Building a scalable fast-casual restaurant brand with digital strategy - BC-955

Project type: Innovation
Desired discipline(s): Business, Social Sciences & Humanities, Hospitality and tourism, Journalism / Media studies and communication
Company: Protein Lounge Inc.
Project Length: 6 months to 1 year
Preferred start date: As soon as possible.
Language requirement: English
Location(s): Mission, BC, Canada
No. of positions: 2-3
Desired education level: Master's
Open to applicants registered at an institution outside of Canada: No

About the company: 

Protein Lounge is a soon-to-open fast-casual restaurant based in Mission, BC, focused on delivering healthy, protein-packed meals with the speed and convenience of traditional fast food. Our goal is to transform the perception of fast food by offering nutrient-dense bowls, wraps, smoothies, and burgers using fresh, whole ingredients. As a brand rooted in wellness and convenience, we are committed to redefining the healthy dining experience through strong digital systems, effective local marketing, and high operational standards. Our future plans include scaling to multiple locations, and to do so, we’re investing early in a strong operational and strategic foundation. This Mitacs-supported research will help us improve our launch strategy, digital systems, and customer engagement while maintaining cost efficiency and quality.

Describe the project.: 

This project supports the successful launch and long-term growth of Protein Lounge through research and practical contributions in three focus areas: business strategy, digital operations, and customer service optimization.

The goal is to design a system that will help Protein Lounge build a loyal customer base, operate efficiently, and prepare to scale in the future. Key deliverables include a startup market strategy, a digital integration plan for ordering and loyalty systems, and improvements in front-of-house workflows to optimize customer experience.

Tasks will include:
• Conducting competitive and market research in the healthy fastfood niche
• Creating digital process maps for customer ordering, loyalty, and feedback systems
• Designing or advising on digital marketing workflows for pre- and post-launch visibility
• Developing tools to measure customer experience and operational efficiency
• Supporting training SOPs and staff scheduling strategies

Methodologies/Techniques:
The student(s) will use market analysis, customer journey mapping, interviews, POS data analysis, and digital tools like Canva, Google Workspace, and restaurant operations platforms (Square, Toast, etc.).

Required expertise/skills: 

We are looking for passionate, hands-on candidates from programs in Business, Media & Communications, and Hospitality/Tourism who can contribute to the successful launch and growth of our restaurant, Protein Lounge. Ideal applicants will bring skills in one or more of the following areas: content creation, marketing, operations planning, and customer experience.

Candidates from a media or communications background should have experience creating short-form content such as videos, reels, social media posts, and brand visuals. Skills in Canva, Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Lightroom, or similar design tools are an asset. Familiarity with platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok is essential.

Applicants from business or hospitality fields may support standard operating procedures (SOP) development, customer journey planning, cost tracking, staff onboarding frameworks, and workflow improvements. Strong communication skills, time management, and a collaborative mindset are key. Experience in hospitality or food service, or coursework related to service management, is a strong advantage.

Whether working on content or operational improvement, candidates must be detail-oriented, self-motivated, and excited about helping build a restaurant brand focused on healthy fast food and exceptional guest experience. Passion for health, fitness, or food entrepreneurship is a plus.