Le Botaniste: scaling a conscious food evolution from purpose to everyday practice
Le Botaniste isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a movement. Headquartered in New York with locations across Europe and the U.S., this plant-powered, organic food and wine bar exists to restore the balance between people and the planet, one bowl at a time. Carbon neutral, 100% plant-based, and passionately driven by the idea that food is medicine, Le Botaniste is on a mission to create a better world through nourishing, mindful choices.
the challenge:
A Strong Culture
Seeking Shared
Language
As the brand grew, one challenge became clear:
How do you scale a soul-driven mission while staying deeply human?
At Le Botaniste, culture has never been an afterthought—it’s been a way of being. The leadership team lived and breathed the company’s purpose: offering accessible, organic, plant-based food in an inspiring, conscious environment. The passion was palpable, and the DNA was strong at the top.
But as the brand began to grow and expand across new locations, so did the need to express that essence with more consistency and clarity across teams. The feeling was there, but the words and tools to pass it on meaningfully weren’t fully developed yet.
“We had a strong and clear DNA within the management team, but we needed the right words and tools to share that with everyone. We knew how we wanted our teams to feel, but we didn’t yet have the structure to make it scalable.”
The challenge wasn’t about creating culture, it was about translating and elevating an already powerful one into a shared, lived experience for every team member.
Get inspired by Alizee Wyckman | Le Botaniste
the approach: Creating the Conscious Therhappy Blueprint & journey
Le Botaniste partnered with Start Reverse to bring clarity, alignment, and ownership to their internal culture by building their Conscious Therhappy: a Reverse Thinking-Inspired Blueprint that captures not only what they do, but why and how they do it.
Through a co-creative process, we defined their Brand Essence (Why, Who, What, How) and built a Brand Experience Compass to connect daily behaviours with emotional outcomes for both team members and guests. More than a strategy, it became a living guide, one that rooted their mission in tangible behaviours, emotional outcomes, and leadership qualities.
“Creating our blueprint allowed us to align from the inside out. The collaborative approach made everyone more involved, and that investment really shows in how our teams show up every day.”
From defining leadership as “leading by example” to making sure everyone, from the kitchen to the front of house, feels “welcomed, nourished, and inspired,” the Conscious Therhappy gave Le Botaniste a language to scale culture without losing soul.
We developed a series of tailored solutions as part of Le Botaniste’s Reverse Journey, each designed to bring their purpose, culture, and experience to life across every level of the organisation:
A compelling and co-created Blueprint
A dynamic Blueprint Animation Video
A practical and inspiring Experience Guide
Interactive Blueprint Activation Workshops
Strategic Leadership Activation Sessions
Seamless integration of the Blueprint into daily operations through SOPs
Le Botaniste Tailored Solutions
Experience Guide
Casting Guide
Experience Guide
SOPs
SOPs
SOPs
Blueprint
Animation Video
Team Activations
The outcome: Elevated Experience, Stronger Alignment, Lasting Impact
- The impact was felt on multiple levels. With the new blueprint in place, there was a noticeable rise in:
- Higher engagement and retention among leaders
- More cohesion and consistency across restaurant experiences
- Increased clarity and alignment around purpose
- Better guest satisfaction (95% over 12 months),
- Higher NPS (76 over 12 months) and a stronger brand perception
Furthermore, it didn’t stop there.
Guest satisfaction also improved, as evidenced by an increase in NPS scores and more favourable online reviews. More importantly, employees began to internalise the WHY behind their actions, creating more authentic and connected experiences for guests.
“Performance improved, retention went up, and explaining our concept became easier for our teams and our guests. We saw the difference in energy, service, and culture.”
the power of an experience-driven strategy
The internal response was immediate and energising. Workshops activated curiosity and pride. Teams felt more confident in embodying the Le Botaniste ethos. Guests began noticing the elevated experience. Leaders had a tangible tool to align expectations and behaviours, and pioneers had a compass to guide daily action.
When asked what she would tell others considering this journey, the answer was clear:
“It’s absolutely worth the investment. If you want to turn passion into a system without killing the soul, this is the way. It helps pin down the WHY, articulate the DNA, and guide everyone to bring it to life in a way that’s real and engaging. It makes both the employee and the guest experience better.”
“Our pioneers are excited. They finally have something that puts words to what they feel. Guest feedback is up, and we’re seeing it in the energy of our teams.”
Ready to build a Blueprint
That Moves People?
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