Through their ten-year tenure in the dining industry, Crystal and David Sison had yet to face a challenge as unpredictable or relentless as the COVID-19 pandemic. The owners of the ever-growing Mama Lou’s empire reflect on the growth of their brand and illuminate how they’ve persisted to come out on top.
Mama Lou’s Italian Kitchen - or simply and lovingly, Mama Lou’s - has been an institution of comfort for over a decade. In anticipation of this interview, members of the Tatler team exchanged fond memories of and favourite dishes from the beloved establishment, gushing about their vongole olio, indulgent lasagna, and many more. Although the pandemic’s obstructive consequences continue to plague the industry, Mama Lou’s admirably manages to maintain their momentum, sustaining their restaurants while expanding their brand across different platforms.
Recently, Mama Lou’s pivoted towards and emphasised their online presence: from improving their website, to launching their hotline, and further integrating social media platforms into their marketing and operations efforts. Simultaneously, Mama Lou’s continued to support their team through ongoing in-house leadership workshops and transitioning the roles of restaurant servers and cashiers to delivery riders, ensuring continued employment. The chain also streamlined its menu and professionalised its commissary (which now holds 90 per cent of its restaurant offerings), allowing the company to centralise their operations and combat economic challenges while preserving the consistency and quality of its food.
We spoke to Crystal T. Sison, Mama Lou’s managing director, and David P. Sison, the company’s president and CEO, to learn more about their latest experiences running their restaurants. As they divulge their insights into the future of the hospitality industry and recount the strategies they implemented to face the pandemic, Crystal and David demonstrate that business know-how and innovative foresight underpin the success story that is Mama Lou’s - a welcoming comfort food empire from humble beginnings.
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