A long-term executive brand for a globally respected chef
Chef Max Hardy's clientele includes award-winning musicians, actors, professional athletes and international dignitaries. When he came home to Detroit to open COOP Caribbean Fusion and JED's Detroit, we helped his local brand catch up to his global reputation.
Global credibility, local recognition.
Despite his global success, Chef Max's local brand recognition did not yet reflect his expertise, credibility or cultural influence. The opportunity was to translate global credibility into local trust, while positioning him as a national culinary authority rooted in Detroit.
That meant strengthening his brand identity, establishing consistent messaging, navigating public visibility and preparing for long-term media engagement and brand partnerships.
Credibility over one-off moments.
We developed a long-term executive brand and communications strategy centered on:
- Positioning Chef Max as both a culinary expert and a cultural leader
- A consistent brand voice across restaurants, media and partnerships
- Earned media that educated Detroit audiences while expanding national visibility
- Proactive planning and crisis readiness for sustained media engagement
The strategy prioritized credibility, consistency and longevity over one-off press moments.
A brand built to last.
“Ki Takeaways has done a tremendous job by helping me gain local and national exposure in the culinary world. They helped us hone and deliver a consistent message about our restaurants countless times. With their experience and capabilities, we see the rewards of this effort today.”
A Detroit household name.
- 250+ earned media placements
- 78 million+ media impressions
- Chef Max elevated into a trusted Detroit household name
- Brand partnerships secured with Procter & Gamble and Kellogg
- Sustained public trust and visibility for both restaurant concepts
Get the Communications Readiness Checklist
The questions we ask every client before a launch, announcement or hard moment.