Podcast: Restaurant and Retail Revel(ations)

In this episode of the Restaurant and Retail Revel(ations) podcast, PDQ Chief Operating Officer Eric Knott shares how listening to your customers, testing your ideas, and caring about your people are part of the fast-casual restaurant’s recipe for success. PDQ stands for “People Dedicated to Quality,” and true to the brand’s name, the PDQ franchise goes to great lengths to ensure it ranks among th...

In this episode of the Restaurant and Retail Revel(ations) podcast, Revel Systems Chief Strategy Officer Chris Lybeer returns to the guest seat to explore how far the industry has come in the way of technology innovation, key questions merchants are faced with today, and what lies ahead in the increasingly complex space of order management software. Restaurant technology acceleration has only gain...

In this episode of the Restaurant and Retail Revel(ations) podcast, Pepper Lunch CEO of the North American division Troy Hooper explains what teppanyaki means, especially within the context of DIY fast food. Whether you’re wondering, “are teppanyaki and hibachi the same?” or “where did Pepper Lunch originate from?” you won’t want to miss Troy’s insights. From hot, sizzling plates of made-to-order...

Many people take their pizza very seriously. Ask anyone whether pineapple and pizza are a match made in heaven or a culinary abomination, or pit a defender of Detroit-style pizza against a Chicago-style evangelist. While Midwest pizza chain Dewey’s Pizza doesn’t take a hard stance on regional pizza styles, they offer a playful take on classics and seasonally-inspired pies with a common ingredient...

As we come to 2023’s close, podcast co-hosts Julie and Sydney reflect on a year of new episodes. A few common topics emerged from this year’s content, including artificial intelligence restaurant applications, labor trends and innovative restaurant technology. In this episode, hear clips on these topics from featured guests from some of our most streamed content throughout 2023. A new year is sure...

Tune in to episode 45 of the Restaurant and Retail Revel(ations) podcast to hear from Michael Keller, president and CEO of Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, about the brand’s strategic roadmap, its recent accolades and takeaways from the annual Frog Squad Summit. You’ll want to listen to the end for a fun fact about Michael connecting two whimsical animals with surprisingly relevant career lessons.

Restaurant365 Solutions Engineer Rich Sweeney (of Top Chef fame!) explores how the right tech stack can answer the following question for restaurants: How can we make your life easier? From data insights into the factors driving restaurant profits and losses to new artificial intelligence (AI) tools, R365 has some amazing solutions available for today’s busy operators. Don’t miss this episode of t...

In this episode of Restaurant and Retail Revel(ations) we hear from not one, but two of the leaders at Gusto!, a scaling Atlanta-based fast casual restaurant chain. Founder Nate Hybl and VP of Operations Richmond Green explore a wide range of topics, from tech integrations for customer loyalty and online ordering, to menu innovation, and beyond. Listen now for insights into the cool developments a...

Schedulefly Partner Wil Brawley joins us in the guest seat of episode 42 of Restaurant and Retail Revel(ations) to share more about the company's mission to simplify employee scheduling. With over 6,000 customers today and counting, Schedulefly relies on—you guessed it—simple software to take the burden of complex employee scheduling off of the operator and staff. Tune in to hear from Wil as he sh...

Florida-based Southern Steer Butcher is making a name for itself in the sustainable, field to table consumer segment. This year the butcher chain will celebrate 10 years in business, and according to Founder & President Greg Snyder, their focus on quality sourcing and customer service are a huge part of their success to date. Tune in to learn more from Greg as he shares a closer look at Southe...

Online ordering and delivery continue to be critical revenue streams for restaurants, and Revel Integrated Partner Deliverect addresses the third-party ordering challenges facing restaurants and consumers head on. Tune in to episode 40 of Restaurant and Retail Revel(ations) to learn more about Deliverect's solution directly from Joe Heather, Ireland & UK general manager at Deliverect. Joe also...

Revel Integrated Partner Waitrr offers QR ordering and payments solutions, helping restaurants meet the demands of today's busy consumer while also streamlining the front of house experience for staff. Join the hosts of Restaurant and Retail Revel(ations) and Waitrr Chief Operating Officer Tim Davies as they discuss the many ways Waitrr's solution encourages efficiencies across a restaurant's ecos...

When Scott Moore co-founded Maple Street Biscuit Company, he had no idea just how popular the brand’s comfort food with a twist was going to be. Now it’s a growing franchise so attractive that it was purchased by Cracker Barrel in 2019. Hear from Scott in this episode of Restaurant and Retail Revel(ations) on the importance of community, sticking to foundational principles and identity, and how th...

For Mani Bhushan, an Indian immigrant who founded Texas-based Taco Ocho after years working his way through the ranks of restaurant chains, his multi-site concept offered a way to bring fresh, healthy, and vegetarian options to Dallas-area diners. The brand is also a love letter to the many flavors and textures inspired by eight different Latin American countries. Listen to this episode of Restaur...

In this episode of Restaurant and Retail Revel(ations), learn how Pizza Patrón and Wingstop are closely connected, as well as how the pizza brand’s identity and tech stack have evolved over time from Juan Reyes, the pizzeria’s director of marketing & development. Could this be the restaurant chain that puts “San Antonio-style pizza” on the map? Listen now and decide for yourself!

Ken McGarrie is co-founder of Korgen Hospitality, COO of Fabio Viviani Restaurants, and best-selling author of The Surprise Restaurant Manager. In episode 35 of the Restaurant and Retail Revel(ations) podcast, he is also the featured guest! Tune in to this episode for some of Ken’s advice on transitioning into restaurant management for the first time, what features to prioritize for restaurant tec...

As a Revel Solution Partner, the team behind Delaware Business Systems—or DBS for short—plays an integral role in getting Revel’s cloud-native technology into the hands of new clients. And with nearly 40 years in the point of sale market, there’s a reason DBS is such a trusted name in the industry. DBS Sales Manager Pat Hynson joins us in the guest seat to give us a closer look at what it means to...

In spite of economic headwinds and on-going supply chain challenges, restaurants can enjoy respite in a well-executed customer engagement program. Paytronix VP of Partnerships and Business Development Dan Murphy joins us in this episode to unpack how his company—a clear leader in the customer engagement and loyalty space—leverages direct integration with POS platforms like Revel Systems to provide...

In episode 32 of the Restaurant and Retail Revel(ations) podcast, Revel Chief Financial Officer Josh Boyer joins the co-hosts to talk finance, leadership, and 2023 forecasting. Tune in to hear from Josh as he reflects on his own career and leadership journey and offers a glimpse into the macro trends he’s keeping a close eye on as budget season continues and the new year draws near.

CEO of Red’s Savoy Pizza Reed Daniels joins us in the guest seat for episode 31 of Restaurant and Retail Revel(ations). Since getting its start in 1965, this founder-driven brand has made a name for itself with a fresh, signature twist on a menu classic: Sota-style pizza. Creative marketing campaigns, unique menu elements like “passive aggressive sauce,” and a healthy amount of technology all play...

Episode 30 of Restaurant and Retail Revel(ations) features insights from Bubbakoo’s Burritos Chief Financial Officer Chris Ives. With ties to the Jersey Shore, boardwalk themes and fresh ingredients are staples of this popular burrito spot. Today Bubbakoo's has locations scattered across the U.S., and this successful franchise credits much of its continued growth to the integrated technology that...

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Pancheros Mexican Grill, and Director of Franchise Development Joe Gale joins us in the guest seat to share more about the milestone. Fresh-pressed tortillas and scratch-cooked ingredients have always been hallmarks of this midwest-based burrito brand. But it's the more recent additions of their native app and robust loyalty program, to name a few, that cont...

Pizza Factory President and CEO Mary Jane (MJ) Riva joins us in the guest seat of episode 28. MJ began her journey with Pizza Factory as a franchisee and eventually bought the company in 2012. Since then, the team has scaled the beloved pizza concept from coast to coast, focusing on fresh ingredients, technology, and a community-centric approach to business. Tune in to hear more from MJ on how Piz...

Prakash Karamchandani, CEO & co-founder of Balance Pan-Asian Grille, joins us in the guest seat for Episode 27 of Restaurant and Retail Revel(ations). Since launching the concept in Toledo, Ohio, Prakash and co-founder HoChan Jang have already scaled the hip spot for clean, Asian-inspired dishes to five locations and counting. Each day the whole team applies the concept of “kaizen,” the Japane...

Mike Spence, chief technology officer & executive director of store operations at Gravity Coffee, joins us in the guest seat to discuss how Gravity Coffee's drive thru model has helped them stand out in the competitive coffee vertical. Based in Pacific Washington, this tech-savvy coffee chain is growing rapidly, crediting their thoughtfully crafted coffee and customer-centric business approach...