How Evergreens Increased Labor Efficiency by 2% and Sales Per Labor Hour by 10%
Evergreens, an 18-location salad chain, increased labor efficiency by 2% and Sales Per Labor Hour by 10% while seeing significant YOY sales comps after implementing Rightwork's labor optimization software and team management tools.
Overview
Evergreens, a fast casual salad chain with 14 locations across the Pacific Northwest, is known for serving delicious, healthy salads, wraps and bowls with top-notch customer service. Their fresh, made-to-order approach and commitment to quality have earned them a loyal customer base and steady growth over the years.
Shifting traffic patterns as well as seasonal changes made it more difficult for General Managers to plan their labor to meet the needs of customers. Leadership recognized the need for a modern labor management solution that could provide more accurate forecasts and reporting to ensure Evergreens could meet its high service standards.
After hearing about Rightwork’s proven track record with other restaurant brands, Evergreens decided to partner with us to tackle these challenges head on.
"In a time when operating costs continue to rise, the efficiency we have gained through Rightwork has been a real advantage. Our improved labor efficiency have strengthened our contribution margin without sacrificing service quality.
The fact that our customer satisfaction scores remain among the highest we’ve seen speaks volumes about how well the tool supports both our teams and our guests.”
Challenges Evergreens Was Experiencing
- Limited visibility. Leadership lacked clear, actionable insight into how each location was performing on key labor and sales metrics.
- Staffing inefficiencies. Managers were often left to guess at scheduling needs, resulting in overstaffing during slow periods and understaffing during busy peaks.
- Disconnected communication tools. Team members and managers lacked a streamlined way to collaborate on scheduling, shift swaps, and day-to-day operations on mobile.
Solutions Provided by Rightwork
- Location performance visibility. Leadership now has access to detailed performance reports, making it easy to spot opportunities and address staffing challenges before they impact guests.
- Manager scheduling guidance. Rightwork provides staffing targets and labor budget guidance based on forecasted sales, helping managers confidently schedule the right people at the right times.
- Mobile-first team collaboration. Our intuitive mobile app gives team members an easy way to swap shifts, communicate, and stay informed, reducing last-minute call-outs and scheduling headaches.
Results
Comparing this year to last year for both Labor Efficiency and Sales Per Labor Hour:
- Labor Efficiency: +2%
- Sales Per Labor Hour comps: +10%
- Significant YOY sales comps
That means Evergreens has been able to grow revenue while increasing productivity since rolling out Rightwork, a win-win for both the bottom line and operational efficiency.