Success in the catering industry used to be about food and service, but today’s hosts have infinite sources to inspire their location and theme as well. Consequently, Butler’s Pantry now caters in more than 60 venues, and it recently added daily meals to its repertoire, becoming the exclusive food service provider for The Augustine Institute. Despite the ongoing challenges posed by rising costs, Richard Nix continues to grow his parents’ startup into a hospitality powerhouse: Butler’s Pantry is looking to expand its hub of operations for the third time in its 59-year history.
PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
What has been your or your company’s most significant success over the last 12 months? We are excited to announce that we have become the exclusive food service provider (and caterer) for The Augustine Institute. This marks a new venture for us, allowing us to apply our expertise in a bit of a different business model. Providing quality, inspired daily food service presents a path for smart growth for us, which is well-aligned with our long-term strategic plans.
What has you most excited about the future of your company or industry? Our company’s growth, which includes looking for a new larger HQ and our industry’s creative nature when it comes to designing and planning over the top events for our clients.
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why? Having to work when other people are at play or on holiday.
What’s the toughest business challenge you’ve had to overcome (excluding the pandemic) and why? Higher wages, Higher interest rates, Higher cost of goods, Inflation in general
MENTORS & PEERS
To whom or where do you go for sound business advice? I try to include our leadership group in all business decisions but when it comes to advice I lean on my wife, close friends and our relationship with our bank. Additionally, our company and leaders are members of Elite Catering and Event Professionals (ECEP), a group of large and small caterers/hospitality professionals throughout North America whom share best practices monthly with a yearly summit held in a unique location.
Do you have a business mentor? If so, who and why? Too many to mention but always looking for inspiring stories of success and failure. As I grow older, I try to listen to the ideas/advice of those younger than me. There is definitely a recipe that includes new and old ideas to ensure your company remains a leader and stays relevant.
What piece of advice has had the most significant impact on your career? “Provide what is promised and deliver more than expected.”
If you could have dinner with any two area business leaders, who would you choose and why?
- Andy Taylor: He and his father and family have grown their business to extraordinary heights, all while maintaining a focus on improving their employees lives and making St. Louis a better place to live for all.
- Mayor Jones: As an elected official, she really should be considered the chief business leader in our region. Without the support of our business community all working on the same agenda led by her, our city is dead. Forest Park and Forest Park Forever is a shining example of how successful a business/government collaboration works for our citizens.
Who is the most interesting under-the-radar/emerging business leader in St. Louis and why? I’m inspired by movements more than focused on a single individual. Danforth Center (Ag Innovation), Cortex Innovation, Taylor Geospatial, Gateway South (Construction Innovation), Park Central Development (Building Better Neighborhoods) just to name a few of our great prospects. Let’s not overlook our Urban League of Saint Louis which is recognized as one of the best in the country, mobilized to provide a hand up not a hand out to those neighborhoods left behind by lack of exposure and opportunities. Finally, I’m very proud of the emerging leaders in our restaurant and culinary sectors. They are certainly putting Saint Louis on the map for their ingenuity, imagination and originality.
What is one thing you would change about the St. Louis metro area business environment and why? Easy: a unified city/county government would immediately change the trajectory of our area business’s. No business in the world would be run like our city and county government. Redundancy, regulations, rivalries will always keep our region constrained. Greater St. Louis, Inc., is definitely a huge step in the right direction.
BACKGROUND
Where were you born? St. Louis, in the old St. Luke’s on Delmar, which is now the Delmar Divine.
What was your childhood aspiration? Growing up at Our Lady of Lourdes, my second-grade teacher told me I could be the first Pope from North America. Soon after the second grade, I realized my hockey talents prevented me from the NHL and was truly suited for hospitality.
What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? Bought a Jeep when I was 16, and my dad quickly put me to work at the Old Arena Club working at the Goaltenders Room. It was there that whether the Blues won or lost, foodservice could be entertaining and fun!
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
If you were not in your current profession, what would you be doing and why? Always enjoyed real-estate both commercial and residential.  Not sure if I would be an active investor, developer or agent but always drawn to the real-estate sections of any newspaper or magazine.
What is your favorite St. Louis-area restaurant, and what do you typically order there? Truffles, there menu is so diverse I always find something different, delicious & approachable!
What is one item you recently crossed off your bucket list? The Greek Islands and we really want to go back with the entire family!
What is one book you think everyone should read (or podcast everyone should listen to) and why? Anything on United States presidents, especially Abe Lincoln and World War II. Our 16th president led with conviction knowing that a majority of citizens were wrong in their beliefs. Hard to imagine the world today had the U.S. not entered the war. Particularly, intrigued by the speed in which our private sector went from domestic production to war production. Again, displaying that government cannot exist without partnerships from businesses small and large.
What’s your hobby/passion? Gardening, traveling, squash, and ice skating
What is your most prized possession? I was once told by a wealthy client that it is one’s responsibility to steward possessions for another generation’s enjoyment.
What would people be surprised to learn about you—a fun fact? Went to Mass with Mother Teresa of Calcutta
What is your go-to karaoke song? Toby Keith’s “I Wanna Talk About Me”
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