Marcin Kulak, originally from Poland, is an experienced FOH professional. He began his hospitality journey in 2000 as a section waiter in Poland, then moved to London, where he spent ten years as a General Manager. In 2015, Marcin settled in Auckland with his wife and two sons. He joined Mekong Baby in 2018 as a Duty Manager and became co-owner within a year, alongside his wife and business partner Jackie.

In this episode, Marcin talks about what it really takes to succeed in the restaurant industry. He shares why treating your venue as a business and delivering excellent service are the foundations of long-term success. Marcin highlights the value of a happy and well-trained team and the power of consistency. He explains how staying true to your menus, prices and operations has shaped his own success, rather than chasing trends. Marcin also reflects on the challenges of the pandemic and why having a financial buffer is essential.

The Restaurant Association is the link between good food and good business. It supports New Zealand's diverse and creative hospitality businesses to deliver first-class experiences to diners. Since its humble beginnings in 1972, it has worked to offer advice, help and assistance in every facet of the vibrant and diverse hospitality industry. The organisation now represents, advocates and cheerleads for more than 2500 hospitality businesses within New Zealand. It offers advice and assistance on key industry issues, from property lease advice to wellness in the workplace. The Association also provides its members with industry-wide accreditation programmes, which set best practice standards and help them measure how they're tracking. It also works in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development to deliver the Hospostart and Springboard training programmes.