Aidan Wee
F&B Professional & Entrepreneur
Summary
Accomplished Food & Beverage professional with extensive experience founding and growing successful restaurants across fast casual, mid-luxury, and upscale fine dining segments. Proven ability to drive business growth and navigate industry challenges with resourcefulness and innovation.
Known for a self-driven approach to problem-solving and continuous professional development. Dedicated to fostering a positive work environment through mutual respect, which has led to the development of a loyal, high-performing team and lasting friendships.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Founder & General Manager
Kuro Kare
01.2023 - Current
- Single-handedly built from scratch, including hiring, menu design, brand identity & project coordination
- Developed the launch menu, notably the guarded “36-hour Slow-Cooked Japanese Curry” cooking process
- Conducted feasibility studies to select locations with a good balance of footfall, low rent & lease longevity
- Won tenders at major institutions SMU & NUS, passing multiple rounds of interviews & food tasting, beating numerous established competitors
- Created new revenue streams such as Corporate Catering (Avanda, Blackrock, SGPools), Online Delivery, Corporate Partnerships (NTUC, SAM, UAS, Lazada One) & private dinners/home catering
- Evaluated industry competition regularly to maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
- Ran successful promotional campaigns to drive revenue while maintaining food costs
- Maintained good relationships with landlords to successfully revise rental rates
- Negotiated contracts with suppliers for better pricing and terms, reducing overall costs for the business
Management Trainee
Naked Finn
05.2022 - 11.2022
- Co-managed the operations across Naked Finn, Magic Square, Burger Labo & 2280
- Shadowed F&B veteran Ken Loon who taught invaluable insights about brand positioning, longevity, telling a story & creating lasting concepts
- Learned intangible HR management lessons that built their 80% staff retention rate
- Overhauled the beverage program at Naked Finn & Burger Labo & introduced “accessible premium” Wines which increased beverage spending by 30% - 35%
- Conducted Sommelier classes which equipped the team with basic wine knowledge & upselling skills
- Drove revenue by creating a new base of regulars from connections made during Fleurette
Founder & General Manager
Fleurette Restaurant
12.2019 - 01.2022
- Achieved over SGD 1M revenue in less than 10 months of operation with a 23-25% profit margin in an industry where the average is -6%
- Solely drove the beverage program which generated SGD 450K revenue
- Negotiated contracts with suppliers for better pricing and terms, reducing overall costs for the business.
- Solely managed social media & a customer base of 130 regulars to ensure a full-house since opening day
- Managed a team of 7 across FOH & BOH
- Regularly featured in the Straits Times for my input on the F&B industry
- Correctly foresaw that borders opening up would adversely impact the local dining industry & exited with a 175% return on my stake
Education
Bachelor of Business Management - Double Major in Marketing and Analytics
Singapore Management University (SMU)
08.2015 - 12.2019
Skills
Business Management & Planning
Revenue Generation
Restaurant Design
Menu Design
Beverage Programming
Staff Training
Business Development/CRM
Negotiation
Digital Marketing
Adobe Illustrator/Capcut
Featured Articles
- https://www.straitstimes.com/life/food/singaporean-chefs-making-their-mark-in-newly-opened-restaurants
- https://www.straitstimes.com/life/food/restaurants-v-covid-19-the-fight-for-survival-in-singapores-fb-scene
- https://www.straitstimes.com/life/food/many-new-fine-dining-restaurants-all-booked-up-till-next-year
- https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/restaurateurs-say-new-two-per-table-rule-is-better-than-nothing
- https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/consumer/fb-operators-fear-falling-into-a-deeper-hole-with-new-restrictions-on-dining-in
- https://sethlui.com/fleurette-singapore/, https://sethlui.com/kuro-kare-singapore/
- https://eatbook.sg/kuro-kare/, https://eatbook.sg/cheap-japanese-food/
- https://www.8days.sg/eatanddrink/newsandreviews/fine-dining-chef-serve-singapores-best-japanese-curry-990-kuro-kare-smu-813331
- https://www.lifestyleasia.com/sg/dining/food/best-japanese-curry-places-singapore-for-your-next-cravings/
- https://www.indulgentism.com/food-reviews/kuro-kare/
Timeline
Founder & General Manager
Kuro Kare
01.2023 - Current
Management Trainee
Naked Finn
05.2022 - 11.2022
Founder & General Manager
Fleurette Restaurant
12.2019 - 01.2022
Bachelor of Business Management - Double Major in Marketing and Analytics
Singapore Management University (SMU)
08.2015 - 12.2019
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