Episodios

  • Family Owned Business Make or Break

    Family Owned Business Make or Break
    Jul 3 2025
    Join Restaurant Masterminds hosts Stacey Kane and Robin Blanchette as they sit down with Frank Carpenteri, CEO of Garden Catering, to explore how this Connecticut-based chicken concept has maintained its cult-like following while preparing for aggressive expansion. From switching to premium chicken despite the cost impact to building a community-driven brand that makes college students' first stop home, Frank shares invaluable insights on scaling without losing your soul. Learn about their recent brand refresh, tech stack consolidation, and the leadership philosophy that kept every employee working during COVID—plus why their core value is literally "love the nugget."

    ~This episode is sponsored by: Gusto → https://gusto.pxf.io/PBN ~
    #1 rated HR platform for payroll, benefits, and more
    With Gusto’s easy-to-use platform, you can empower your people and push your business forward. See why over 400,000 businesses choose Gusto.

    RestaurantMasterminds #FastCasual #RestaurantBusiness
    Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/

    Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.

    Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory
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    45 m
  • Technology Disruption With Catering

    Technology Disruption With Catering
    Jun 26 2025
    Restaurant industry legend Earl Dardick joins Paul Barron and Anna Tauzin on Restaurant Masterminds to reveal how catering can transform your restaurant's profitability. From his experience with Off Premises Growth Academy, Earl shares why CEO buy-in is non-negotiable, how catering can represent 20% of business while delivering 50% of profits, and why successful operators treat catering as a separate business rather than a menu add-on. Learn about the technology challenges plaguing the industry, the real investment required to scale catering operations, and why local community engagement remains crucial even as AI reshapes food service. Whether you're running a single location or managing a multi-unit brand, this episode delivers actionable insights on building a million-dollar off-premises business.

    ~This episode is sponsored by: Gusto → https://gusto.pxf.io/PBN ~
    #1 rated HR platform for payroll, benefits, and more
    With Gusto’s easy-to-use platform, you can empower your people and push your business forward. See why over 400,000 businesses choose Gusto.

    RestaurantCatering #OffPremisesDining #RestaurantBusiness
    Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/

    Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.

    Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory
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    59 m
  • How Houston Hot Chicken Conquered the Fast-Casual Space

    How Houston Hot Chicken Conquered the Fast-Casual Space
    Jun 5 2025
    Serial entrepreneur Edmond Barseghian shares how he built Houston Hot Chicken from a pandemic recipe with his sister into one of America's fastest-growing restaurant brands, selling 100 franchises in just 5 months and becoming Las Vegas's #1 restaurant. Learn his unconventional strategies including monthly car shows, premium customer experiences, and how he applied lessons from 12 previous businesses to revolutionize the hot chicken space with 26 locations, 300+ franchise commitments, and plans to reach 200+ restaurants within three years.

    ~This episode is sponsored by: Gusto → https://gusto.pxf.io/PBN ~
    #1 rated HR platform for payroll, benefits, and more
    With Gusto’s easy-to-use platform, you can empower your people and push your business forward. See why over 400,000 businesses choose Gusto.

    RestaurantFranchise #HotChicken #FastCasualGrowth
    Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/

    Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.

    Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory
    Más Menos
    40 m
  • Dave's Hot Chicken Takes Home Fast Casual Top 100 Crown for Second Time

    Dave's Hot Chicken Takes Home Fast Casual Top 100 Crown for Second Time
    May 27 2025
    Dave's Hot Chicken takes home their second Fast Casual Top 100 award in three years! Join hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler as they sit down with Jim Bitticks, President & COO of Dave's Hot Chicken, to discuss the brand's explosive growth from 4 to 312+ locations in just five years. Discover how they built 3.6 million TikTok followers through authentic user-generated content, innovated with viral products like top-loaded shakes and cauliflower tenders, and maintained startup agility while scaling rapidly. From their organic social media strategy to their legendary marketing team led by industry veterans, learn the secrets behind one of fast-casual's hottest success stories.

    ~This episode is sponsored by: Gusto → https://gusto.pxf.io/PBN ~
    #1 rated HR platform for payroll, benefits, and more
    With Gusto’s easy-to-use platform, you can empower your people and push your business forward. See why over 400,000 businesses choose Gusto.

    DavesHotChicken #FastCasualTop100 #RestaurantMasterminds
    Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/

    Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.

    Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory
    Más Menos
    21 m
  • How AI Voice Orders Will Make or Break Your Restaurant (Oracle Warning)

    How AI Voice Orders Will Make or Break Your Restaurant (Oracle Warning)
    May 22 2025
    The restaurant industry is about to experience a massive technological transformation, and Oracle's Senior Director of Strategy, Amber Trendell, reveals it's happening faster than anyone expected. In this deep dive, we explore how voice AI is revolutionizing drive-thru operations, why 70% of Gen Z customers actually want to be upsold, and how agentic AI systems will soon run restaurants autonomously without human intervention. From license plate recognition triggering personalized offers to AI agents making real-time business decisions across all platforms, this isn't science fiction—it's the reality hitting restaurants within the next 1-3 years. Whether you're a restaurant owner, tech enthusiast, or curious about the future of dining, this analysis breaks down exactly how AI will transform every aspect of the restaurant experience, from ordering to kitchen operations.

    ~This episode is sponsored by: Gusto → https://gusto.pxf.io/PBN ~
    #1 rated HR platform for payroll, benefits, and more
    With Gusto’s easy-to-use platform, you can empower your people and push your business forward. See why over 400,000 businesses choose Gusto.

    #RestaurantTech #VoiceAI #RestaurantAutomation

    Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/

    Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.

    Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory
    Más Menos
    38 m
  • Brand Series: How Lime Fresh Mexican Grill is Redefining the Experience

    Brand Series: How Lime Fresh Mexican Grill is Redefining the Experience
    May 16 2025
    Join Restaurant Masterminds hosts Paul Barron and Rudy Miick as they sit down with Patrick Fore, CEO of Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, to explore how this 21-year-old brand is revolutionizing the fresh-mex space. Discover how Lime Fresh 2.0 is blending fast casual convenience with full-service hospitality through their innovative "flex casual" model featuring a full bar program contributing over 20% to revenue. Fore shares insights on creating "Lime Moments" for exceptional hospitality, revitalizing their menu with the "One Whole Lime Project," balancing digital innovation with authentic experiences, and preparing for strategic franchise growth that caters to both millennial and Gen Z consumers.

    ~This episode is sponsored by: Gusto → https://gusto.pxf.io/PBN ~
    #1 rated HR platform for payroll, benefits, and more
    With Gusto’s easy-to-use platform, you can empower your people and push your business forward. See why over 400,000 businesses choose Gusto.

    FreshMexRevolution #FlexCasualDining #RestaurantInnovation

    Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/

    Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.

    Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory
    Más Menos
    41 m
  • BRAND SERIES: Casual Dining's Fight for Survival | Who's Winning, Who's Failing

    BRAND SERIES: Casual Dining's Fight for Survival | Who's Winning, Who's Failing
    May 8 2025
    In this eye-opening episode of our Brand Series, restaurant industry experts Paul Barron and Paul Molinari dissect the current crisis in casual dining and reveal why some chains are thriving while others file for bankruptcy. Discover how Chili's achieved a remarkable 31% sales increase through strategic social media targeting and menu innovation, while TGI Fridays and Hooters struggle to connect with millennial consumers. The hosts analyze Red Lobster's repositioning strategy, debate the controversial Hooters rebranding plan, and explore how economic headwinds are creating recession indicators even for giants like McDonald's. Don't miss these critical insights on brand transformation, consumer behavior shifts, and the technological innovations poised to reshape restaurants in 2026-2027.

    ~This episode is sponsored by: Gusto → https://gusto.pxf.io/PBN ~
    #1 rated HR platform for payroll, benefits, and more
    With Gusto’s easy-to-use platform, you can empower your people and push your business forward. See why over 400,000 businesses choose Gusto.

    RestaurantBrandSeries #CasualDiningCrisis #FoodServiceFuture
    Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/

    Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.

    Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory
    Más Menos
    42 m
  • Gen Z Corner: Kids Weigh In on the Best Brands

    Gen Z Corner: Kids Weigh In on the Best Brands
    May 1 2025
    In this eye-opening Gen Z Corner segment of Restaurant Masterminds, host Paul Barron sits down with 8-year-old Colette and 9-year-old Graham to uncover what truly attracts the youngest consumers to restaurant brands. Colette reveals why texture, temperature, and customization at Chick-fil-A, Shake Shack, and Chipotle win her loyalty, while Graham offers groundbreaking insights on how gaming integration and themed environments could revolutionize restaurant experiences for young guests. These unfiltered perspectives provide restaurant operators with invaluable strategies for menu development and concept innovation that will resonate with tomorrow's customers.

    ~This episode is sponsored by: Gusto → https://gusto.pxf.io/PBN ~
    #1 rated HR platform for payroll, benefits, and more
    With Gusto’s easy-to-use platform, you can empower your people and push your business forward. See why over 400,000 businesses choose Gusto.

    GenZDining #RestaurantInnovation #GamingHospitality
    Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/

    Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.

    Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory
    Más Menos
    1 m