Hospitality Consulting — F&B Strategy

Operational strategy for ventures that cannot afford to get it wrong.

Zaatar Citrus works with hotel groups, developers, and institutional operators across the full arc of a hospitality project — from concept architecture to performance optimization.

Fine dining restaurant
20+
Years sector experience
3
Practice areas
AI
Proprietary waste tech
The Operating Environment

The F&B sector operates at the intersection of high ambition and unforgiving margins.


New hospitality concepts face mounting pressure from all directions: rising input costs, increasingly demanding institutional investors, compressed post-opening timelines, and a market where differentiation has become structurally harder to sustain.

At the same time, the operational complexity of launching or repositioning a food and beverage concept has increased substantially. Brand architecture, supply chain logic, regulatory compliance, staff competency frameworks — these are no longer secondary concerns. They determine viability.

Zaatar Citrus was built to operate in this environment. We work with clients who understand that the margin for error is narrow and that the quality of their advisory relationship is a strategic variable.

60%
Restaurant failure rate, first year
The majority of new F&B ventures do not survive their first year of operation. Strategic advisory at concept stage reduces this risk materially.
30%
Average food waste by volume
Unmanaged food waste represents one of the most significant hidden cost centres in F&B operations — and a growing compliance and reputational liability.
Cost of post-opening correction
Operational and brand interventions executed after opening cost three to five times more than those addressed during the planning phase.
Fine dining table

"Every successful concept begins where strategic rigour meets operational precision."

What We Do

Three practice areas. One integrated mandate.

Our engagements span the full lifecycle of a hospitality venture — concept development, operational execution, and ongoing performance. Often across all three simultaneously, because in practice they are not separable.

01

Concept & Brand Development

We define what a concept is, what it stands for, and why it will hold in a specific market. Strategic architecture work, not creative direction.

  • Brand architecture & positioning strategy
  • Value proposition & market fit analysis
  • Concept creation, refinement & differentiation
  • Identity strategy & naming frameworks
02

Operational Strategy & Launch

We manage the operational complexity of new openings and repositioning projects — from venue selection through to first-service readiness.

  • New hotel, restaurant & bar launch management
  • Beverage program design: cocktail, wine & beer
  • Venue selection, layout & operational flow
  • Vendor & supply chain structuring
03

Performance & Optimization

For operating businesses, we identify where value is being lost and build the systems and competencies to recover it sustainably.

  • Operational audits & efficiency analysis
  • Cost structure review & reduction frameworks
  • Staff training & standards implementation
  • Sustainability integration & ESG reporting
Fine dining table setup
Concept Development
Cocktail preparation and beverage programs
Beverage Programs
Kitchen operations - chef reviewing
Kitchen Operations
Operational strategy - restaurant service
Operational Strategy
Brand standards - restaurant exterior
Brand Standards
Proprietary Capability
Technology Platform

Waste Wise

AI-powered food waste analysis for F&B operations.

Waste Wise is a proprietary technology platform developed within Zaatar Citrus that uses artificial intelligence and advanced data analysis to identify waste patterns across the food and beverage supply chain.

Unlike generic sustainability consultancy, Waste Wise generates precise, facility-level intelligence — enabling operators to make targeted interventions that produce measurable cost and compliance outcomes.


Request a technical briefing →
01
Cost Reduction
Identification of the highest-impact waste categories by volume, value and frequency. Prioritized intervention roadmap with projected savings.
02
Operational Efficiency
Process-level analysis of where waste originates — procurement, preparation, service or disposal — enabling targeted operational corrections.
03
Compliance & ESG Reporting
Structured data outputs compatible with sustainability reporting frameworks. Supports regulatory compliance and institutional investor ESG requirements.
The Firm

Senior practitioners. No intermediaries.

Zaatar Citrus is a hospitality consulting firm specialising in food and beverage strategy, brand development, and operational performance. We work with developers, hotel groups, and institutional operators across the full project lifecycle.

Our engagements are led by senior practitioners with direct sector experience. We do not delegate client work to junior teams. When you engage Zaatar Citrus, you work with the people you meet.

ES
Eric Sinnig
Chief Executive Officer

Over two decades of experience across hotel operations, F&B concept development, and brand strategy in European and Latin American markets. Led openings and repositioning mandates for independent operators and institutional hotel groups. Founded Zaatar Citrus to bring senior advisory capability to clients operating in complex hospitality environments.

CB
Cecilia Banderas
Administrative Director

Responsible for operational governance, client engagement management, and internal process architecture. Ensures every mandate is executed with the rigour and accountability that institutional clients require. Background in hospitality operations and business administration.

EB
Ernesto Barrueta
Co-founder, Waste Wise

Co-developed the Waste Wise platform, bringing expertise in data analysis, supply chain systems, and sustainable operations to the firm's technology practice. Leads technical assessments and AI-driven waste analysis engagements across F&B clients.

Partner Network

A curated network of sector specialists and suppliers.

Zaatar Citrus maintains preferred relationships with a select group of suppliers, technology providers, and specialist operators. These partnerships extend what we are able to offer clients — particularly in sourcing, equipment, and specialist training.

Luxury bar interior — Our Approach
Our Approach

We engage at the point where complexity is highest.

The decisions that determine whether a hospitality concept succeeds or fails are made before doors open — in the planning, structuring, and positioning phase. That is where we add the most value, and where we focus our work.

Start a conversation
Start a Conversation

If you are working through a challenge in the F&B or hospitality space, we are worth a conversation.



We engage with developers, hotel groups, institutional operators, and private investors. Mandates range from discrete strategic reviews to full-lifecycle project advisory.

Lead contact Eric Sinnig in ↗
Coverage Spain · Latin America · International
Languages Spanish, English, French