More Than a Meal Ticket: The Brazilian Entrepreneur Rewriting the Code for US Restaurants
Across the American food sector, business owners are finding themselves caught between escalating consumer expectations and growing operational complexity. Widespread issues such as inconsistent service quality, persistent food safety concerns, and high staff turnover rates have become hallmarks of the industry. For many small and mid-sized operators, keeping up with these demands is no longer just a challenge — it is a matter of business continuity. Over 60% of U.S. food businesses now report difficulties with maintaining consistent standards across locations and shifts, underscoring the urgent need for structural reform.
Set to enter this environment is Girardi Services LLC, a newly formed consulting firm based in Miami. Although the business is registered and its strategic framework is fully developed, operations have not yet commenced. Once launched, the firm intends to work directly with restaurants, supermarkets, and food service operators to modernize their processes, strengthen their workforce capabilities, and improve overall business resilience. What sets this venture apart is its emphasis on training, internal structure, and measurable performance — areas often neglected in an industry known for reactive management.
The firm will be led by Marcelo Girardi, a Brazilian entrepreneur with decades of experience spanning multiple continents. Beginning his career in small family-run establishments, he later held leadership positions in well-established restaurant chains and managed several ventures of his own, including a supermarket and a delivery-focused food business. His hands-on knowledge of daily operations — from kitchen workflows to supply chain contracts — has given him insight into the recurring issues that plague food businesses regardless of size.
“This company is about bringing structure, predictability, and long-term thinking to an industry that often runs on instinct and urgency,” says Girardi.
Among the key issues Girardi Services plans to tackle is the fragmentation of operational routines. Many food businesses, especially those with limited managerial bandwidth, rely on informal processes and inconsistent communication. This often leads to service breakdowns, food handling errors, and staff confusion — problems that can be costly or even dangerous in a highly regulated environment. A 2022 industry review found that the lack of operational standardization contributed to a 12% increase in health code violations across small restaurants, highlighting the real-world consequences of these inefficiencies.
To counter these issues, Girardi Services plans to introduce performance tracking systems, standardized routines, and role-specific accountability frameworks, empowering owners to monitor quality and intervene proactively. These operational tools will be integrated with targeted training initiatives designed to upskill staff, foster leadership development, and cultivate a culture of professionalism.
The firm’s emphasis on workforce development is particularly timely as the industry grapples with acute talent shortages — not only in frontline service roles but also in specialized areas such as safety, compliance, and logistics. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 74,000 positions in food manufacturing remained unfilled in 2024, alongside over 600,000 vacancies across food-related sectors. Girardi Services aims to address these shortfalls by assisting clients in reducing turnover through strategic staff development initiatives and enhanced role alignment, thereby making food industry employment more sustainable and attractive in a highly competitive labor market.
Another defining element of the firm’s approach is its plan to embed financial oversight into its broader consulting work. Financial mismanagement remains a leading cause of business failure in the food sector, with nearly half of surveyed owners in 2023 admitting they lacked a clear system for tracking real-time profitability. Girardi Services aims to guide clients through cost analysis, margin forecasting, and contract evaluation — not just as accounting exercises, but as core elements of sustainable decision-making.
Looking beyond Florida, where the company plans to launch, the firm envisions a gradual national expansion aimed at reaching underserved food operators in both urban and rural markets. Its consulting services are expected to be especially relevant for independent businesses that often lack access to the management infrastructure enjoyed by larger chains. By introducing consistent practices, strategic planning, and digital tools, Girardi Services could play a role in helping smaller businesses compete more effectively at a national level.
The potential industry-wide impact is substantial. U.S. food businesses collectively generate over $1 trillion in annual economic activity; thus, even incremental gains in process efficiency and workforce retention could translate into significant economic value. If scaled, Girardi Services’s focus on operational discipline could help reduce waste, decrease regulatory penalties, and bolster consumer confidence — outcomes that are increasingly critical in today’s market.
Upon becoming fully operational, Girardi Services plans to engage clients through on-site consultations, interactive workshops, and digital tools — delivering not only expert advice but also actionable solutions tailored to help food service operators thrive in an ever-evolving industry landscape.
