Pros
CSSI is a young company that has a very unique business model and tons of potential. The relationship between the culinary and marketing teams is truly collaborative and CSSI has been very successful in providing sound, strategic thinking to some of the leading national foodservice brands. The staff consists of young, energetic, knowledgeable chefs and seasoned account people that are willing to work hard and provide excellent results for their clients. It’s truly a joy to work with all the talented people at CSSI. The founder has an abundance of passion and vision for the business, which is evident in the fact that he works along with his team day in and day out to provide the best outcome for his clients. CSSI has quadrupled in size over the last 4 years – a testament to the staff’s hard work, strong industry relationships and great results they attain for their clients. Consequently, employees have had the opportunity to play many roles and take part in a variety of aspects of the business allowing them to have a significant impact on how the company is evolving. This is not something that you experience working for a large agency. The work environment is very laid back. Employees are encouraged to leave their desks and work at conference room tables and in the “town hall” where there are couches to relax on. This freedom not only enables collaboration, it also builds strong friendships between all team members. You will never get bored with the work load. The food business is fun, challenging and ever changing.
Cons
Due to its rapid growth, CSSI has experienced many growing pains. With rapid growth comes rapid hiring and when that happens you need to hire people that know the business and can jump in and make an immediate difference. Until recently, that has not been the case. There have been many people promoted to or hired for positions that they were not qualified for. Subsequently, this led to a sense of disorganization and lack of leadership when it was needed most.