Mohamad Fakih is the CEO, President and Owner of Paramount Fine Foods, a major Canadian food and hospitality group providing authentic Middle Eastern foods through restaurants, Halal butcher shops and wholesale food distribution outlets in Ontario. What was the inspiration for his career path? Find out in today’s Notable Young Entrepreneur profile…
Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
I am the CEO, President and Owner of a major Canadian food and hospitality group providing authentic Middle Eastern foods through restaurants, Halal butcher shops and wholesale food distribution outlets in Ontario. We currently have eight companies and a staff of 400 managers, employees and consultants. I work on an extensive range of transactions that span the food service, hospitality and retail industries nationwide.
Why did you start working at your company? What was the inspiration for this career route?
In 2007 I had the opportunity to purchase the first Paramount restaurant and use my skills as a successful entrepreneur to completely turn around and expand the business and make it into the top Middle Eastern restaurant chain in Ontario. The inspiration was to develop a well-known brand name that would be recognized internationally for providing the best in Middle Eastern food and hospitality services.
What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
Best part of my daily work is to be the executive in command, responsible and accountable for providing the best service to our customers in the food and hospitality industry. The most challenging part is retaining the brand name of Paramount Fine Foods on a daily basis, which includes consistently upgrading the service to our customers, and being involved in the operations with my team at all times. This makes the separation of work and my personal life difficult at times.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself controlling the continued expansion, both nationwide and internationally, a conglomerate of superb and outstanding corporate restaurants, franchised locations, Halal butcher shops and food distribution outlets under the Paramount Fine Foods brand.
What does success look like to you?
Success in my career is accomplishing my goal of being an entrepreneur who built an outstanding Middle Eastern food service chain that exceeded expectations in Canada and around the world. In my personal life, success is to remain surrounded by my family and a network of friends, some of whom I have met in my journey as CEO and Owner of the Paramount chain, and all of whom have brought both happiness and fulfillment to my life.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
The most memorable milestone in my career was the acquisition of Paramount Fine Foods in February 2007 when I was given the opportunity to showcase my ability, along with a team of great professionals, to expand a single restaurant into a well-known and sought-after Canadian chain.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Have a vision of excellence in your profession, stay focused, work hard, but always be smart; care about people and take some personal time to hold true to your visions for your career and your personal life..
Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
Yes. I started donations to established charitable organizations through several Paramount projects supporting the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Cops for Cancer, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, Toronto and London Food Banks and United Way, in addition to sponsorships for various junior sporting hockey and soccer clubs and fundraising events for schools and universities in local communities where Paramount has locations. I have been personally involved in each charity, assisting at events, handling the presentation of corporate donations to a terminally ill girl at a Make-a-Wish foundation event in London, Ontario, shaved my head at Cops for Cancer events, and walked a mile in women’s shoes to raise awareness for action to prevent violence against women.
What to you is notable?
People who take care of each other and make a difference in the lives of others. People who strive to improve the lives of others and hold to personal values such as honesty and integrity.
BlackBerry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
I use a BlackBerry and IPhone. My BlackBerry is more my business line and IPhone is personal.