At CKG Hospitality, we are passionate about building stronger kitchens, smarter operations, and more sustainable hospitality businesses. We are a chef-driven, results-focused consulting and coaching firm that partners with restaurant owners, culinary teams, and hospitality operators to drive real change where it matters most—inside the heart of the operation.

Founded by seasoned industry professional Kent Graham, CKG Hospitality was created to fill the gap between big-picture strategy and day-to-day execution. With decades of hands-on experience in culinary operations, menu development, procurement strategy, leadership coaching, and multi-unit management, we provide the insight, structure, and tools needed to help your business not just survive—but thrive.

Whether you’re launching a new concept, scaling a growing brand, or optimizing an existing operation, our approach is rooted in practical experience and tailored to your unique goals. We don’t just show up with a presentation—we roll up our sleeves and work alongside your team to implement sustainable systems, train staff, and develop strategies that improve profitability, efficiency, and culture.

Our Fractional Operations service includes culinary operations consulting and menu engineering, to procurement optimization, executive chef leadership, and culinary coaching for chefs and kitchen managers. We also offer virtual coaching programs to support remote teams and provide flexible, expert-level guidance no matter where you’re located.

At CKG Hospitality, we believe the backbone of every great restaurant isn’t just the food—it’s the people, the processes, and the purpose behind the brand. That’s why we focus not only on what’s on the plate, but what’s happening behind the pass—team development, kitchen leadership, and operational excellence.

We take pride in being a trusted partner to our clients, offering honest feedback, thoughtful solutions, and measurable results. Whether you're preparing for an investment or acquisition, looking to improve margins, or aiming to strengthen your kitchen culture, we’re here to help you every step of the way.

PRIVATE EQUITY / M&A

CKG Hospitality and Graham Hospitality Strategy specialize in positioning hospitality groups for successful investment or acquisition by elevating operational performance, strengthening leadership infrastructure, and maximizing brand and financial value. Our approach is comprehensive, strategic, and tailored to highlight the true potential of your business in the eyes of investors or buyers.

Our Approach:

1. Operational Readiness & Standardization

We assess and optimize core business functions—kitchen operations, service models, menu engineering, procurement systems, and labor management—to ensure streamlined, scalable systems are in place. This enhances the overall value of the business and assures potential investors that the operation is efficient, sustainable, and ready to grow.

2. Financial Clarity & Profitability Enhancement

Through deep-dive cost analysis, margin improvement strategies, and inventory/labor controls, we help improve EBITDA performance—an essential metric in investor evaluation. We also assist in developing clear financial reporting, budgeting systems, and KPIs that reflect the business’s true earning potential and scalability.

3. Brand Positioning & Market Differentiation

We work with your team to refine your brand identity, elevate guest experience, and align your concept with current market trends and consumer demand. A well-defined, market-relevant brand with a compelling story makes your business more attractive to investors or buyers.

4. Leadership & Organizational Infrastructure

We build internal leadership systems that remove dependency on the ownership or executive chef. This includes staff training protocols, SOP documentation, and development of a strong mid-management team—creating a turnkey operation that appeals to strategic buyers.

5. Growth Strategy & Expansion Planning

We help develop a clear, realistic roadmap for future expansion or franchising—supported by operational models, cost forecasting, and location viability plans. A well-articulated growth strategy gives investors confidence in long-term scalability.

6. Due Diligence Preparation

We prepare your team and documentation for the due diligence process by organizing vendor contracts, leases, training manuals, health and safety compliance records, and operational reports. This reduces friction during negotiation and increases transparency and buyer confidence.

The Outcome:

By partnering with CKG Hospitality and Graham Hospitality Strategy, your business becomes more than just operationally sound—it becomes investment-ready. We help you not only increase your valuation but also present your business in a way that speaks directly to what investors and acquirers want: profitability, scalability, and sustainability.

Fractional hospitality operations

CKG Hospitality offers a dynamic fractional operations model that delivers executive-level leadership and operational expertise to hospitality businesses on a flexible, part-time, or project-based basis. This approach allows restaurants, hotels, and culinary ventures to benefit from strategic guidance without the overhead of full-time executive hires. Our fractional services are designed to enhance operational efficiency, drive culinary innovation, improve guest experiences, manage costs, and increase revenue. We seamlessly integrate into existing teams to support interim leadership, turnaround efforts, and targeted initiatives that align with a company’s long-term goals.

Our general hospitality consulting services expand on this support by offering tailored solutions across all facets of the industry, from restaurant concept development to full-scale operational optimization. We specialize in everything from menu engineering and recipe development to branding, design, and financial modeling. Whether a client is opening a new concept, refreshing an existing brand, or refining daily operations, our consultants provide the insight and tools to ensure sustainable success. We also assist with pre-opening processes, including permitting, vendor sourcing, staff onboarding, and marketing launch strategies.

Food safety and quality assurance are central pillars of our consulting work. CKG Hospitality provides comprehensive food safety assessments, including kitchen walk-throughs, sanitation audits, HACCP plan creation, and compliance checks aligned with local and federal regulations. Our QA solutions focus on consistency and excellence, utilizing tools like recipe and portion audits, mystery dining evaluations, vendor monitoring, and shift-start protocols. These systems help safeguard food quality, protect brand reputation, and exceed customer expectations across every service period.

Our approach to quality assurance extends well beyond compliance, embracing a proactive philosophy centered on continuous improvement. We evaluate ingredient quality, streamline execution, and reduce variance in product delivery through detailed specifications and training. Regular plate testing, line checks, and guest feedback analysis help pinpoint service gaps and reinforce standards. The result is an integrated quality system that ensures every plate leaving the kitchen is representative of the brand’s commitment to excellence.

CKG Hospitality’s culinary coaching services are crafted to develop leadership and elevate kitchen performance. With a hands-on, personalized style, we guide chefs and kitchen teams through leadership development, skill refinement, and operational optimization. We help teams build collaboration, manage stress, and improve team retention while aligning culinary strategy with business goals. Coaching is tailored to the unique challenges of each client, from independent restaurants to multi-unit operations.

To support busy professionals and distributed teams, we offer virtual coaching services that provide on-demand expertise without requiring on-site engagements. These virtual sessions include strategic planning calls, personalized video coaching, and the sharing of digital resources that address everything from kitchen structure to culinary innovation. Whether you’re a chef stepping into a leadership role or a GM navigating operational hurdles, our virtual model offers flexible, results-driven solutions.

Together, these offerings make CKG Hospitality a full-spectrum partner for hospitality businesses seeking fractional support. By combining operational strategy, culinary innovation, food safety systems, and coaching expertise under one roof, we empower businesses to operate more efficiently, delight guests consistently, and achieve long-term success—while keeping overhead low and impact high.

Kent Graham

FOUNDER / MANAGING PARTNER

Kent Graham blends intellectual rigor with culinary artistry. After studying Economics and Finance at Yale University, he refined his culinary skills at the Culinary Institute of America. His global experience— everything from independent restaurants to Michelin three stars across Europe to America—has shaped his appreciation for diverse cuisines and operational excellence. With over 25 years in the industry and held positions from every kitchen position to Corporate Executive Chef, Culinary Director, Director of R&D and Vice President of Culinary and lastly owner.

Based in Atlanta, Kent is a respected chef and hospitality consultant. His philosophy—“People, Process, and Purpose”—We believe that every successful culinary operation starts with empowered leadership, efficient systems, and a clear vision. Our work is guided by the principle that hospitality is more than service—it’s a craft that blends creativity, discipline, and connection.

As the leader of CKG Hospitality & Graham Hospitality Strategy, Kent helps restaurants, hotels, and culinary ventures succeed through concept development, menu creation, private equity and operational strategy. His work merges creativity with business insight, making him a trusted expert in the hospitality industry and hospitality innovation.

Jennifer Graham

Data In-site & Analytics / Project Management / PARTNER

Get in touch.

At CKG Hospitality, we bring decades of culinary expertise and operational excellence to the table. Whether you’re looking to optimize your kitchen, elevate your menu, streamline procurement, or foster a strong team culture, we provide tailored solutions to meet your unique challenges.

Our approach is rooted in real-world experience and a deep understanding of the foodservice industry. We don’t just offer advice; we partner with you to implement actionable strategies that drive efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance quality.

When you work with CKG Hospitality, you’re not just hiring a consultant—you’re gaining a trusted partner dedicated to helping your business thrive in a competitive market. Let us help you take your culinary operations to the next level.

kent@chefkentgraham.com