What it takes to run over 200 restaurants: Lessons in leadership from The Bistro Group President Jean Paul Manuud

Few people have mastered this balance, and one of them is Jean Paul Manuud, president of The Bistro Group, which runs one of the largest collections of F&B brands in the Philippines. It’s company that has brought in TGI Fridays, Texas Roadhouse, Olive Garden, Hard Rock Café and Denny’s to the Philippines, alongside homegrown concepts like Las Flores, The Test Kitchen 9780, Helm and many more. With over 200 restaurant branches under his leadership, Manuud is crucial to this thriving empire.

But what truly sets him apart isn’t just the scale of his success—it’s his people-first approach, adaptability, and emphasis on consistency, all of which have become the cornerstones of his leadership.

Put people first

Manuud’s leadership philosophy is built on a principle that sounds simple but is rare in practice: humility.

“We at The Bistro Group strive to be the best in everything we do, but we also always look at ourselves as the underdog,” he shares. This mindset fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement, ensuring that the company never becomes complacent.

His humility is most evident in the way he treats his employees—not as subordinates but as “partners and teammates.” He says: “Take care of the people first, and they will take care of the customers.” he says.

Above Jean Paul Manuud helms The Bistro Group, the company behind over 200 branches of international and homegrown concept stores in the Philippines (Photo: The Bistro Group)

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