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Food service & retail consulting for cultural institutions, higher education, corporate dining, and convention centers.

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      • Tracy Lawler
      • Brooke Botwinick
      • Connor Leahy
      • Colleen Geyer
      • Hollie Altman
      • John M. Franzini
      • Barry Skown
      • Lisa Baptista
      • Martin Thorson
      • Elise Ruf
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Request Consultation
JGL Consultants
  • Home
  • About
    • Team
      • Tracy Lawler
      • Brooke Botwinick
      • Connor Leahy
      • Colleen Geyer
      • Hollie Altman
      • John M. Franzini
      • Barry Skown
      • Lisa Baptista
      • Martin Thorson
      • Elise Ruf
    • Testimonials
  • Services
    • Food & Beverage Consulting
    • Retail Consulting
  • Clients
    • Corporate Dining
    • Higher Education
    • Museums
    • Performing Arts Centers
    • Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens
    • Convention Centers & Other
  • Projects
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Brochures
    • Presentations
    • FAQ
    • Glossary
  • Contact
    • Request Consultation
JGL Consultants
  • Home
  • About
    • Team
      • Tracy Lawler
      • Brooke Botwinick
      • Connor Leahy
      • Colleen Geyer
      • Hollie Altman
      • John M. Franzini
      • Barry Skown
      • Lisa Baptista
      • Martin Thorson
      • Elise Ruf
    • Testimonials
  • Services
    • Food & Beverage Consulting
    • Retail Consulting
  • Clients
    • Corporate Dining
    • Higher Education
    • Museums
    • Performing Arts Centers
    • Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens
    • Convention Centers & Other
  • Projects
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Brochures
    • Presentations
    • FAQ
    • Glossary
  • Contact
    • Request Consultation

Food for Thought

HomeFood for Thought(Page 6)
April 1, 2022
By Tracy Lawler
Food for Thought

Two Truths and a Lie

It’s April Fool’s Day, friends!  JGL is known to go above and beyond for our clients. To that end, we have found ourselves in some scary, funny and downright embarrassing

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February 11, 2022
By Hollie Altman
Food for Thought

Smaller Groups, Larger Returns

For cultural institutions that earn commissions on catered events, there has definitely been a change in earned income due to the pandemic. Many organizations have seen a dramatic

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January 31, 2022
By Tracy Lawler
Food for Thought

The Importance of Stress Testing

As all JGL clients know, we are big believers in developing pro forma projections for a wide variety of scenarios so our clients are prepared for any outcome. The importance of und

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January 17, 2022
By JGLadmin
Food for Thought

50% of Nothing is Nothing!

Negotiating a higher commission or lower fees isn’t always the best strategy. While earned income is important, there are times when a higher commission can result in lost revenu

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January 3, 2022
By Tracy Lawler
Food for Thought

Do You Have a ‘High Level’ Understanding of Your Zoo or Aquarium’s Food Service Operation? JGL Shares Tricks of the Trade to Do a Self-Assessment!

If you manage food service or retail at a zoo or aquarium, how do you know if the program is actually performing well — or just performing well enough? A structured self-assessme

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December 15, 2021
By Tracy Lawler
Food for Thought

Looking Back at 2021

It’s always exciting to look back on a full year and take a moment to revel in all that was accomplished. Team JGL was very busy in 2021! See some of this year’s company highli

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December 14, 2021
By Brooke Botwinick
Food for Thought

Finding the Right Vendor is a Big Piece of the Puzzle

There’s an art to developing a bidders list for both food service and retail RFP’s. Developing the perfect bid list starts with getting to know the client’s organization and

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November 12, 2021
By John Franzini
Food for Thought

5 Pro Tips for Increasing Museum Retail Sales During the Holidays…

The holiday season is the single most important revenue period for most museum shops — but many institutions arrive at it without a clear strategy. What are the five practices th

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November 1, 2021
By Brooke Botwinick
Food for Thought

Hire a Consulting Firm with the Right Experience

Not all food service consulting firms are the same — and choosing the wrong one for an RFP, assessment, or contract negotiation can cost an institution far more than the consulti

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October 27, 2021
By Brooke Botwinick
Food for Thought

Four Points to Keep in Mind When Forming a Selection Committee

An RFP process is a serious commitment. When an institution or organization decides to invest in selecting a new food service or retail operator, having the right people on the int

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Posts pagination

1 … 5 6 7 … 11

Recent Posts

April 6, 2026
By Lisa Baptista
Food for Thought

The Power of a Food Service Feasibility Study: Data That Drives Better Decisions

Food service programs are complex and require significant investment and careful planning. Whether an organization is launching a new dining venue, renovating facilities, or rethin

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March 9, 2026
By Martin Thorson
Food for Thought

Food Service at Convention Venues: Balancing Control, Risk, and Return

Food and beverage programs in convention and exposition venues sit at the crossroads of guest experience, financial performance, and operational complexity. As markets shift and ex

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January 13, 2026
By Brooke Botwinick
Food for Thought

Martin Thorson joins as Leader of Convention Center Consulting Practice

JGL Consultants is pleased to announce that Martin Thorson has joined the firm to lead its Convention Center Consulting practice. Martin brings more than two decades of executive l

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December 16, 2025
By JGLadmin
Food for ThoughtRetail

A Look Back at 2025…

It’s that time of year – a time to reflect and take pride in all you’ve accomplished. It has been another banner year at JGL, and we wanted to share some of this year’s

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October 15, 2025
By Lisa Baptista
Retail

Merch with Meaning

For many cultural institutions, retail operations are far more than souvenir stands — but are they being used to their full potential? The merchandise strategy, not just the shop

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JGL Consultants Food Service and Retail Consulting

JGL Consultants is a boutique food service and retail consultancy specializing in cultural institutions, higher education, corporate dining and convention centers. For 40+ years we have bridged the gap between institutional clients and the operators that serve them, delivering optimized financial results, stronger vendor relationships, and measurably better guest experiences.

732.274.1694
in**@************ts.com
224 Cleveland Ln, Princeton, NJ 08540

 

WBENC certified women-owned business
Services
  • Food & Beverage Consulting
  • Retail Consulting
  • Food Service RFP
  • Retail RFP
  • Food Service Feasibility Study
  • Retail Feasibility Study
  • Food Service Assessment
  • Retail Store Assessment
  • Contract Drafting
Resources
  • Blog
  • FAQ
  • Glossary
  • Brochures
  • Presentations
Company
  • About JGL
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  • Testimonials
Who We Serve
  • Museums
  • Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens
  • Performing Arts Centers
  • Higher Education
  • Corporate Dining
  • Convention Centers & Other
Get Started
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Food service and retail consulting for performing arts centers, museums, universities, & convention centers.

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    How did you hear about us?

    Strategic Food Service Consulting for Cultural Venues

    Institutional venues require specialized food service strategies to balance visitor satisfaction with robust revenue generation. JGL Consultants helps museums, zoos, and cultural centers optimize their dining operations to meet unique visitor demands.

    By integrating tailored vendor RFPs, stress-tested pro forma projections, and innovative retail concepts, these institutions can significantly increase earned income and elevate the overall guest experience.

    Optimizing Vendor Selection Processes

    Finding the right operating partner is critical for the long-term financial success of any museum or cultural attraction food service contract. A structured request for proposal process ensures alignment between the venue's mission and the vendor's operational capabilities.

    Utilizing a dual-track RFP approach allows institutions to evaluate multiple bidders thoroughly, comparing business structures, projected commissions, and customer service standards to select the ideal culinary partner.