How Steve Dickler Built & Sold a $100M Business (Chef's Toys)

What does it take to turn a simple passion into a multimillion-dollar business? Steve Dickler, founder of Chef’s Toys, shares his incredible journey from sharpening knives for chefs to building a $100M restaurant supply empire. In this episode of Tidemark Talks, Steve reveals the challenges of scaling a business, how he navigated a complex sale, and why hospitality and customer service remain key to success.

[00:49] From Humble Beginnings to a $100M Business – How Chef’s Toys grew to seven locations with 200+ employees.
[03:27] The Decision to Sell – Why Steve chose to exit, frustrations with regulations, and how he found the perfect buyer.
[05:43] The Art of the Deal – Navigating negotiations, industry connections, and maximizing business valuation.
[11:34] From Sandwich Maker to Chef – Steve’s early experiences in food service and how they shaped his future.
[32:00] The Knife Sharpening Hustle – How a side gig turned into a thriving business serving top-tier clients.
[40:23] Retail Expansion & Game-Changing Strategy – How Steve built stores that outperformed competitors.
[47:22] Smart Real Estate Moves – Strategic investments that fueled growth beyond the core business.
[57:59] Beating Amazon & AI – How Steve future-proofed Chef’s Toys before selling.
[1:08:12] Lessons in Entrepreneurship – The mindset, work ethic, and strategies that led to success.

This episode is a must-watch for entrepreneurs, business owners, and anyone looking to scale a business from the ground up. 

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