QSR Uncut
302 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★★ - 27 ratingsQSR Uncut is a podcast from the editors of QSR magazine—the leading publication for foodservice owners and operators—that discusses the current state and future of the fast-food restaurant industry as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Made for restaurant executives, entrepreneurs, consumers, and leaders, each episode candidly shares expert advice from some of the industry's most insightful leaders.
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Episodes
Damon Dunn’s Remarkable Journey from Poverty to NFL to Dunkin’ Franchisee
March 22, 2023 14:00 - 43 minutes - 30 MBFormer NFL athlete and current Dunkin’ operator Damon Dunn has come a long way since growing up in dire straits. He joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to share one of QSR Uncut’s most remarkable stories yet, from tips to inspire to how to run a thriving franchise operation and win the labor battle. This is one you won’t want to miss.
What Awaits Restaurants in 2023
March 17, 2023 12:00 - 36 minutes - 25 MBKellie Zimmerman, the president and CRO of customer data platform Brightloom, joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to discuss the state of the industry and what data is really telling us about the consumer mindset as we near a potential recession. How is data science transforming restaurant menus? What are some of the top restaurant leaders in the space highlighting as their biggest concerns? We get into that and much, much more in this week’s wide-ranging discussion.
The Improbable Story of Dillas Quesadillas
March 15, 2023 14:00 - 42 minutes - 29.2 MBKyle and Maggie Gordon put all their chips into a dream, and a fast-food category unlike any other. After some rocky and eventful early days, Dillas Quesadillas did more than hit its stride—it found a niche that’s brimming with growth potential. The Gordons join QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to share a true entrepreneurial, American dream tale, complete with “Napoleon Dynamite” references, and a look into what’s next for one of the category’s most exciting concepts.
Norman Wu Builds the Next Great Poké Brand
March 10, 2023 14:00 - 36 minutes - 25.1 MBNorman Wu, who launched Conscious Hospitality Group in his 20s, has already seen impressive growth in less than 10 years. With a motto of “people over profits,” Just Poké scaled to 19 restaurants and projects 31 by year’s end. Wu shares his history, winning philosophy, and plans for the future with QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley in this wide-ranging look at what it takes to create a fast-casual brand, grow it, and position for sustained success.
One of TIME’s Best Inventions Disrupts the Restaurant Industry
March 08, 2023 19:00 - 34 minutes - 23.6 MBChristine Schindler, CEO and cofounder of PathSpot, joins QSR Editorial Director Danny Klein to chat about a technology featured as one of TIME’s Best Inventions, and called a “World Changing Idea" by Fast Company. Pathspot has scanned millions of hands around the country at major restaurant chains, airports, schools, manufacturing facilities, and more. Learn how Christine co-founded the company in August 2017, what she's learned about entrepreneurship since, and how a biomedical engineer so...
The State of Digital in Fast Food and Fast Casual
March 02, 2023 14:00 - 50 minutes - 35 MBOperators from 85-plus brands representing over 35,000 locations share their key priorities and initiatives for the next two years in Qu’s fourth-annual State of Digital report. CMO Jen Kern joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to discuss the findings and break down the top eight technology trends to watch in 2023. This is one deep dive you won’t want to miss. Full report here: https://www.qubeyond.com/2023-state-of-digital-for-fast-casual-qsr-restaurants/
Fat Boy’s Goes Beyond The World’s Biggest Slice
February 23, 2023 18:00 - 39 minutes - 27.5 MBGabe Corchiani opened Fat Boy's Pizza with wife, Karen, in 2019. Inspired to create massive 30-inch pies and bring them to New Orleans, the brand is now in take-off mode. Corchiani joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to talk about the backstory behind the New York style concept, and why it’s ready to go big in more ways than one.
Chicago’s Original Italian Beef Maker Readies for Growth
February 16, 2023 17:00 - 33 minutes - 22.8 MBOriginally founded by Joe and Peggy Buonavolanto and their five sons, Buona started with the goal of using family recipes and fresh ingredients to feed the masses. Today, Buona remains family-owned and operated with the third generation of Buonavolontos now working alongside the five original founding brothers. Buona has grown significantly over the last four years with 26 restaurant locations across Illinois and Northwest Indiana. Joe Buonavolanto III joins QSR editor Danny Klein to chat ab...
[NextGen] Huckleberry CEO Greg Graber and The Magic of Differentiation
February 09, 2023 18:00 - 38 minutes - 26.7 MBThere's nothing quite like Huckleberry’s in today's breakfast and lunch game. The NextGen Casual's “Southern Cookin’ With a California Twist" has earned a fervent following. Now, it's time to take the surging franchise to 100 locations and beyond. CEO Greg Graber joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to recap the journey thus far, why Huckleberry’s unique nature is resonating with guests, and why the best is still to come.
Huckleberry CEO Greg Graber and The Magic of Differentiation
February 09, 2023 18:00 - 38 minutes - 26.7 MBThere's nothing quite like Huckleberry’s in today's breakfast and lunch game. The NextGen Casual's “Southern Cookin’ With a California Twist" has earned a fervent following. Now, it's time to take the surging franchise to 100 locations and beyond. CEO Greg Graber joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to recap the journey thus far, why Huckleberry’s unique nature is resonating with guests, and why the best is still to come.
The Future of Guest Engagement
February 02, 2023 15:00 - 32 minutes - 22.7 MBPaytronix CEO Andrew Robbins joins QSR Editorial Director Danny Klein to discuss the changing face of loyalty and engagement as the restaurant industry continues to emerge from the pandemic. How should brands think differently about how they keep guests happy and engaged? Let’s ask the company that pioneered restaurant loyalty more than 20 years ago.
There’s a New Smoothie Competitor on the Block
January 19, 2023 18:00 - 40 minutes - 28.2 MBAmir Mostafavi was a D.C. pioneer when it came to cold-pressed juice, smoothies, and acai bowls. But now, regional cult-favorite fast casual South Block has its sights set on big-time growth. The brand’s 15th location will open in summer 2023 at the East Coast Amazon HQ2 in Arlington. The unit will mark South Block’s fourth opening within a 12-month period. Yet this mission-driven journey is just getting started.
Pioneering Froyo’s Next Wave, with Yogurtland President Sam Yoon
January 12, 2023 17:00 - 40 minutes - 28 MBThe category icon isn't letting off the throttle, from a growth or innovation angle, as the froyo segment evolves into its next act. From development best practices to rules to run a company by, brand president Sam Yoon joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to discuss entrepreneurship, the chain's future, and what it takes to thrive amid constantly changing restaurant conditions.
The World's First Cupcake Bakery is Going Global
January 05, 2023 18:00 - 39 minutes - 27.2 MBSprinkles, creators of the famed Cupcake ATM, just opened its first U.S. franchise. Is this the start of a major growth push? CEO Dan Mesches joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to discuss what promises to be a category-shaking stretch for the brand, and why its menu innovation and approach to marketing continue to drive results.
Is Restaurant Training Broken?
December 29, 2022 13:00 - 36 minutes - 25.1 MBSam Caucci, founder and CEO of 1Huddle, joins QSR editor Danny Klein to address what’s really causing the labor shortage for restaurants, and where the path to a better solution begins. Is mobile gamification the answer? Does the retention problem go deeper? We get into that and much more. Happy holidays from the QSR Uncut team!
Krystal’s Mission to Win Back Customer Loyalty
December 22, 2022 14:00 - 44 minutes - 30.5 MBBankrupt to bankrolling: One of America’s oldest fast-food chains is back on the offensive with a new marketing direction, double-digit sales growth, and plans to hit 500 locations by 2027. And it all starts with the message. CMO Casey Terrell and Jon Greenlee, SVP of sales and marketing at Sparkfly, join QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley for a wide-ranging and freewheeling talk about how Krystal is leveraging new technology to innovate and improve its customer experience, from 2 Chainz ...
What Consumers Really Want from Food Delivery
December 15, 2022 13:00 - 47 minutes - 32.8 MBNoah Hayes, general manager, U.S. and Canada at Deliverect, a global scale-up company that simplifies digital orders for more than 27,000 locations across 40 markets, joins QSR editor Danny Klein to break down some proprietary—and perhaps surprising—research on the state of the delivery consumer amid record-high inflation. As it turns out, there’s one piece of good news every operator needs to circle and prepare for as the industry continues its recovery out of the COVID-19 pandemic. LINK TO...
Evolution at the World’s Largest Hot Dog Chain
December 08, 2022 20:00 - 42 minutes - 29.3 MBHow do you take a legendary brand and bring it into the future? QSR editor Danny Klein catches up with Wienerschnitzel COO Rusty Bills, a 15-year Galardi Group vet who has helped the nearly 350-unit brand emerge from COVID-19 with more optimism than ever. And that’s coming from a concept that serves more than 120 million hot dogs annually.
Location-Based Tech is Disrupting the Restaurant Industry
December 01, 2022 17:00 - 38 minutes - 26.6 MBNick Patrick, the CEO of Radar, a company that’s helped brands like Panera Bread leverage technology to meet customers’ needs, joins QSR editor Danny Klein to talk about one of the hottest topics of the space. How can location deliver experiences that keep guests coming back? How does it provide benefits on the operational side? Nick and Danny get into that and a whole lot more.
Main Squeeze CEO Thomas Nieto on Building the Next Big Juice Brand
November 23, 2022 14:00 - 43 minutes - 30 MBEntrepreneur Thomas Nieto stumbled upon Main Squeeze after a friend introduced him to the founders and they offered him a juice. The rest is history. From partnering with NFL players to a major capital investment, the Louisiana-based concept is primed for take-off in 2023 and beyond.
NFTs, Web3, and the Restaurant Industry: Should We Invest?
November 17, 2022 15:00 - 33 minutes - 22.9 MBAre these buzzy topics just headline-grabbers or something far more for restaurants? Savneet Singh, president and CEO of PAR Technology Corp., joins QSR editor Danny Klein to chat about crypto, NFTs, what Starbucks is doing with Web3, and much more. Let's peer into the future of one of the most disruptive categories to hit the sector in recent memory.
[NextGen] Condado Tacos Rewrites the Rulebook
November 15, 2022 14:00 - 44 minutes - 30.9 MBOur first NextGen Casual episode, featuring industry icon Chris Artinian, explores what the future of full-service dining will look like in a post-COVID world, why it matters to quick-service chains, and why Condado Tacos is the perfect example of why it’s a brighter and more exciting landscape than ever.
The Making of a Food Truck Empire, with Marcus Crawford
November 01, 2022 15:00 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MBMarcus Crawford, the award-winning founder of Bro-Ritos, a food truck business that serves the NYC/New Jersey metro area, joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to discuss his brand’s journey—what food truck companies often get wrong; how to get it right; and how you hit the road from one truck to two, and beyond.
The Unsung Hero of the Takeout and Delivery Boom
October 26, 2022 19:00 - 39 minutes - 26.9 MBWhat's one restaurant topic operators can't live without but seldom grabs headlines? Packaging. And it's never been as critical as it is today given the delivery, takeout, and digital revolution taking place industry-wide. Ian Jacobson, president of Eco-Products, joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to talk about compostable packaging, sustainability, and how to navigate some of the supply issues challenging the sector.
Noodles & Company CMO Stacey Pool on Culture and 'Uncommon Goodness'
October 19, 2022 15:00 - 44 minutes - 30.3 MBNoodles & Company's chief marketing officer, Stacey Pool, joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to dive into the fast casual's industry-leading benefits program and unique culture. From inflation tactics to winning the talent war, the fast casual is setting the bar in a post-COVID restaurant world.
Noodles & Company CMO Stacey Pool on Culture and 'Uncommon Goodness'
October 19, 2022 15:00 - 44 minutes - 30.3 MBNoodles & Company's chief marketing officer, Stacey Pool, joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to dive into the fast casual's industry-leading benefits program and unique culture. From inflation tactics to winning the talent war, the fast casual is setting the bar in a post-COVID restaurant world.
Shipley Do-Nuts CEO Clifton Rutledge and the Rebirth of a Legacy Brand
October 12, 2022 15:00 - 35 minutes - 24.6 MBIndustry veteran Clifton Rutledge has helped reface the iconic chain since joining in 2021, including the launch of Shipley’s first advertising and marketing campaign and the introduction of a high-quality coffee beverage program. Even though the company has been around since the 1930s, there are still ways to adapt and grow, and Shipley's is just getting started.
The Way America Wants to Eat, with Native Foods CEO Carin Stutz
October 05, 2022 13:00 - 42 minutes - 29.3 MBWith a lengthy and storied restaurant resume, from Red Robin to Applebee’s to McAlister’s Deli, Carin Stutz, the president and CEO of vegan fast casual Native Foods, joins QSR editor Danny Klein to dish on flexitarians, indulgence, and making a booming category work for everybody. Where can the brand and plant-based movement go from here? The consumer is going to lead the way.
The State of the Restaurant Industry
September 28, 2022 18:00 - 33 minutes - 23.2 MBLee Schulman, president of Panacea Management Group Consulting and owner of Atlanta’s famed Old Vinings Inn, joins QSR editor Danny Klein to dive into the current and future state of things. From supply chain challenges to the labor crisis to inflation, Schulman offers his insider look at how to navigate the present and prepare for a post-COVID economy.
Can We Fix Food Delivery Management?
September 22, 2022 14:00 - 41 minutes - 28.5 MBZhong Xu, who created the first iPad POS in EMEA in 2012, is on a mission to simplify what’s long been one of the restaurant world’s biggest friction points. Operating in over 40 markets around the world, Deliverect is helping brands like Taco Bell and Burger King do just that.
The Chicken Chain with a Million TikTok Followers
September 15, 2022 14:00 - 44 minutes - 30.3 MBShawn Lalehzarian went from working as a dishwasher who didn’t speak English to the founder and CEO of The Red Chickz, a Nashville hot chicken fast casual that’s erupted onto the scene. The brand’s massive social media presence rivals some of the sector’s largest brands. How did Red Chickz get there and what’s next? Lalehzarian joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to offer a glimpse into the future as well as a look back at one entrepreneurial success story that’s only getting started.
Lunchbox CEO Nabeel Alamgir Takes the Gloves Off
September 09, 2022 13:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MBThe outspoken and always candid CEO and cofounder of digital ordering and marketing platform Lunchbox joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to reveal an exciting new innovation for the company, as well as his uncut thoughts on third-party delivery, the state of restaurant tech, and why he needs to escape White Plains, New York.
Sparking Major Franchise Growth: Mici Italian Part 2
September 02, 2022 13:00 - 41 minutes - 28.4 MBMici Italian CEO Elliot Schiffer and Chief Growth Officer Matt Stanton join QSR Editor Danny Klein to discuss the brand’s franchise journey, challenges and successes, on the heels of a pandemic. The upstart has plenty of history, but franchise growth is a new frontier; and Mici started off hot—striking a 30-unit deal right out of the gate.
Sparking Major Franchise Growth: Mici Italian Part 2
September 02, 2022 13:00 - 41 minutes - 28.4 MBMici Italian CEO Elliot Schiffer and Chief Growth Officer Matt Stanton join QSR Editor Danny Klein to discuss the brand’s franchise journey, challenges and successes, on the heels of a pandemic. The upstart has plenty of history, but franchise growth is a new frontier; and Mici started off hot—striking a 30-unit deal right out of the gate.
[BONUS] Del Taco Makes a Big Move
August 29, 2022 14:00 - 42 minutes - 29 MBDel Taco chief marketing officer Tim Hackbardt returns to QSR Uncut for a special episode to announce a new multi-faceted brand initiative that's launching on September 1, and the menu lineup that's going to kick it all off.
The Right Way to Rebrand: Mici Italian Part 1
August 25, 2022 15:00 - 37 minutes - 26.1 MBElliot Schiffer and Kim Miceli from Mici Italian join QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to discuss rebranding a legacy restaurant chain after 18 years. How do you pick an agency to work with? What are the keys to balancing heritage traits with modern twists, especially as major growth knocks? We get into that and much more in Part 1 of a two-part series on the brand’s fast-evolving future.
Growth During the Supply Chain Crisis: Velvet Taco Vol. 2
August 19, 2022 12:00 - 42 minutes - 29 MBIn the second part of QSR Uncut's two-part series with Velvet Taco, QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley chat with the fast casual's director of supply chain, Colby Wilson. Few topics today loom larger on the minds of operators, whether its supply itself or the roller coaster of costs over the past few months. Will inflation continue to surge? How can you navigate the adversity and still manage to expand your brand? We get into that and much more.
Into the Innovation Lab with Velvet Taco's Venecia Willis
August 11, 2022 20:00 - 37 minutes - 26 MBVenecia Willis, director of culinary innovation at growing fast casual Velvet Taco, chats with QSR editor Danny Klein about the brand's legendary menu; what goes into launching a different LTO every single week across 34 locations (like cricket tacos), and how is the brand navigating today's restaurant climate, from a Sriracha shortage to other supply hurdles. Also, would anybody eat a gummy worm taco?
How to Win the Mobile App Revolution
August 04, 2022 19:00 - 48 minutes - 33.3 MBAdam Blacker, the VP of insights at Apptopia, joins QSR editor Danny Klein to discuss one of the biggest topics in the restaurant industry today. Which fast-food brands are winning the app wars? How do you keep loyal guests coming back with rewards? What can restaurants learn from competitors' marketing mistakes and successes? All that and much more as we dive into the growing battleground that is mobile and digital technology.
Rush Bowls CEO Andrew Pudalov on Blazing the Trail
July 28, 2022 19:00 - 37 minutes - 25.6 MBFounder and CEO Andrew Pudalov left a New York financing career to open a restaurant that offered filling, yet healthy meal replacements for people on the go. That dream became Rush Bowls, which opened in Boulder, Colorado, in 2004, at the onset of the healthy-eating craze, and is now on the cusp of major growth. Pudalov joins QSR editor Danny Klein to look back at the journey, as well as what’s ahead in 2022 and beyond.
The Restaurant-preneur Teaching World-Class Company Culture
July 21, 2022 16:00 - 55 minutes - 37.8 MBMichel Falcon is a serial entrepreneur and best-selling author who went from earning $15/hour in a call center to advising billion-dollar brands and building a $15 million hospitality company in Toronto in two years. Falcon, who is now scaling fast casual Brasa Peruvian Kitchen, joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to talk about how restaurants can create a company culture that defies the labor odds—what steps most leaders miss, costly mistakes to avoid, and how to ensure your company...
A Vision Into the Future of Fast Food
July 13, 2022 15:00 - 48 minutes - 33.2 MBSam Zietz, CEO of GRUBBRR, an industry-leading provider of self-ordering technologies, and Karl Goodhew, chief technology officer of BurgerFi, join the QSR team to talk about the systems and trends disrupting the restaurant landscape. Are we headed toward a world without cashiers? Why are kiosks resonating with today’s consumer? That and much more as we prepare for the next era of hospitality. Note: This podcast was sponsored by GRUBBRR.
From Restaurant Owner to CEO: Pizza Factory’s Mary Jane Riva
July 08, 2022 14:00 - 42 minutes - 28.9 MBMary Jane Riva has been an entrepreneur for 20-plus years, starting out as a Pizza Factory restaurant owner and then transitioning into the head of the organization. Under her guidance and expertise, she’s helped the brand grow to 100-plus locations. And now, the chain is on the verge of record-setting expansion.
El Pollo Loco CMO Andy Rebhun on the Future of Restaurant Innovation
June 29, 2022 16:00 - 40 minutes - 28.1 MBEl Pollo Loco CMO Andy Rebhun has led the charge of the chicken chain's lean into digital in recent years. He joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to chat about his unique marketing strategy and vision, one of the hottest LTOs in recent memory, and El Pollo Loco's interest in continued innovation, from drone delivery on.
The Tech Trends Changing Fast Food After COVID
June 22, 2022 20:00 - 41 minutes - 28.7 MBKevin Rice, the EVP of Bounteous, a company that works with brands like Domino’s, Panda Express, and Wingstop, joins QSR editor Danny Klein to talk about the state of restaurant technology, what’s to come, and what COVID reactions are here to stay in the wake of the pandemic. How will loyalty change? Digital ordering? That and much more in this wide-ranging chat.
Lessons from an Entrepreneur: PITA Mediterranean Street Food CEO Nour Rabai
June 16, 2022 15:00 - 37 minutes - 26 MBA dream of opening an authentic Lebanese restaurant brought Nour Rabai to Atlanta, and he’s been a trailblazer opening new restaurants and sharing his family’s recipes ever since. Rabai joins QSR editor Danny Klein to talk about the rapid growth of fast casual Pita Mediterranean Street Food, what he’s learned along the way, and what it’s going to take to scale and thrive in one of the most complex markets in restaurant history.
Pokeworks CEO Steve Heeley on Turning an Idea Into an Empire
June 08, 2022 15:00 - 44 minutes - 30.7 MBConceptualized in 2015, Pokeworks was created after the founders returned from one of many trips to Hawaii. Now, it’s taking aim at global growth, and it’s no great mystery why. The fast casual has seen major sale increases with the top 25 percent of franchise locations reaching an AUV of $1–2 million.
Sweetfin President Seth Cohen on Leading the Poke Craze
May 25, 2022 19:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBSweetfin’s culinary philosophy, “Pole to Bowl,” has brought to the doorstep of major growth. Brand president and co-founder Seth Cohen joins QSR editor Danny Klein to discuss the concept's rise, how it got started, the red-hot category's future, and why sustainability should play a role in all of the above.
Steele Smiley is Out to Reinvent Fast Food
May 20, 2022 15:00 - 46 minutes - 32 MBSteele Smiley, CEO and founder of Crisp & Green—one of the category’s fastest-growing franchises—has a new plant-based brand with major potential. Creating, growing, and disrupting the market is nothing new for Smiley, however, who went from a fitness empire to the business of healthy eating, and has zero plans of letting up.
Lessons from an Entrepreneur: Beyond Juicery + Eatery Co-Founder Mijo Alanis
May 13, 2022 19:00 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MBMijo Alanis, co-founder of Beyond Juicery + Eatery, has been in the restaurant industry most of his life, starting as a busboy. But he always had bigger aspirations. He started Beyond Juicery + Eatery with his wife, Pam, after noticing customers' needs were changing, specifically that people began to trade fries for salads and knew there was a void for healthy food options in Michigan. And now? He's directing one of the category's fastest risers.