Advocates. Advisors. Experts.
High-volume hospitality leaders trusted by the nation’s top brands and venues.Food Service Matters is the leading independent hospitality advisor to iconic sports and entertainment venues. Grounded in real-world operations and built for what’s next, we deliver straight, no-nonsense guidance, move fast, and consistently overdeliver results for owners and operators.
Strategy That Drives Success
There’s a clear reason Food Service Matters continues to grow year over year. We take a disruptive, straight shooting approach, challenging conventional thinking, digging deep into partner data, and aligning every strategy with the unique DNA of each brand. We bring insight, perspective, and fresh eyes to uncover opportunities others miss and turn them into measurable, real world results.
Our work is results driven and high impact, grounded in experience and executed with urgency. Today’s fans are food savvy, and expectations continue to rise. We help our partners stay ahead by creating strategies that are relevant, scalable, and built to perform.
We don’t deal in theory. We focus on what works.
Partnering To Create Perfection
We operate as true advocates and advisers, not traditional consultants, bringing a hands on, detail driven approach to every engagement. From big picture vision to operational execution, we go deep, optimizing systems, refining processes, and elevating the full food and beverage experience. Our work spans strategy, operations, design, financial modeling, technology, and sponsorship activation, always with a clear focus on performance and guest impact. We’ve kept great company, partnering with iconic venues and brands across sports, entertainment, and hospitality. More importantly, our clients become raving fans, because we bring high energy, responsiveness, and hustle to every project, delivering results that make a difference.Mike Plutino
Founder & CEO
Mike Plutino is the visionary behind hospitality industry disruptor Food Service Matters, making it his mission to introduce innovation, first class hospitality, products and service standards that elevate the dining experience and drive revenue in an ever- evolving market.
A straight shooter with the aptitude to assess the big picture and make it attainable, Mike acts as the owner’s and stakeholder representative responsible for delivering current, relevant, solution-based programming across all partners while applying operational excellence with creativity to positively impact the guest experience and drive food and beverage revenue.
With Food Service Matters, Mike has delivered the ultimate hospitality solution through introducing culinary trends, operating efficiencies and guest experience enhancements that drive innovation and top-line revenue for clients that include among many, the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium, the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, SMI Racing and NBA Champions Golden State Warriors to name a few.
An out of the box thinker, it doesn’t stop with sports venues, FSM’s roster includes successful relationships with Fox Theater and Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, as well as the Tennessee Performing Arts Center and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Center.
With Mike, you see what you get: an energetic leader with a lot of hustle, lightning-fast response times, and revenue-driven results – the perfect trifecta.
Jim Dalton
Principal & President
Jim brings a distinctive and vast array of food and beverage expertise to Food Service Matters. Jim is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, widely known as the gold standard of culinary schools. Throughout his extensive career, he has been a hands-on operator and award-winning chef with a discriminating palate and offers a meticulous eye for even the smallest of details.
Jim has had industry-leading roles in his 30+ year hospitality career, which included positions with Hyatt Hotels, Applebee’s International, LSG Sky Chef, Aramark, and Levy Restaurants. His leadership as Levy’s National Director of Concessions maximized revenue and generated operational standards and best practices, all while enhancing the guest experience. In Jim’s various operational roles, he has supported or directed some of the most prestigious and most significant events ranging from iconic venues such as Lambeau Field to Superbowl XL, the Kentucky Derby, World Series, multiple PGA golf events, US Open Tennis, the Indianapolis 500 and multiple NBA, NFL, and NASCAR Events.
With Food Service Matters, Jim has consulted with some of the biggest names in sports. He has assisted teams such as the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Memphis Grizzlies, Calgary Flames, and the Cleveland Browns. He has also guided Universities such as Alabama, Clemson, University of Florida, Notre Dame, University of Kansas, Mississippi State, Nebraska, and the University of Michigan.
His ability to provide relevant guidance, has led to unique opportunities providing food and beverage consultation and logistical support to destinations such as Vail Resorts, The Forge, Playland Amusement Park, and the Miami Open and Formula One Grand Prix.
With Jim, you get a highly analytical, logistical partner who brings a strong financial and culinary acumen that clients respect and appreciate.
GREG FENDER
Principal Consultant
Greg brings 30+ years of high-level leadership across the sports, entertainment, convention center, cultural attraction, and destination hospitality sectors. Known for exceptional operational execution and strategic clarity, he has held key executive roles with Fine Host Corporation, Boston Culinary Group, Centerplate, and Sodexo Live!.
Over the course of his career, Greg has overseen hundreds of venues and managed annual food & beverage revenue volumes reaching $550 million. His experience spans some of the largest and most prestigious accounts in North America, including major stadiums, arenas, convention centers, cultural attractions, university athletics programs, performing arts venues, and ski resorts.
Expert in premium hospitality, culinary strategy, guest experience design, and large-event operations.
Trusted advisor known for integrity, candor, and results-driven focus.
With Greg, clients gain a seasoned executive who brings structure, insight, operational excellence, and a relentless commitment to elevating the guest experience and financial performance
Let’s get Down to Business
Let’s connect, start the conversation, and explore how we can bring fresh eyes, real insight, and industry leading perspective to your operation.