We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sri Divel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Sri thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?
The Culinary CMO started with a spark—a realization that restaurants, which pour their heart and soul into every dish, were struggling to tell their stories in a way that truly resonated with their audience. I had spent over two decades in the restaurant industry, living the grind, and I knew how marketing often became an afterthought for restaurant owners who were already stretched thin. That’s when the idea hit me: I could be the bridge between their passion and the audience they wanted to reach.
The vision always was: a marketing firm tailored specifically to the unique needs of restaurants, one that operated with the same heart and hustle that owners do. The first step was to define exactly what the Culinary CMO would offer. I wanted to ensure that my background as a classically trained chef, sommelier, and former owner/operator was at the forefront, so I set out to create a business that operated with an operator’s heart—understanding the late nights, the long hours, and the passion that restaurant owners live every day.
The last 10 years, I was the head of the departments sales & marketing, but it was really time to dig in and deliver the solutions for a collection of brands (fractional CMO many are calling it now). I immersed myself in what restaurant owners needed, spoke to my network & mentors, and developed a plan.
The first year was focused on proving the concept, securing clients, and delivering those impactful first 60 days that are now a hallmark of the Culinary CMO. We created transformative branding, increased sales, and amplified the voices of the restaurants we worked with. Along the way, we learned that the key to long-lasting success was building relationships based on trust, where clients could feel the relief of knowing their marketing was in good hands. And that’s how the Culinary CMO was born—out of a love for the industry and a deep desire to see restaurants thrive.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m the founder of the Culinary CMO, and my journey into this business started with a deep love for the restaurant industry. I’ve spent over 22 years in it—as a classically trained chef, a sommelier, and a former restaurant owner/operator. I’ve lived the late nights, the constant pressure, and the relentless passion it takes to run a successful restaurant. What I saw time and time again was that while restaurant owners are exceptional at their craft, marketing is often an afterthought. They’re too busy pouring their heart and soul into their food and service to focus on how to tell their story and attract more guests. That’s where I come in.
The Culinary CMO is a marketing agency specifically for the restaurant and food & beverage industry. We offer fractional CMO services, which means we provide the high-level marketing leadership of a Chief Marketing Officer but without the full-time financial commitment. We embed ourselves into the business, understand their needs, and develop tailored strategies to help them grow their brand, increase sales, and connect with their audience. Our approach is all about telling the restaurant’s story—authentically, passionately, and in a way that cuts through the noise.
What sets us apart is that we have an operator’s heart. We understand the grind because we’ve been there. We know what it takes just to open the doors every day and how hard it can be to think about marketing on top of that. We’re here to take that off their plate. With our help, restaurants are able to appear “on all platforms, all the time, consistently” without having to stress over the tedious tasks of marketing.
What I’m most proud of is the relationships we’ve built. We have been able to deliver powerful results—whether it’s a complete brand refresh, increased awareness, or an instant boost in sales. But more importantly, we aim to build long-lasting, trusting relationships. We want our clients to feel that relief, knowing that their story is being amplified, and that they’re in good hands.
The main thing I want people to know about the Culinary CMO is that we’re more than just marketers—we’re partners. We care deeply about the success of every client we work with, and we approach each project with the same passion and dedication as the owners themselves. We’re here to help restaurants not just survive but thrive, by helping them tell their story in a way that resonates and drives results.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy to grow our clientele at the Culinary CMO has been a combination of delivering fast, impactful results and building deep, long-lasting trust with our clients. From day one, we’ve focused on making a powerful impression —whether that’s through a complete brand refresh, significant sales increases, or elevating brand awareness across multiple platforms. These early wins help clients see the value we bring and give them confidence in our approach.
But it’s not just about the short-term gains. The real key to our growth has been fostering relationships built on trust. We immerse ourselves in the businesses we serve, acting as true partners rather than just an outside agency. Clients come to rely on us not only to execute effective marketing strategies but to understand their business inside and out. This trust allows us to grow alongside them, often leading to referrals and long-term partnerships that further expand our reach. By consistently delivering both results and trust, we’ve been able to create a strong reputation in the restaurant and food & beverage industry, which has been the cornerstone of our client growth.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
At the Culinary CMO, our growth strategy is deeply rooted in the philosophies I’ve admired throughout my career. One of the most influential books for me has been **Danny Meyer’s *Setting the Table***, where he emphasizes the importance of creating an exceptional customer experience. That’s a core value we carry into every client relationship. Like Meyer, we focus on what he calls “enlightened hospitality”—making sure that every interaction with our clients feels personal, thoughtful, and genuinely caring. This approach builds trust and long-lasting partnerships, which have been key to our growth.
We also apply the principles of **10X *** to our strategy. At Culinary CMO, we aim to deliver results that far exceed expectations. Whether it’s increasing brand visibility or driving sales, we bring a level of energy and commitment that amplifies our clients’ success in ways they didn’t think possible. That “10X” mindset has helped us grow quickly because clients not only see results—they see extraordinary results.
And at the heart of it all is my deep love for **Anthony Bourdain**. His raw, unfiltered passion for the restaurant industry and his respect for those who live the grind have always resonated with me. Like Bourdain, I’ve spent years in the trenches—working long hours in kitchens, pouring my heart into creating experiences for people. I carry that same passion into Culinary CMO, ensuring that every restaurant we partner with gets the same level of dedication.
Ultimately, it’s the combination of results-driven strategies from *10X*, building deep relationships inspired by *Setting the Table*, and the relentless love for the industry that I learned from Bourdain that has allowed us to grow. Clients see that we’re not just marketers—we’re people who understand the soul of the restaurant business and know how to amplify it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theculinarycmo.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theculinarycmo/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sri-divel-2717a4100/?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile_pic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCulinaryCMO
