Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti Regional Chamber

Zingerman’s Approach to Planning

Zingerman’s may be best known for their world famous Deli located downtown in Kerrytown. Many people, even townies, are surprised to learn that there are nine, that’s right – 9, separate businesses. The Zingerman’s Community of Businesses (ZCoB) is “a family of small food related companies in the Ann Arbor area. Each is operated by one or more managing partners who share ownership and work in the day-to-day running of the business.”

The Zingerman’s Community of Businesses includes:
• Zingerman’s Delicatessen
• Zingerman’s Bakehouse
• Zingerman’s Catering & Events
• Zingerman’s Mail Order
• Zingerman’s ZingTrain
• Zingerman’s Creamery
• Zingerman’s Roadhouse
• Zingerman’s Coffee Company
• Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory



Ron Maurer, Vice President of Administration at Zingerman’s, was the presenter at February’s NetWorks! giving the audience a sneak peak at Zingerman’s approach to planning. Financial and business experts are a part of every aspect of the planning process. According to Maurer, every employee at Zingerman’s is a financial and business expert. Every employee learns the financial aspects as well as impacts of their job when they are hired.



The planning process, which may take up to three months, occurs annually at Zingerman’s. One very important item that businesses should discuss during their planning process, Maurer noted, is their vision. Maurer told the audience four aspects that should be considered when creating your vision:
1. Inspiring – a vision should be inspiring to anyone who reads it,    especially the employees
2. Strategically Sound – some visions may be very inspiring; however    a company must be able to achieve the vision.
3. Write it down – it is important that the vision is written down and     every employee has read it; therefore everyone is working together to     reach the vision.
4. Actively Communicated – again, the vision must be communicated    to every employee; therefore everyone is working together to reach    the vision.



In effect for over a decade, the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses has ‘open book finances.’ Each business actively shares all the financial information about the business with every employee. Everyone in the organization, not just the bosses and accountants, are responsible for the financial performance of the business. Each business has a weekly ‘huddle’ to discuss the finances and to find out if they are where they want to be and inline with their vision. Their weekly ‘huddles’ have proved to be very successful for the various Zingerman’s businesses, especially in late 2008 when the economy started to suffer. They were able to readjust with the changing economy.



The bottom line was another topic of Maurer’s presentation. Many businesses have one bottom line – there financial bottom line, which they hope to keep out of the red. At Zingerman’s, they have 3: finance, food and service. Maurer explained that if their food was great, but their service was bad then the financial bottom line would suffer. The key to Zingerman’s success is maximizing all three.

ZingTrain, one nine Zingerman’s businesses, “shares the “Zingerman’s Experience” with forward-thinking organizations from around the world.” ZingTrain has several seminars and training tools to help businesses from Fun, Flavorful Finance to Creating a Vision of Greatness.



Don’t miss the Zingerman’s member reception on Thursday, February 18 from 4pm – 6pm. There, you will be able to sample bread, pastries, coffee, cheese and candy where it’s made served by the folks who make it at Zingerman’s Bakehouse, Zingerman’s Creamery, Zingerman’s Coffee Company and Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory. Also, you’ll get the scoop on their unique brand of organizational training and development with ZingTrain. The first 50 chamber members will receive a gift bag with samples and valuable coupons.



Megan Crosbie
@A2Chamber