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"We're passionate about helping clients achieve their goals in food service, event rental, catering, and retail, which is why 60% of our business comes from referrals."

Tracy Lawler, President

JGL is a boutique consultancy serving the corporate, cultural, and higher education markets. We are passionate about developing successful food service and retail operations at our client locations. “Success” may mean the hot new destination restaurant in an expanding museum, increased retail merchandise sales at a zoo, a revitalized event rental program at an aquarium, or identification of a food service partner with aligned sustainability initiatives at a college or university. JGL’s customized management advisory expertise enables our team to deliver on client goals.

Years in Business
Museum Clients
Performing Arts Center Clients
States Served
WHAT WE DO

Experts in food and retail services

Food and retail services are an important visitor and employee amenity for cultural institutions, corporate dining facilities, and higher education institutions.

  • Cultural institutions have seen the addition of dining and retail programs translate to an increased length of stay, deeper connections with the institution and increased satisfaction with the visitor experience.
  • Corporate entities have reported greater productivity and retention for employees that utilize work-place dining facilities.
  • Both private and public sectors can generate valuable earned income streams from the rental of their venues for social, corporate and not-for-profit catered events.

JGL advises clients for whom food and retail services are an important part of the experience, but not a core competency. We are the experts that bridge the gap between the facility owner/operator and the food service and retail management teams. Our clients can expect optimized financial results, enhanced guest experience and improved operational efficiencies.

  1. Food Service Planning & Strategy

    Master plans, concept design, subsidy reduction, self-op vs. contract analysis

  2. Assessments & Feasibility Studies

    Needs assessments, food service feasibility, retail feasibility, food service assessments, retail store assessments

  3. Contract Management & Procurement

    Contract compliance, contract renegotiation, food service RFPs, retail RFPs

  1. Benchmarking & Performance Monitoring

    Benchmarking studies, ongoing performance monitoring

  2. Kitchen & Retail Design

    Food service kitchen design, retail concept design

  3. Retail Consulting

    Retail feasibility, retail store assessment, retail RFP

Ultimate planning for long
term success.

“We could not have been more pleased with the level of professionalism, service, and counsel that we received from JGL.  Tracy and her team brought the expert knowledge of restaurants and other food service operations that we lacked.  They helped us to understand our institutional needs around food and food service so that we could then select the right partner and craft the right relationship, while fielding a number of curve balls along the way.  I highly recommend JGL for its consulting services.”

Molly Riddle Wink, COO, Denver Art Museum

“JGL understands the unique challenges faced by cultural institutions looking to create destinations while ensuring robust revenue support to the bottom line.  Their experience ranges from the kitchen to the counter, and they are not afraid to tell you what you need to know in order to succeed.”

Ellery J. Brown, SVP, Operations, The Kennedy Center

"Boscobel House and Gardens benefited enormously from the research, recommendations, and results-oriented approach of JGL. Brooke Botwinick understands the opportunities and challenges facing museums related to private events and food service. She has provided critical information and processes to help Boscobel develop a private events business that aligns with our mission, brand, organizational values, and revenue needs."

Jennifer Carlquist, Executive Director & Curator, Boscobel House and Gardens

"From early engagement as we prepared our business plan through final selection of our food service partner, JGL was a delight to work with. They have broad knowledge of the national marketplace, are creative thinkers, extremely professional and personable and they more than deliver on client expectations."

ZeeAnn Mason, VP, Museum of the American Revolution
Strategic Food & Retail Consulting

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