy for rebuilding. He also explains why his brand is a good opportunity for franchisees and who would be best suited for the role.