Gordon Ramsay's favourite Italian restaurant - John Dammone, Salvos

Leeds Business Podcast

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This week we speak to John Dammone, co-owner of legendary Leeds restaurant, Salvos.

John tells us all about the early days of the restaurant, some key lessons learnt in some unsuccessful business expansions, how they kept relevant throughout the years and all about the effect Gordon Ramsay had on the business.

The business surgery segment answers the question; "As a business owner, I've always got too much to do on my to do list. How do I solve this problem?"

After you've heard Phil's answer, read this https://philfraser.co.uk/work-prioritisation/ for more on his system.

INTRODUCING JOHN DAMMONE

John Dammone founded the award-winning Salvo’s Restaurant in Leeds in 1976. With over 45 years experience in the hospitality industry, John successfully expanded what was a 40-seater neighbourhood restaurant into an 85-seater restaurant and bar. The nationally renowned restaurant has won multiple accolades and awards over the years including numerous TV appearances including being crowned the UK’s best independent Italian Restaurant by Gordon Ramsay on Channel 4’s The F Word.

Amongst many honours received during his career he has been a recipient of the Yorkshire Evening Post Outstanding Achievement award for his contribution to the Leeds Restaurant Industry twice in 2012 and in 2019. In 2015 he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award by Yorkshire Life Magazine and, most recently was awarded a British Empire medal in the Kings Birthday honours list for services to the Hospitality Industry.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[00:02:00] The launch of Salvos and the role of the family

[00:05:00] The early pain points

[00:08:00] How do you keep a long-standing restaurant relevant

[00:11:00] Two failed business expansions

[00:24:00] Gordon Ramsay’s F Word

[00:34:00] How was Covid?

[00:44:00] How to benchmark against the competition

[00:53:00] BUSINESS SURGERY QUESTION

[00:58:00] Exiting the business

[01:05:00] Pineapple on pizza?

3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS

• You cannot stand still in business

• Don’t let one client have more than 10% of the business

• Do not entrust your brand to another person

4 BEST MOMENTS

“In the early days we made people share tables”

“Our ask was two small for venture capitalists and too big for high street banks”

“I nearly put the phone down on Channel 4”

“We were lucky not to be with a high street bank”

VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU

Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/

Salvos win Gordon Ramsay's Best Local Italian Restaurant on The F Word - https://youtu.be/TsBxFyt7xTQ

Salvos get to the final of Gordon Ramsay's The F Word search for best Italian Restaurant - https://youtu.be/unu_3ojzaU

Salvos - best starters on Gordon Ramsay's search for the best local Italian Starters on The F Word - https://youtu.be/1OdjhO0kUQk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johndammone/

Shout out tags: https://swinethatdines.co.uk/

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https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/phil-fraser/

ABOUT YOUR HOST

Phil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a PLC 18 years later. He’s travelled the full SME business journey of launch, growth, scale and exit.

As well as hosting the Leeds Business Podcast, Phil now works with ambitious SME-owners as a Business Sounding Board (think somewhere between Business Coach and Business Mentor). In simple terms, he’s ‘a pair of ears and an extra pair eyes’ for SME Owners helping them to be better at what they do. Phil’s mantra is It doesn’t need to be ‘lonely at the top’. He helps Business Owners to be better business owners, by helping with their clarity and focus.

As a Business Sounding Board, he gives SME Owners the time & space to regularly discuss their challenges and opportunities, with no sense of judgement or bias, and in complete confidence. This allows them to explore their options in full, culminating with a list of issues to address/clarify, a clear target in mind, a roadmap to success, and a renewed enthusiasm and confidence for the challenges ahead.

Phil has appeared as a guest on over 60 podcasts, webinars and interviews, from around the whole globe, talking on a variety of business subjects. You can view them all at https://philfraser.co.uk/watch-hear-phil/.

LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST

Gordon Ramsay, Gordon Ramsey, F Word, Salvos, Leeds, Leeds Business, Business in Leeds, Nous of Fraser, Business Sounding Board, Business Coach, Business Mentor,

Email: [e-mail]