Our mission is to strengthen our collective connection with food. Connecting people, our community, and hospitality businesses through innovative practices designed specifically for the hospitality industry.
Over the years, we’ve played a critical role in building successful venues that stand above the competition. We work with the best professionals, owners and groups around Australia, helping their business to reach its full potential across the following aspects of their business.
-Business Strategy & Analysis
-Recruitment and People Analysis
-Hospitality Tech Stack Analysis
-Onboarding and Coaching with 42 Days
Brands we have assisted recently
This is a showcase of our product development menu tasting for Harvest Hotels in 2023.
Thanks to our friends at Smithburg South Melbourne for allowing us to use their space, and to Dehne, Ash and Ethan for assisting us to execute a great result for our client
Our Team
Bruna Kao - Hospitality Operations and Marketing Consultant
As a seasoned chef, food business owner, and cooking teacher, Bruna has honed her culinary skills and business acumen through years of hands-on experience. With a passion for food and a keen eye for detail, she brings a unique perspective to every project she takes on.
As a social media and content creator, Bruna is adept at crafting engaging and informative content that resonates with her audience. With a deep understanding of social media trends and best practices, she knows how to leverage these platforms to build a strong brand and connect with her followers.
Shaun de Vries - Founder and Chief Hospitality Strategist
With a focus on organisation improvement and industry insights, Shaun and his team help businesses thrive in the highly competitive hospitality industry.
As a former venue owner, Shaun understands the effort and experience required to create a profitable and enjoyable hospitality venture. His expertise has allowed Open Pantry Consulting to quickly apply its organisation improvement model, ensuring high-quality execution and operation of any food and beverage brand.
With Shaun's leadership, Open Pantry Consulting is committed to supporting the hospitality industry by providing a platform for Australia's hospitality leaders to voice their ideas and experiences.
Dianne Mangaliman - Financial and Hospitality Technology Analyst
Dianne has a strong background in banking and cloud-based technology, which she leverages to provide valuable insights and recommendations for the hospitality industry. She specialises in developing and implementing innovative technology solutions that improve the guest experience, increase operational efficiency, and drive revenue growth.
As a data-driven analyst, Dianne has a keen eye for identifying trends and patterns in data to provide valuable insights to her clients. She stays up-to-date with the latest trends and innovations in hospitality technology and is committed to being a trusted advisor to her clients.
Recruitment Services
Our vision is to be the leading provider of high-quality hospitality recruitment services that connect exceptional talent with top employers in the industry.
Our mission is to support hospitality businesses in finding the best talent for their needs and to support hospitality professionals find the best opportunities for their careers.
We are committed to providing personalised and efficient recruitment services that deliver value to both employers and job seekers.
These statements reflect our dedication to providing top-notch recruitment services that create win-win situations for both our clients and the candidates we work with. By prioritisng the needs of both parties and providing exceptional service, we aim to establish ourselves as a trusted and respected player in the hospitality recruitment industry.
Our History
Founded in 2016 - Open Pantry Co. began offering its consulting services to its network across Melbourne’s thriving hospitality industry. Shaun played an active role in leading several Open Pantry Co’s projects.
In 2019 - Shaun invested much of his time building a network and active community of hospitality leaders who are leading the movement towards more creative, agile and innovative hospitality businesses. Open Pantry Co. grew its team of partners and trusted suppliers who continue to invest their energy into multiple key industry segments such as food chains, bakeries, cafe’s restaurants and bars.
In 2024 & Beyond - Open Pantry Co. has a team of proven experts working together to help businesses from all over Australia. Open Pantry Co. continues to provide strategic direction, system and process organisation and many other levels of support for some of the best operators in Melbourne. The team has recently started another initiative called 42 Days which focuses on developing bespoke onboarding and training systems for venues and brands.
Our Values
We work with heart and balance - Open Pantry Co. primary aim is to do what’s right for people and their business. We help to drive growth for people and businesses that are in transition. We’re also not afraid to roll our sleeves up to give our clients and our projects the attention they deserve.
We’re always open, there’s no bull - We always treat each other, our work and our community with honesty and compassion. We’re always creating opportunities to be authentic, transparent and collaborative which creates an environment where everyone has the opportunity to be heard and understood.
Be the change you seek - We are always driving towards a vision, connecting the dots between strategy, research and organisation. From founders, employees, to customers: organisational success creates a waterfall effect that impacts an entire business. This creates a positive collective experience for all involved. Continuous improvement is a shared responsibility. Action is an independent one.