Golden Corral CEO: Maintaining Customer and Staff Relationships Is Critically Important
Lance Trenary, who has worked at Golden Corral for 41 years, emphasizes the importance of direct customer and employee relationships in leading the buffet chain.
Lance Trenary, CEO of buffet chain Golden Corral, has dedicated over four decades to the company. He progressed through various leadership roles, including senior vice president of company operations, before becoming CEO in 2015.
Trenary recently told Fox Business that a fundamental habit has been crucial to his career: "Staying very close to the customer is really important." He highlighted his practice of visiting restaurants and maintaining personal connections with both franchisees and employees.
"I love traveling to restaurants. I know every franchisee, I know every manager in the stores, and I love visiting them," Trenary stated. He considers this a habit he will "never break" because it provides direct, unfiltered feedback on customer perceptions and the brand's reality.
The buffet chain, operating nearly 400 restaurants across 42 states in the U.S., has faced industry challenges. Rising costs and declining customer traffic have impacted its operations. The all-you-can-eat model is particularly susceptible to increases in fuel, labor, and food expenses, creating financial pressures for the company.