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Celebrating awesome business leaders and change makers just like you. Learn from their stories, lived experience and successes in strategy, growth, and organizational design.
Meet Bernadette Farag, the President and CMO of Osmow’s Shawarma.
From its humble beginnings in 2001 in Streetsville, Mississauga to becoming one of North America’s fastest-growing quick-service restaurant chains, Osmow’s, under the leadership of Bernadette Farag as President and CMO, has revolutionized the way we enjoy Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. With over 175 locations, Osmow’s commitment to quality and innovation is evident in its expansive menu that includes everything from shawarma to Signature Creations and OzBox.
Guided by the founding family—Sam, his daughter Bernadette, and his son Ben—Osmow’s retains its family-oriented ethos while achieving notable accomplishments such as the 2023 Pinnacle Award for Company of the Year, recognition as one of Canada's Best Managed companies for four consecutive years, and the Outstanding Corporate Citizen Award from CFA in 2024.
The brand also celebrates its impact and connection with the community through initiatives like the establishment of National Shawarma Day (yes – they actually created National Shawarma Day). With Bernadette leading efforts, Osmow’s continues to grow and inspire, maintaining close relationships with franchisees and supporting them to replicate the success that has defined Osmow’s own story.
Also – have you seen their hilarious commercials? Seeing a giant shawarma running around always makes us want an Osmow’s Shawarma.
Get personal with Bernadette and read more about her life’s purpose, stories, inspirations, and more!
1. Do you have a personal 'purpose' in life, and how does it or does it not relate to your work?
My personal purpose in life is to push your boundaries and show my daughters that you can do anything so long as you can dream it. Before planes and cell phones ever existed, somebody needed to envision it.
Unrelated to work, I went skydiving solo, meaning without being attached to a professional. In relation to work.
In 2019, I dreamt we'd do a commercial with Raptor players Norman Powell and Fred VanVleet and that we'd win the championship that year. Just being able to search and get in touch with their agents at the time was a huge win!
But we did it! Once we rolled out our commercials featuring Powell and VanFleet, it was about eagerly manifesting the big win.
2. Who was your most impactful client/ customer?
There are many but one of my favourite stories, when I was working in the restaurant, back when we only had one Osmow's location in Streetsville. I received a call at 10:00 p.m. from a customer asking how long we're open until. I informed him we're open for another hour, he sounded a little panicked saying "I'm driving from Kingston (nearly 3 hours away) and I have another 2 hours before I get there. My wife is pregnant and she's craving Osmow's". I said "it looks like we're open for the next 2 hours then!". He was so happy and it made us extremely happy to see it.
3. What Business book/podcast/documentary/role model has greatly influenced your approach?
Jack Canfield and all his self improvement books and talks. He is truly inspirational and an excellent public speaker too. I specifically like his analogy regarding using a GPS or google maps system, you don't need to know every path and turn for your destination, you just need to know the next 200 meters. Jack says it's the same thing with setting a goal, get started and the 'how' will come.
4. What is harder: getting your first client or customer or growing from 10 to 100?
For us it was harder to get our first 10 customers since back in 2001, there wasn't much diversification in food and therefore people were reluctant to try it. Once those 10 tried it, we got the 100 the following day.
It. Was. Incredible.
5. What advice would you give to (future) growth hackers looking to make their mark on the world?
Use your resources, a lot of times we put pressure on ourselves to get everything done and it gets us nowhere. It takes a team to get all the gears going and it took our phenomenal team to get us to where we are today and towards more successes tomorrow. Big kudos to the Osmow's teams in restaurants, the plant, in the field and at head office.
The Osmow Family story is one of determination, community and success. Under Bernadette’s leadership, alongside her father, brother and a dedicated team, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine was brought to new heights.
Stay up to date with Bernadette on LinkedIn. Be sure follow Osmow’s on Instagram – again, their commercials and content is hilarious.