Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Reardon.
Hi Ben, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Growing up, I was never really interested in sports or anything like that. I would spend my free time at home watching various cooking shows. Whenever I visited with my grandparents, I would be in the kitchen helping cook different dishes. I just loved being hands-on.
Fast forward to my senior year of high school, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do after graduation. There was a vocational school program at Grayson Tech. They provided a bunch of different class opportunities ranging from film and IT all the way to culinary arts. I decided to do culinary arts because at the time it was the only thing of interest to me. Ended up taking the class, then two months in my teacher pulled me aside and stated that I should potentially think about doing this as a career. The rest is kind of history after that.
After graduation, I moved to North Carolina to attend college. While attending school I, started working at a local catering company within the city limits. After four years I obtained a Bachelor in Foodservice Restaurant Management, Associates in Culinary Arts, Minor in Beverage Management, and a Minor in Psychology. Although I did learn a lot in school, the true knowledge I gained was through experience while working full time while attending school. I worked at a local catering company 70-80 hours a week while going to school full-time. It was insane, but the amount of experience I gained in such a short amount of time was unparalleled.
After becoming Executive Sous Chef at the same catering company, I ended up starting my own company in 2021. First, it was just going to be selling hot sauce that I made myself. But slowly over time, people started inquiring about different food-related services.
I have worked in various places ranging from cafes, fine dining, country clubs, catering, etc. My favorite and also an area of expertise is private events. I love the more intimate events where I get to act as the coordinator and also the chef. It is such a great experience being able to communicate with the client and figure out their exact needs for the event.
In February of 2023, I ended up moving back to Georgia to be closer to family. But ultimately, I wanted to focus on my business 100%.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Some obstacles I have run into have been on a personal level. Having to miss a lot of events with family because I have been working a schedule I didn’t have control over.
As In the hospitality industry, you really have to love what you are doing. Which ultimately is serving other people. You work when everyone else is off and are off when everyone else is working. It is unavoidable but just comes with the work we do. I would say that is one of the hardest parts people in this industry have to deal with.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I own my own food service company that specializes in various retail products but also provides an array of different services. I love doing private events, meal preparation, menu planning, and also consulting. I think what sets me apart from a lot of people is my range of experience. I have seen my different areas of this industry and understand how to adapt based on the environment.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
It is important to make sure you have various revenue streams. You never know what can happen. Try to be as self-sufficient as possible.
A way to do this is having the willingness to work. In down times you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to make ends meet. You never know what kind of opportunity can arise from any situation.
Contact Info:
- Website: bennythings.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/bennybiscuits
- Facebook: facebook.com/BennyThingsLLC
