Foodservice is an industry based on relationships. Whether you're serving a family in a chain restaurant, cooking food in a school lunchroom for hungry students, or trying to educate foodservice operators on the latest equipment solutions, we believe open communication and effective dialog are the best way to go.
That's why we've decided to create a new series here at High Sabatino. It's always more fun to work with people you know, so take a look at our first of a multi part series called In the Rings with High Sabatino. In this first edition, get to know Mike Colligon.
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Give us a little background on yourself. How did you get into the industry?
I started working in this industry when I was 12 years old. I was working under the table for my friend's uncle’s restaurant, scrubbing pots and bussing tables. I have worked in the the industry for some or all of each year for the last 40 years. Jobs have included every aspect of operations and include director of purchasing for Hard Rock in D.C. to multi unit management and dealer sales for Edward Don & Company.
I guess you could say it is a big part of me. I do try to keep balance by spending time with family, traveling, teaching scuba diving and eventually sailing.
What's your favorite part about the foodservice industry?
If I had to pick just one thing, it would be the people. The people I work with, or encounter through the sales process or that I encountered in operations. People go to restaurants typically for a good time. It is generally a good time business. After that, I would say it is the constant change. I love that there is always seemingly something different.
Can you talk about your most memorable experience in this industry?
Specific to the industry, I would say it was my first NAFEM Show. It was mind blowing to instantly expand my equipment and smallwares knowledge. Indirectly, it would be attending the First Alabama vs. Clemson National Championship Game when Dave High, Joe Sabatino and myself were in Phoenix for the MAFSI Conference. That was absolutely a bucket list event with people I value greatly, and the game was incredible.
What about the time one of High Sabatino's solutions made the biggest impact?
I hesitate to answer this based on one particular product, but I love having the experience over and over of customers remembering the service and follow up we provide and calling us back to help them with other solutions because we went above and beyond when servicing them previously.
I always try and focus on understanding my customers needs fully and provide the best options for solutions available. That brings customers back.
What's your favorite line to rep? Why?
The one that provides the best solution for the customer at that time. We purposely represent the highest quality and most solution driven manufacturers available. None of them are a low cost provider. What I'm saying is people don't buy our products on price. They have invested in a solution that we have educated them on.
Each of our manufacturers approach their category with distinct value-added solutions, and all are great to share with our customers and specifiers to help them meet their needs or solve the needs of their clients.
How has the industry changed since you've been in it?
Easier to ask what hasn’t changed. That said, I guess I could answer the question this way:
The biggest change is how buyers get their information. The internet is currently the biggest resource for information. The drawback is the largest amount of information is simply about price. Armed with only the knowledge of price, buyers often make big mistakes at the worst, and fail to understand what better solutions are available at the least.
I simply want to be a primary source of information for my customers as my experience and exposure over all these years and the many roles I have played can be a real asset to them.
Where do you see it heading in the future?
Not sure about this one. I think for our group, the value we will provide is in being the expert in our category. We want to represent products and manufacturer’s that require expertise so we can provide value to our customers and their clients.
We will undoubtedly need to be more and more conscious of energy-driven solutions with a focus on conservation. Our K-12 customers are facing labor issues at an accelerated rate due to an aging labor force externally competitive wages. We will need to be educating those buyers in solutions that better utilize labor while improving nutrition. High quality combi ovens like Rational’s Self Cooking Centers can definitely help with labor and nutrition.
We will see increased demand for locally sourced ingredients prepared simply, and that will require blast chillers and shock freezers to sustain the locally sourced ingredients. Energy-driven and water-conserving warewashing solutions from Meiko will be more and more valuable to buyers. As the saying goes, the only constant is change. I hope to continue to enjoy the ride.
To spend some time with Mike to see how his industry expertise can assist your foodservice operation, or if you just want to engage in some really great conversation, schedule a foodservice equipment assessment with High Sabatino.
