Serving Up Success: The Recipe Behind Lou Malnati's Award-Winning Culture
Objective
To stay competitive as a top employer and listen to employee feedback to attract talent and drive performance.
Solutions
Workplace Survey, Top Workplaces
Results
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria has leveraged 15 years of Top Workplaces recognition into a powerful recruitment tool, promoting a people-first culture that values employee feedback and continuous improvement.
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria is famous for serving the best deep-dish pizza in Chicago, but their recipe for success goes beyond food. For 15 consecutive years, they’ve been an award-winning Top Workplace with more than 40 awards — a title that has become as integral to its culture as its signature pizza.
It all started with a challenge. Marc Malnati, a founding family member, dropped a copy of the Chicago Tribune on Gabriella Streicher’s desk, pointing to a Top Workplaces feature. “Look at this,” he said. “We need to enter this. Let’s find out what our employees think.” That’s how it all began: a competitive spirit and a desire to be the best in the kitchen and as an employer.
“We participate in Top Workplaces for two reasons. First, we like to compete, and we are very proud of our culture. The other reason is to keep a finger on the pulse of how our employees are feeling, what they are thinking, where we can improve, and what we’re doing well.”
Mindy Kaplan, Vice President of Communications, Culture and Customer
Experience, Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
Turning awards into a competitive advantage in recruitment
What started as a fun challenge quickly became one of Lou Malnati’s recruitment strengths. Their Top Workplaces awards are a badge of honor and the secret sauce for attracting talent. “So many joining us from another company, say ‘Oh my gosh. I Googled Lou Malnati’s,’” recalled Gabriella Streicher, Director of Employee Engagement at Lou Malnati’s. “’You came up as a Top Workplace and for so many years. And I experience what I’ve read.’”
The company’s long-standing recognition as a Top Workplace has given Lou Malnati’s credibility, making it easier for job seekers to choose them over other employers. “We use it as a recruiting tool,” Mindy said. “It’s on our website. We include it in our training materials and our recruitment materials. It’s very important that we put it out there for people to know that we can say it, but it’s also been validated by our employees.”
Creating a culture of growth and empowerment
For Lou Malnati’s, the Top Workplaces program goes beyond recruitment. The awards have fostered a culture of continuous improvement and celebration. Each year, the company celebrates restaurants with the highest and most improved survey scores. Trophies, parties, and Lou Malnati’s swag, are awarded to the highest scoring teams. “We make a big deal about it,” said Mindy. Gabriella agreed, saying the parties are awesome.
A legacy of listening and learning
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria’s recognition as a Top Workplace isn’t just a reflection of past successes — it highlights their ongoing commitment to employee listening and growth. With each win, they reinforce that great workplaces are built on open dialogue and continuous improvement.
Their ability to attract and retain talent with a people-first culture is what sets them apart. As Gabriella put it, “Knowing that our effort over the past year, based on last year’s feedback, made a difference.”
By embracing employee feedback and turning it into action, Lou Malnati’s has secured a legacy as a pizza icon – and an award-winning workplace where people want to work, grow, and thrive.
