Cigierre Blends Digital Coaching and Language Training in a Recipe for Success
Cigierre, an Italian commercial catering group, chose Speexx to digitize and expand its business coaching and language training offer to middle managers. The goal is to ensure flexibility, quality, and traceability, with positive results already visible in the first few months.
About
Cigierre is a group that has been active in casual dining for 30 years, with over 5,000 employees. Its brands include Old Wild West, American Graffiti, Wiener Haus, Shi’s, Smashie, and PizziKotto, with a total of over 370 restaurants in Italy today. These diverse and multi-ethnic brands share a commitment to quality and attention to detail, rooted in a long-standing passion for good food, Italian tradition, and culinary expertise.
Cigierre continuously invests in the growth and development of skills and potential to ensure efficient customer service and personal fulfillment. The company chose Speexx to bring online business coaching to its organization, offering a concrete opportunity for soft skills development and continuous learning for managers across the country.
Challenge
Cigierre was seeking a digital alternative to face-to-face coaching, which had already been introduced for top managers but proved difficult to manage due to geographical distribution across the country. The company required a flexible solution suited to the fast-paced dynamics of the food retail sector, capable of monitoring usage, delivering measurable results, as well as effectively supporting middle managers in their daily team management.
Speexx online coaching has enriched the Cigierre Academy's training offering with a flexible, customizable, and easily accessible program, providing our employees with a concrete tool for developing soft skills in line with their daily needs.
Federica Leita, People and Organization Development Manager, Cigierre
Solution
The project began with a pilot group that included the HR team before expanding to a larger number of employees. An onboarding session introduced participants to the benefits of coaching, the coaching platform, and how to be matched with the perfect coach. Information materials were shared, and a plenary session was organized for new coachees.
To complete the initiative, Cigierre introduced language training modules in Italian and French to meet specific employee needs. Speexx was selected after a scouting process involving another provider, thanks to its greater flexibility and customer support, particularly in enabling companies to access funded training programs.
At first, I was skeptical and didn’t think coaching could really be useful to me. However, thanks to the support of my coach and the practical tools that my coach gave me during the sessions, I received positive feedback from colleagues and managers, which motivated me to continue.
Outcome
The response from employees has been very positive: even those initially skeptical about online learning felt engaged in a program that supported them, especially during peak work periods. In addition, 90% of coachees said they had acquired new skills. Cigierre particularly valued the option to change coaches and appreciated their high level of professionalism, along with the platform’s flexibility and Speexx customer support.
The coaching program included “tripartite sessions” – meetings between the coach, coachee, and manager – ensuring alignment with both individual and company development goals. This ongoing alignment allowed Speexx to monitor progress effectively while maintaining maximum flexibility and customization for employees working in the fast-paced restaurant industry.
Outlook
Cigierre is considering extending language training to other operational areas and views the progress made so far very positively. Building on the strong collaboration between HR and the Speexx team, new initiatives are already being explored to further enhance employee development.
Plans include expanding the digital coaching program, refining training content based on user feedback, and integrating learning more closely with Cigierre’s internal talent development strategy. The relationship established with Speexx continues to open new opportunities for innovation and growth.
