Andrew McCaughan, Chief Development Officer at Shake Shack, joins Fast Casual Nation to discuss the iconic burger brand's ambitious journey from 3 locations to a goal of 1,500 U.S. restaurants. McCaughan shares insights on Shake Shack's evolution from urban high-profile locations to suburban expansion with multiple formats including drive-throughs, experiential flagships with full bars, and innovative digital ordering systems. Learn about their technology strategy, international growth across 20 countries, real estate challenges, culinary innovation including the viral Dubai Shake, and how they're maintaining Danny Meyer's hospitality values while scaling globally. Plus, hear about their new Atlanta innovation center and plans for Oklahoma City expansion.
ShakeShack #FastCasualNation #RestaurantIndustry
0:00 - Intro
0:14 - Rising food costs & staffing challenges
3:24 - Guest intro: Shake Shack’s Chief Development Officer
5:05 - Growth from 3 to 600+ global locations
7:51 - Expanding into suburbs, drive-thrus & bar concepts
11:35 - Tech & AI roadmap: kiosks, app, personalization
14:35 - Scaling while preserving brand values & culture
16:11 - Global expansion: 20+ countries & local menus
21:14 - Maintaining warmth & New York credibility
22:04 - Balancing digital orders with in-store hospitality
24:23 - Atlanta innovation center & kitchen tech
27:11 - Real estate shifts & development challenges
28:52 - Next experiential store: Atlanta & Las Vegas
31:00 - Reaching Gen Z & next-gen burger fans
33:02 - Rapid fire: new markets, metrics, trends
35:09 - Closing remarks & episode wrap
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