PLANTBUN
Advisor and Work for Equity investor
Duration: 2024 (6-Month Strategic Exit)
PlantBun is an innovative plant-based fast-food concept. Originally operating with just two micro-locations (open kitchens) in Turin and Asti, the founders required operational discipline to scale the business and attract institutional capital.
Operating as a Strategic Advisor and Equity Partner ("work for equity"), Michele Ardoni focused his mandate on rapidly restructuring the brand’s supply chain and unit economics to make the format highly competitive and attractive to investors.
Strategic Execution Within an accelerated two-month timeframe, Michele Ardoni overhauled the operational framework and established the foundation for a scalable QSR chain.
Cost & Supply Chain Optimization He successfully reduced the overall food cost by 10 percentage points. He industrialized the menu by negotiating and signing national supply agreements with key producers of semi-finished plant-based products (such as vegan meats) and international beverage corporations.
Digital & Delivery Infrastructure He secured chain-level framework agreements with major food delivery platforms, immediately boosting the brand's volume, operational margins, and market visibility.
Result & Impact This aggressive restructuring made PlantBun highly appealing to capital markets. By the sixth month of his mandate, a new investor acquired the majority stake of the chain, funding the opening of a flagship location in a major Turin shopping center and taking over direct operations for autonomous development. Having successfully completed the scaling phase and secured the brand's future, Michele Ardoni executed a rapid and highly profitable strategic exit.
Visit WebsitePlantBun is an innovative plant-based fast-food concept. Originally operating with just two micro-locations (open kitchens) in Turin and Asti, the founders required operational discipline to scale the business and attract institutional capital.
Operating as a Strategic Advisor and Equity Partner ("work for equity"), Michele Ardoni focused his mandate on rapidly restructuring the brand’s supply chain and unit economics to make the format highly competitive and attractive to investors.
Strategic Execution Within an accelerated two-month timeframe, Michele Ardoni overhauled the operational framework and established the foundation for a scalable QSR chain.
Cost & Supply Chain Optimization He successfully reduced the overall food cost by 10 percentage points. He industrialized the menu by negotiating and signing national supply agreements with key producers of semi-finished plant-based products (such as vegan meats) and international beverage corporations.
Digital & Delivery Infrastructure He secured chain-level framework agreements with major food delivery platforms, immediately boosting the brand's volume, operational margins, and market visibility.
Result & Impact This aggressive restructuring made PlantBun highly appealing to capital markets. By the sixth month of his mandate, a new investor acquired the majority stake of the chain, funding the opening of a flagship location in a major Turin shopping center and taking over direct operations for autonomous development. Having successfully completed the scaling phase and secured the brand's future, Michele Ardoni executed a rapid and highly profitable strategic exit.