Shows
Restaurant OperatorHaven Hot Chicken founders find room for Nashville hot chicken brandIn this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace and QSRweb, talks to Jason Sobocinski and Etkin Tekin, co-founders of Haven Hot Chicken out of Connecticut. While the chicken market may be saturated, Sobocinski and Tekin found a niche for hot chicken, and the rest is history.Tekin and Sobocincki have history when Tekin worked for Sobocincki at a restaurant he owned years ago. During his interview, Tekin told his boss he'd like to open a business with him someday. They stayed in touch as Tekin opened his own businesses and...2025-05-1321 min
Pizza Marketplace PodcastDonatos Pizza president, CEO wants it to be the household name in pizzaIn this episode of the Pizza Marketplace Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace, talks to Kevin King, who recently took over Donatos Pizza last October as president and CEO. Under King's leadership, the brand is embracing strategies to keep it relevant for both new and existing customers amidst rising pricing wars in the pizza industry.Donatos started in 1963 when its founder, Jim Grote, started a small pizza shop in the sound end of Columbus, Ohio based on principles and values that even today make Donatos a standout in the pizza industry.The brand...2025-04-0920 minRestaurant OperatorCORE Gives helps restaurant employees in needIn our latest episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace and QSRweb, talks to Jill Chapman, director of corporate partnerships with CORE Gives, an organization that helps restaurant employees in need."CORE is a national non-profit," Chapman said. "We provide financial support to food and beverage service employees in this industry. It's a crisis, whether it's an injury, health issue, a natural disaster, death in the family (or) domestic abuse. Really, honestly there is a need for this because there's so many times that service employees — if one of these things ha...2025-04-0811 minRestaurant OperatorGRUBBRR Guarantee gives kiosk users peace of mindIn this day and age, offering a guarantee with your business plan is nearly a given. For kiosk brand GRUBBRR, the GRUBBRR Guarantee is an integral part of the brand's ethos.In this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace and QSRweb, speaks with GRUBBRR Chief Revenue Officer Parrish Chapman about the brand's guarantee.Chapman said the GRUBBRR guarantee is simple: the kiosk brand guarantees its work and stands behind it."We know operators today have a lot of cost pressures, they have a lot of news...2025-03-2528 minPizza Marketplace PodcastPizza Factory CEO talks acquisition of company, future of brandIn this episode of the Pizza Marketplace Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace, talks to Mary Jane Riva, CEO of California-based Pizza Factory.The brand was founded in 1985 in two small California towns and will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year. Riva and her husband, Bob, came aboard as franchisees in 1990 and opened five of their own Pizza Factory locations. In 2012, the founders were ready to leave and sold the company to the Rivas."The culture of Pizza Factory is so much about community and it's individuals being able to come and work...2025-03-1219 minRestaurant OperatorLion's Choice CEO offers secrets to brand's successIn this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of QSRweb and Pizza Marketplace, talks with Fred Burmer, CEO of roast beef brand Lion's Choice.Lion's Choice got its start in 1967 and is a legacy brand in St. Louis with 30 restaurants. The brand uses top round roast beef that is hand-trimmed and slow roasted for at least three hours in the restaurant every day."It's really butcher-shop quality," Burmer said. The roast beef is sliced razor thin which gives it a "great flavor and texture that really sets us apart."...2025-02-2516 minPizza Marketplace PodcastStoner's Pizza Joint CEO talks economy, that kitschy nameIn this episode of the Pizza Marketplace Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace, talks to John Stetson, CEO of Florida-based Stoner's Pizza Joint.The brand was founded in 2013 in Savannah, Georgia. The first location had a stone oven, which is from where the brand takes its name. Though the brand enjoys its double entendre namesake, there's actually no cannabis involved in the recipes, though Stoner's does use it in its marketing."We kind of pivot depending on the marketing we're in," Stetson said. "If we're on a college campus, I think we're very...2025-02-1222 minRestaurant OperatorClutch Coffee co-founder offers secrets to competing in saturated marketIn this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace and QSRweb, chats with Darren Spicer, co-founder of Carolinas-based Clutch Coffee, which has 13 locations.Spicer said customer experience is one of the things that sets Clutch Coffee apart from competitors."It's from the moment you drive onto the property, and the environment we have and the music that's playing outside, the runner who's outside taking that order face to face, all the way through picking up that drink," he said, adding "and taking that first sip before you leave. That's...2025-02-0717 minRestaurant OperatorSmokey Mo's president explains how brand operates in competitive marketIn this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of QSRweb and Pizza Marketplace, talks to Craig Haley, president of barbecue brand Smokey Mo's TX BBQ.The brand launched in 2000 to fanfare from local residents and has 20 restaurants across central Texas with several more under construction."We're just getting started spreading barbecue out to the rest of the world," Haley said.With Texas such a barbecue-competitive state, how does Smokey Mo's compete in a saturated market?"I think for us, it's really about just caring about the product...2025-01-2118 minPizza Marketplace PodcastCrust Pizza Co. CEO explains operations, building own techIn this episode of the Pizza Marketplace Podcast, Editor Mandy Detwiler talks to Carl Comeaux, CEO and partner of Texas-based Crust Pizza Co. Comeaux joined the company after being a fan of its pizza. Crust now has 30 units in Texas and Louisiana and plans to grow another 15 in 2025. It has seven corporate stores and 23 franchised units with a goal of 250 units in nine years."We're looking for owner-operators," Comeaux said in the podcast. "Right now at this stage of where we're at in growth, eventually we'll be looking for multi-unit franchisees that own 10 to 15 other units for...2025-01-1521 minRestaurant OperatorBojangles, Grubbrr execs talk kiosk partnershipIn this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace and QSRweb, talks with Richard Del Valle, chief of staff and chief information officer for Bojangles, and Parrish Chapman, chief revenue officer for Grubbrr, about Bojangles' partnership with Grubbrr for kiosks in house.Bojangles recently ran a trial using Grubbrr's kiosks and is now rolling them out amongst the brand's 800 units."It's part of an ongoing effort on our part to reach the guest the way the guest most wants to be reached," said Del Valle. "We realized there's a...2025-01-0618 minPizza Marketplace PodcastMountain Mike's Pizza CEO talks tight operations, growthIn this episode of the Pizza Marketplace Podcast, Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace, talks to Jim Metevier, CEO of Mountain Mike's Pizza. The California chain of 240 restaurants is making waves on the West Coast with its toppings-heavy pies and tight operations.Metevier has more than 30 years experience in the restaurant industry. He previously served as the company's president and COO before taking the reigns as CEO earlier this year.Metevier said the restaurant business is not for the faint of heart."I always find it funny when I talk to prospective franchisees...2024-12-1221 minRestaurant OperatorChicken Salad Chick CEO talks chicken salad gameIn this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of QSRweb.com and PizzaMarketplace.com, chats with Scott Deviney, CEO of Chicken Salad Chick.The brand was started by two entrepreneurs in Auburn with one making varieties of chicken salad out of her home. The first Chicken Salad Chick location opened in Jan. 2008 with drive-thru and carryout only. The founders made 40 pounds of chicken salad to sell, opened at 11 a.m. and by 1 p.m. were sold out."The business took off. It had a cult following," Deviney said. "Eventually they expanded...2024-12-1018 minPizza Marketplace PodcastHunt brothers talk launching their brand Via 313, rise of Detroit-style pizzaIn this episode of the Pizza Marketplace Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace, talks to Brandon Hunt and Zane Hunt, brothers who launched Via 313 in Austin, Texas.Zane said he and his brother were raised in the Detroit, and grew up eating square pizza, now known as Detroit-style pizza."You thinking about where we're at right now in 2024 with the hyper gentrification of pizza," he said. "Back then, there was just round and square pizza. Round pizza could have been a number of different things. Square pizza could have been a number of...2024-11-2022 minRestaurant OperatorRush Bowls founder leaves financial world for restaurantsIn this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace and QSRweb, talks to Rush Bowls founder Andrew Pudalov, who started out in finance before trading dollar signs for menu items.Pudalov said 9/11 was a trigger for leaving the financial world. His wife worked in the Twin Towers and her first day back from maternity leave was the day the towers came down. He moved his family to Boulder, Colorado, and looked for something "dynamically different," he said."I loved entrepreneurship and I was pretty darn good at what I...2024-11-1120 minPizza Marketplace PodcastLittle Caesars franchisee gone to the dogsIn this episode of the Pizza Marketplace Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace, talks to Little Caesars franchisee Vicki Dunn-Marshall. Dunn-Marshall's focus on philanthropy has led to start Pizza Paws, a campaign that raises money for police K-9 units across the country.The idea came about after there was a prison break in one of the towns where she operates a Little Caesars store. They brought in K-9 units from three or four states for several days."We were feeding the officers," Dunn-Marshall said. "They don't get support for what they do."2024-10-0919 minRestaurant OperatorGong Cha focuses on quality of tea, customer serviceIn this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of PizzaMarketplace.com and QSRweb.com talks to Geoff Henry, president of bubble tea brand Gong Cha."The bubble tea category has been around for quite some time," Henry said in the podcast. "It kind of started back in Asia, typically in Taiwan in the early 1990s. Taiwan is known for its night markets where people can walk around and try different food cuisines that are up and coming."Gong Cha is in 27 countries around the world. To learn more about Gong Cha's...2024-10-0718 minPizza Marketplace PodcastTailGate Brewery owner talks perfect pizza, beer pairingsIn this episode of the Pizza Marketplace Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace, talks to Wesley Keegan, founder of TailGate Brewery, a nine-unit pizzeria and brew hall in Nashville, Tennessee.Keegan started with a brewery, but found his customers would have a beer and then leave to go find food. He tried bringing in food trucks, but that didn't seem to work. Instead, he started his own pizzeria using the best ingredients he could find."We run a full pizza kitchen in all of our stores and it's really a full pizza restaurant...2024-09-1124 minRestaurant OperatorSlim Chickens CEO gives insight into brand's successesIn this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace and QSRweb, talks to Tom Gordon, CEO of Slim Chickens. The brand launched in 2003, has more than 280 units and is based in Fayetteville, Arkansas."We open about a store a week," Gordon said. "We do 50 to 60 domestic stores every year, and we do international stores every year, too. We do business in the U.K., and 54 of those stores are in the U.K."The brand recently opened its first store in Berlin as well.Gordon said the...2024-09-0316 minRestaurant OperatorModern Market Eatery president talks brand excellence, ethosIn this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler interviews Rob McColgan, brand president and co-founder of Modern Market Eatery, at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit about how the brand has evolved since its launched in 2009 in Boulder, Colorado. The brand now has just over 30 units in six states.McColgan admits launching a brand was more difficult than he and his partner thought, "but we were passionate about eating well, and we felt like there wasn't a brand out there — certainly not at scale — where we felt like we could eat at every day," he s...2024-08-2118 minPizza Marketplace PodcastCicis Pizza leads buffet-style pizza concept with customer-focused techIn this episode of the Pizza Marketplace Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace, and Jeff Hetsel, president of Cicis Pizza.Hetsel says Cicis, which is a buffet concept, is doing well with positive sales, and the brand is currently looking for ways to leverage technology to increase those sales."One of the great things we try to do is if you don't see your favorite pizza, we'll make it for you," Hetsel said. Pizzas are cooked in about three and a half minutes.The biggest change the brand has made over...2024-08-1418 minRestaurant OperatorBonchon SVP chats about competing in the chicken market, appealing to AmericansIn this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler talks to Amanda Millikan, vice president of chicken chain Bonchon. Millikan oversees the growth strategy for the United States and has been with the company for a year and a half.The Korean fried chicken brand has been in the U.S. since 2006. The chicken is double fried and hand brushed, making it a standout in the competitive chicken market. "It's amazing and addictive, but then we also have Korean comfort food dishes to complement our fried chicken. It's very approachable to the American palate," Millikan...2024-08-0516 minPizza Marketplace PodcastPizzaiolo launches signature brand in Dana Point, California In this episode of the Pizza Marketplace Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace, talks to John Arena, co-owner of Metro Pizza in Las Vegas. Arena recently opened a signature pizzeria called Truly Pizza in Dana Point, California, with a group of friends. Together, they've built a concept new to the city that brings in both tourists and locals alike. 2024-07-1016 minRestaurant OperatorGivex AI ordering system breathes new life into techConversational AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can chat with guests. It uses natural language processing to understand what you say and respond in a way that mimics human conversation. This technology is used in chatbots and virtual assistants like GivexAI's ordering kiosk used in coffee shops, QSRs and more.In this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of QSRweb and Pizza Marketplace, talks to Dan Hawkes VP of product design for Givex, to learn how Givex's conversational AI programs is helping restaurants reduce labor and increase order efficiency.2024-06-1917 minRestaurant OperatorHow Biscuit Belly added breakfast catering to its operationsIn this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Wolf Detwiler, managing editor of Networld Media Goup, talks to Lauren Coulter, integrator and chief biscuit eater at Biscuit Belly, a Louisville, Kentucky-based biscuit fast casual chain about the brand's catering program.Many restaurants are expanding their reach with dedicated catering programs. These programs offer restaurant-quality food for events, from corporate lunches to social gatherings. Diners can expect menus tailored to their needs, with options ranging from boxed lunches to full buffets. This trend benefits both restaurants and customers. Restaurants gain a new revenue stream, while customers...2024-06-0523 minPizza Marketplace PodcastPizzaForno founder talks food vending machine market in North AmericaIn this episode of the Pizza Marketplace Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace, talks with Les Tomlin, co-founder and president of PizzaForno, North America's first automated pizzeria, about the rise of food vending machines."The concept of automated pizza is relatively new to North America but has been around Europe for almost 20 years," Tomlin told Detwiler. "We found this technology platform — we being my business partner and myself — in France, and we were just amazed that this technology platform had not yet made it to North America."The pizza vending machine helps with squa...2024-05-0813 minRestaurant OperatorBrand leaders offer insight into Restaurant Franchising and Innovation SummitBrand leaders spoke to Restaurant Operator Podcast host Mandy Detwiler at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit held in Kansas City in March.Detwiler spoke to leaders at Longboards Wraps and Bowls, Kansas City International Airport, Hawaii Brothers and more."The Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit offers a wealth of information for restaurant leaders and brands," Detwiler said. "The annual event highlighted some of the most pressing issues in restaurants today, including growth, technology and innovation, restaurant delivery, marketing and more."Listen to what these brands had to say about attending the summit...2024-05-0125 minRestaurant OperatorHow location intelligence can help restaurants identify, cater to customersIn this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace and QSRweb, talks to Charles Wetzel, CEO of Kalibrate, a company specializing in data, software and consultancy to restaurants.Kalibrate, which began in 1970, started on the fuel and convenience side and eventually moved to location intelligence, specifically within the hospitality, retail and restaurant domains."Today, a large portion of our business looks to the restaurant community and looks to identify from a global perspective who your customers are, where they're located, and the value of those customers and how that...2024-04-2417 minRestaurant OperatorGivex's best-in-class POS solution a boon to restaurant brandsIn this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, Networld Media Group Editor Mandy Detwiler chats with Don Smith, director of business development for Givex North America, about the state of the restaurant industry and what's affecting it today. Givex, a best-in-class POS solution, services a number of high-profile brands.Online ordering has grown since the pandemic, and Smith said it has been a "seesaw battle" for many operators. "The more orders they get obviously drives more money to their bottom line," he said. "But the challenge is trying to get more of that dollar for online ordering."2024-04-1915 minRestaurant OperatorRestaurant technology can help lessen burden on restaurantsIn this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, managing editor of Networld Media Group and editor for QSRweb.com and PizzaMarketplace.com, talks to Chris Lybeer, chief strategy and marketing officer for Revel Systems, a cloud-based technology provider, about how tech is changing the restaurant industry today.Lybeer said it's an exciting time for technology brands in the restaurant space as more restaurants rely on it in both the front and back of the house."Costs are going through the roof," Lybeer said when asked what some of the industry's biggest challenges...2024-04-1714 minRestaurant OperatorCORE supports restaurant industry employees in times of needIn this episode of the Restaurant Operator Daily podcast, Mandy Detwiler, editor of PizzaMarketplace.com and QSRweb.com, talks with Emily Gorman, marketing and communications manager for CORE, a national non-profit dedicated to serving restaurant employees with children financial relief when facing a life-altering health crisis, injury, death or national disaster.Gorman said CORE's mission is "to be there for all parts of the restaurant industry." A group of beverage executives met at the National Restaurant Association and a conversation was struck up about the lack of support for the restaurant industry. That discussion led to CORE...2024-03-2211 minPizza Marketplace PodcastChef-driven menu makes Willow Street Pizza stand outPizzeria menus can range from small and tidy to large and complex, but they've all got one thing behind them: research and development.In this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace, talks to Hisham Abdulfattah, partner and executive chef of Willow Street Pizza in Willow Glen and Los Gatos, California, about menu development.Abdulfattah said his first job was working in a kitchen washing dishes at age 14. He later moved on to prep and cooking at a taqueria."I fell in love with the atmosphere of...2024-03-1318 minRestaurant OperatorKeeping the human element alive in QSRs with Doyle HCMIn this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of PizzaMarketplace.com and QSRweb.com, interviews Mike Adolph, partner and vice president of business development for Doyle HCM, about keeping the human element in back office management.Adolph co-founded Doyle HCM, a back office solutions and payroll company, with two partners in 2018. The restaurant space was always in the back of Adolph's mind, and when COVID hit, restaurants needed extra help, especially in the back office space. Doyle HCM was there to pick up the pieces. That hard work allowed Doyle to scale, "and...2024-02-2120 minRestaurant OperatorL&L Hawaiian Barbecue CEO talks diversity, equity and inclusion On this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Wolf Detwiler, managing editor of Networld Media Group, talks to L&L Hawaiian Barbecue CEO Elisia Flores about the brand's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that Flores says are built into her staff as a whole. 2024-01-0317 minRestaurant OperatorFood truck vendor opens sweet brick-and-mortar cheesecake storePodcast host Mandy Detwiler talked to Burks about her start as a food truck owner and what it took to open her first store. 2023-12-1322 minPizza Marketplace PodcastThe art of pizza boxes: Guinness World Record holder a pizza box expert Scott Weiner holds the Guinness World Record for the Largest Collection of Pizza Boxes. Weiner, who owns a pizza touring company in New York City, has become an expert in pizza boxes. Today's boxes hold more than just pizza — they're an extension of the pizzerias themselves. In this episode of the Pizza Marketplace Podcast, Pizza Marketplace Editor Mandy Detwiler talks to Weiner about his collection -- which she personally certified by counting his collection twice. He's got nearly 1,900 pizza boxes now, and his collection has grown out of his Brooklyn apartment to a storage unit. 2023-12-1218 minRestaurant OperatorHow Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill paved way for Middle Eastern cuisine in fast casual industryIn this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, QSRweb Editor Mandy Detwiler talks with Greg Willman, chairman and CEO of Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill, about how the brand has helped pave the way for ethnic cuisine in the fast casual industry. 2023-11-2920 minRestaurant OperatorWhite Castle's AI ordering increases efficiency, eases labor painsQSRweb and Pizza Marketplace Editor Mandy Detwiler talked to Jamie Richardson, vice president of White Castle, to learn how the brand incorporated AI into its ordering process and how it's easing labor issues and increasing efficiency. 2023-10-3016 minPizza Marketplace PodcastText marketing highly effective for pizzeriasIn this episode of the Pizza Marketplace Podcast, editor Mandy Wolf Detwiler speaks with Shane Murphy, co-founder and CEO of Boostly, about the effectiveness of text marketing for restaurants.2023-10-2525 minRestaurant OperatorCustomer service still tops for restaurant staffIn this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler talks to Zak Omar, CEO of Atomic Wings, an emerging wing brand out of New York City.2023-10-1717 minRestaurant OperatorCraft cocktails: How to elevate the art of mixologyIn this episode of Restaurant Operator, podcast host Mandy Wolf Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace and QSRweb, and Don Robinson, CEO and president of Louisville, Kentucky-based Parlour, take a look at how the brand's creative craft cocktail menu raises check averages and sets the pizzeria apart from its competition.2023-09-1519 minPizza Marketplace PodcastPizzaiolo shares tips to make dough stand outIn this episode of The Pizza Marketplace Podcast, Pizza Marketplace Editor Mandy Wolf Detwiler talks to Nick Bogacz, owner of Caliente Pizza & Draft House in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a member of the World Pizza Champions, to learn what makes a great dough, what to avoid and tips to make your dough a standout among the competition.2023-09-0619 min
Pizza Marketplace PodcastPizza survey shows what customers want from their favorite pizzeriasIn this podcast, E.J. Kritz, EVP of customer experience and training with APC, a customer experience research and training company, joins Pizza Marketplace Editor Mandy Wolf Detwiler to explain what customers want from their pizzerias.2023-07-1121 min
Pizza Marketplace PodcastLoyalty programs help increase restaurant's bottom lineIn this episode podcast host Mandy Wolf Detwiler sits down with loyalty experts Larry Fiel and Mike Reinecker of PDQ, and Russ Lehmann, co-owner of Little Italian Pizza in Naperville, Illinois, to learn how the pizzeria is finding success with its loyalty program.2023-05-0519 min