India, Oct. 28 -- Chris Tomasso, CEO of the US-based First Watch restaurant chain, is earning praise after revealing that he still writes hundreds of thank-you notes to staff to build loyalty inside the company.

Tomasso, who leads a $1 billion-a-year breakfast and lunch chain with more than 15,000 employees, has already written more than 500 notes. "I just love people that pick their lane, they love it, and they don't want to do anything else," he told Fortune. "I want to thank and reward loyalty, longevity, [and] the contributions that they make to the company," he added.

Tomasso further shared that the practice was inspired by a handwritten note he received from his CEO at Hard Rock Cafe when he was 26 - a letter that he's kept to thi...