2008-01-02 - Business in Vancouver
Top 40 under 40: Andrew Latchford
COO, Cactus Club Restaurants Ltd., and owner, Cactus Club Cafe, Kelowna
* ARTICLE REPRINTED FROM BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER *
Age: 33
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“One of the problems in the restaurant business is that it is one of those career paths that mom and dad never support”
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In what began as a job waiting tables during his university days, Andrew Latchford has seen his career soar in the B.C. restaurant industry.
“One of the problems in the restaurant business is that it is one of those career paths that mom and dad never support. Even my friends used to tease me about busing tables while they were out getting ‘real’ jobs,” said Latchford, who opened his own Cactus Club franchise in Kelowna in 2005.
But for Latchford that didn’t matter.
He was having fun, making good money and, more importantly, was learning the ins and outs of the industry. Add to that an increasing awareness of the earning potential and opportunities to grow within the organization, and Latchford decided to see where Cactus Club could take him after graduating from the University of British Columbia with a bachelor of arts.
“Every year I worked at Cactus, the scope of my job and my income have gone up exponentially. It’s really easy to stick around when you’ve got that going on.”
Surrounding himself with good people and determining what gives him the best return on his time, and avoiding getting bogged down in operational minutiae, have proven to be a winning formula for Latchford and Cactus Club. The restaurant chain is forecasting annual sales of $100 million for 2008 and has won numerous provincial workplace awards.
Latchford remains engaged with the community through his membership in the Young Entrepreneurs’ Organization and as a Vancouver Board of Trade member. He has also been a key advocate for Cactus Club’s charitable endeavours. Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan also recognized him for his part in helping save a woman who was pinned under a large old growth log as the tide came in on a beach near Tofino. “It’s anything that any normal citizen would have done. Even though we got a lot of publicity about that, it wasn’t as big a deal as it sounds.”
He has been instrumental in rolling out Cactus Club’s latest concept, Shelter, originally based in Tofino. Latchford said development of new restaurant concepts, including a more premium, upscale dining experience, would play an ongoing role in the chain’s growth strategy. “If we are involved with it, we would like it to be seen in that light.”
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Profession you would most like to try: Musician in a rock band
Favourite movie: Almost Famous
Favourite local restaurant: Cactus Club Cafe
Mentor: Richard Jaffray, Barry Johnson and my mom and dad
Currently reading: Death by Meeting: A Leadership Fable...About Solving the Most Painful Problem in Business – Patrick M. Lencioni and Mastering the Rockefeller Habits: What You Must Do to Increase the Value of Your Growing Firm – Verne Harnish
Toughest business or professional decision: Committing to build my first franchise
Car or chosen mode of transport: Surfboard
Person (living) you would most like to meet: Richard Branson
Birthplace: Vancouver
Where do you live now: Kitsilano
Last CD bought or music downloaded: Audio book of The Speed of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything by Stephen M.R. Covey, Rebecca R. Merrill and Stephen R. Covey
Highest level of education: Bachelor’s degree from UBC
What’s left to do: Expand Cactus Club until we are the No. 1 casual fine dining concept in North America and are continually recognized as a top employer