“If we can meet or [exceed] expectations in value, we’ll be successful,” Jay P. Supple says.

Although CEO Jay P. Supple has watched Supple Restaurant Group grow substantially in the past year, he says he has learned that the company should never take anything for granted. Instead, he says, Supple Restaurant Group strives “to make sure we keep our eye on the target” and continuously meet customer expectations in food, service and décor.

“If we can meet or [exceed] expectations in value, we’ll be successful,” Supple says. “We just need to make sure we [stay] on top of our game and continue to improve on ourselves.”

For nearly 40 years, Supple Restaurant Group has made fine dining and hospitality a family affair. The family managed company, based in Oshkosh, Wis., operates nine locations that not only include restaurants, but also banquet halls and a hotel.

With this range, “We feel we cover all the demographics,” Supple says. The company’s own concepts include Fratello’s Waterfront Restaurants in Oshkosh, Appleton and Green Bay, Wis.; Fox River Brewing Co.; and Wave Bar & Ballroom.

Supple Restaurant Group is also a franchisee for Golden Corral Buffet & Grill and The Melting Pot, and is a partner in a Hilton Garden Inn in Oshkosh. Supple’s parents, John and Dolores Supple, started the company in 1968 as a franchisee for Shakey’s Pizza.

The company looks at developing concepts as a process similar to making movies. “When we create it, [we say], ‘What’s the movie? Now let’s create the theme, let’s create the plot, and how does it all lay out?’” Jay Supple explains.

Supple Restaurant Group will soon expand its scope. Although it has largely focused on modestly populated areas of its home state, the company is about to break ground on a Fratello’s location in Milwaukee.

In addition, the company is partnering with Starwood Hotels to open its newest concept, an aloft Hotel in Green Bay. The new 105-room building is a lifestyle brand of hotels that feature loft-inspired design in its rooms. “We’ll have it built and open by the summer of 2008,” Supple reports.       

Supple ‘Melts’ a Major Restaurant’s Heart
This September, Supple Restaurant Group was recognized for its own work as a franchisee. The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc., a fondue restaurant franchise, named the Supples’ Appleton restaurant as the Franchisee of the Year.

“Being named Franchisee of the Year out of more than 120 [Melting Pot] locations is truly an accomplishment,” Jay Supple said in a statement. “I’m so proud of our entire team. It took a strong commitment and an entirely team-oriented effort to win this award.”

According to The Melting Pot, franchises were judged by mystery diner scores, quality certification scores, overall marketing assessments, distribution program usage, franchise administration status, and support of the parent’s core mission, vision and principles.

“The Supples have been an important part of The Melting Pot franchise family for more than four years, and their ability to continually remain as one of our best-performing locations is truly admirable,” said Bob Johnston, president and COO of The Melting Pot. “The team in Appleton certainly represents the true mission, visions and principles of The Melting Pot.”