Satisfaction Guaranteed

How Zingerman's Built a Corner Deli into a Global Food Community

By: Micheline Maynard

Narrated by: Lauren Ezzo

Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

From an accomplished journalist, this illuminating chronicle of the trials, tribulations, and triumph of Zingerman’s—a beloved, $70 million-dollar Michigan-based gourmet food store with global reach—is “thoughtful reading for foodies and entrepreneurs” (Kirkus Reviews).

Certain businesses are legendary, exerting immense influence in their field. Zingerman’s in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is one of those places. Over the years the flagship deli has expanded into a community of more than a dozen businesses, including a wildly successful mail order operation, restaurants, bakery, coffee roastery, creamery, candy maker, and events space—transforming Ann Arbor into a destination for food lovers.

Founded in 1982 by Paul Saginaw and Ari Weinzweig, Zingerman’s philosophy of good food, excellent service, and sound finances has turned it into a company whose reach spans all corners of the gourmet food world.? Famous for its generous deli sandwiches, fresh bread, and flavorful coffee—all locally produced—Zingerman’s is also widely celebrated for its superb customer service and employee equity. The culture is one of respect and innovation, while maintaining very high standards. Every employee has access to the financial records, everyone has a voice, and everyone is heard. It has legions of enthusiastic customers, fans across the food world, and business principles and a work ethic that have been admired, analyzed, and copied. All that is revealed here, in Micheline Maynard’s Satisfaction Guaranteed.

Discover how by 2019, Zingerman’s employed hundreds of employees and achieved close to $70 million in annual sales. When the pandemic struck, Zingerman’s growth momentarily screeched to a halt—but it survived by reinventing itself, while still serving its beloved food and selling its wide array of groceries. Now, as Zingerman’s looks forward to a half century in business, it is on track for stronger results than ever. A recipe for success in business and in life, Satisfaction Guaranteed provides a roadmap for manifesting joy and purpose in everything you do.

©2022 Micheline Maynard. All rights reserved. (P)2022 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

A must for anyone who knows and loves this incredible business!

I can’t imagine a better more informative book about this business! From start to finish, I loved every minute listening to this book on my daily walks.

Satisfaction Guaranteed with this book

The author did a fabulous job detailing every aspect of Zingerman’s history, the business model, the various businesses that have been created since the deli opened until present day, and all of what sets Zingerman’s apart from any other business- all in an easy-to-follow and interesting manner.

It’s a book about business that felt personal- both because that is the nature of the heart-centered ZCob approach to business as well as because of the stories the author wove into the narrative. Everything about the founders and the ZCob brand is “wow your socks off” good. That in itself is worth the listen, but factor in the nice performance of the narrator and that the book was artfully written, it’s satisfaction guaranteed from my perspective.
Highly recommend!

So so

I really enjoyed the parts that spoke about problem solving, where Paul and Ari drew inspiration from and how they implemented those ideas into their business. I loved to hear about the attempts at sharing success with their workers, but not in depth enough to satisfy. Lots of overly descriptive repetitive food descriptions. Really appreciated the story of the memphis bake house and how zingttain helped deliver focus and success but still, where the how? There can and should be more written about this special and beautiful experiment.