JME Design

What JME Design does

JME Design is a Columbus, Ohio-based foodservice design and hospitality consulting firm founded in 1989 (originally as JME Hospitality) by John Egnor. The firm provides end-to-end design services spanning concept development, kitchen and dining layout design, master planning, equipment specification (Division 114000), 3D rendering and video walkthroughs, and operational consulting for institutional foodservice operations. Its core technical work product combines traditional architectural design (with Revit-based deliverables standardized internally) and domain-specific foodservice operational expertise developed over 30+ years and 6,000+ projects across all 50 US states, with cumulative equipment specifications exceeding $3.5 billion.

The company serves six institutional verticals: healthcare systems and senior living, hotels/resorts/conference centers, government and civic facilities, higher education and corporate dining, gaming hospitality, and retail/food halls/mixed-use projects. Named engagements include the OSU Wexner Medical Center Patient Tower (72,000 SF, $13.4M equipment), Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, and major university dining halls. The team consists of four named professionals — founder John Egnor, Managing Partner Spencer Ressa (promoted 2024), Design Consultant Louisa Stangel, and Designer Mari Thulin — supplemented by external design consultants as needed.

JME operates as a B2B professional services firm with an enterprise field-sales motion, reaching customers through direct engagement with architects, facility owners, and operators. Revenue is project-based, quote-based on scope and complexity, with individual projects ranging from $1.8M to $13.4M+ in equipment value and multi-year contract cadences. Marketing relies on the firm’s portfolio website, FCSI industry association participation, and a 5,000+ LinkedIn professional network for referral-driven pipeline. The company is privately held, founder-controlled, and bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding.

Name

JME Design

Legal name

JME Design

Website

https://jme.design

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

JME Design is a Columbus, Ohio-based foodservice design and hospitality consulting firm founded in 1989, providing kitchen layout design, equipment specification, 3D rendering, and operational consulting to institutional clients across healthcare, gaming hospitality, higher education, government, hotels, and retail verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foodservice Design and Hospitality Consulting

NAICS

Interior Design Services (541410), Industrial Design Services (54142)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Planning & Workplace Design (BPAHAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)

Keywords

• Foodservice design
• Hospitality consulting
• Commercial kitchen design
• Foodservice planning
• Institutional dining design

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Foodservice Design Consulting: Professional services revenue generated through food service design consulting engagements with institutional clients. Projects include design, consulting, equipment procurement, and installation services. Revenue is project-based with individual projects ranging from small renovations to large-scale developments spanning multiple years and phases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

JME Design is a foodservice design and hospitality consulting firm that plans, designs, and documents commercial kitchens, dining venues, and back-of-house operations for institutional clients. Core offerings include Food Service Design (layout, equipment positioning, workflow), Concept Development (menu, decor, and ambiance alignment), Master Planning, 3D Rendering & Video Support for pre-construction visualization, and Operational Development/Consulting covering equipment selection, workflow, cost control, and quality assurance.

Product overview

JME Design is a foodservice design and hospitality consulting firm offering a comprehensive suite of services including Food Service Design, Concept Development, Planning, 3D Rendering & Video Support, Operational Development/Consulting, and Laundry Services & Waste Management. The company serves multiple industry verticals: Healthcare Systems/Hospitals, Hotels/Resorts/Conference Centers, Government/Civic/Justice, Higher Education/Corporate Dining, Gaming Hospitality, and Retail/Food Halls/Mixed Use Projects. Founded in 1989 and formerly known as JME Hospitality, the company has completed over 4,000 projects specifying over $100 million worth of foodservice equipment annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Service Design Comprehensive foodservice design service covering layout planning, kitchen equipment positioning, workstation arrangement, customer flow optimization, seating arrangements, and menu design integration for restaurants, food courts, and large-scale institutional dining facilities.
• Concept Development Collaborative concept development service creating marketable food service concepts for clients, including menu innovation, interior decor, ambiance curation, and brand identity alignment.
• Master Planning Strategic planning service providing guidance for food service establishment growth, including space planning, equipment needs assessment, dining capacity analysis, and phased development plans.
• 3D Rendering & Video Support Advanced visualization service delivering 3D walkthroughs and video support to immerse clients in virtual environments and visualize proposed foodservice designs before implementation.
• Operational Development / Consulting Operational consulting service enhancing efficiency through optimal kitchen design, equipment selection, workflow planning, staff training, cost control, menu pricing, and quality assurance measures for food service operators.
• Laundry Services & Waste Management Consulting Specialized consulting for laundry operations in hotels, resorts, and educational institutions, providing solutions for equipment selection, space layout, and operational procedures for laundry and waste management systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Projects serve $3.5 Billion+ in foodservice equipment specified
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• EwingCole: EwingCole is a national architecture, engineering, and interior design firm with deep healthcare expertise that includes foodservice planning for hospital clients. Overlaps with JME on healthcare foodservice but competes from a broader full-service architecture platform rather than foodservice specialization.
• HKS: HKS is a major architecture and design firm with healthcare, hospitality, and sports practice areas that include foodservice design capabilities. Competes with JME on large institutional projects but offers the full architectural delivery stack rather than specialist foodservice consulting.

Direct peers

• Fisher-Nickel Inc: Fisher-Nickel is a foodservice facility planning and design consultancy serving institutional clients across healthcare, education, and hospitality. Comparable to JME in project-based consulting model and emphasis on operational efficiency in kitchen and dining design.
• Pesce & Associates: Pesce & Associates is a foodservice design consultancy serving healthcare, hospitality, and institutional markets. Directly comparable to JME in service offering (concept, planning, equipment specification) and client base of institutional owners and architects.
• Ricca (formerly Ricca Newmark Design): Ricca is a long-established foodservice design and consulting firm serving healthcare, higher education, hospitality, and gaming clients. Directly comparable to JME in vertical mix, project-based professional services model, and emphasis on operational design integration.
• Clevenger Frable LaVallee: Clevenger Frable LaVallee is a foodservice design and consulting firm with comparable verticals including healthcare, hospitality, and education. Closely aligned with JME in service scope (kitchen layout, equipment specification, concept development) and B2B enterprise engagement model.

Others

• Foodservice Consultants Society International (FCSI): FCSI is the global professional association for foodservice consultants, of which JME Design's leadership is a Professional Member. Not a competitor but a peer ecosystem and credibility benchmark; membership signals alignment with industry standards for foodservice design and consulting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jme-design

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about JME Design