FAST CASUAL - A podcast series by LANDED

In this enlightening episode, Kenrick Burkholder, Director of Recruiting at Mina Group, unveils the art of talent acquisition and nurturing a vibrant culture in the high-stakes world of fine dining. Discover the strategies behind successful staffing, creating a phenomenal candidate experience, and the crucial role of empathy and intellectual curiosity in shaping industry leaders. Kenrick's app...

Embark on a journey through the heart of the hospitality industry with Mark Simpson, an accomplished professional boasting 35 years of invaluable wisdom. Join the conversation to gain profound insights into hiring, recruitment, and training, drawing from Mark's extensive experience in the field. Explore the transformative impact of adapting to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lea...

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dok Kwon, the President and CEO of Cupbop, as he shares invaluable insights into the brand's approach to sustainable growth. Delve into the challenges and benefits of franchising, and discover how Cupbop prioritizes brand strength over location count. Explore the meticulous selection of strong partners and the preference for multi-unit franchisees....

Mastering Multi-Unit Restaurant Management: Navigating Growth, Technology, and the FAST Act

In this enlightening episode of the “Fast Casual” podcast, we delve into the dynamic world of leadership and team dynamics with Mandy Psiaki, Director of Field Operations at Chick-fil-A. This episode, an essential listen for current and aspiring leaders, unravels the traditional frameworks of career progression and leadership. Mandy shares her unique journey from West Point to the forefront of Chi...

As the year winds down, restaurant operators and franchisees find themselves deeply immersed in reflection and planning for the future. Traditional methods of managing and growing a restaurant franchise, while effective, sometimes fall short in addressing the deeper, more strategic elements essential for long-term success. This episode of Fast Casual introduces a fresh, holistic approach to franch...

Driving Operational Efficiency Through A.I. In today’s fast-paced business landscape, staying ahead of the competition is more challenging than ever. The key to success lies in embracing innovation, and there’s no innovation more transformative than A.I. But how’s A.I. reshaping the hospitality industry? In this podcast, you’ll learn the innovative applications of A.I. in improving operations: aut...

Frameworks for Success: Mission and Food-driven Cultures The secret sauce to running a successful restaurant goes beyond having great food: it’s about uplifting the communities you’re serving. On this episode of Fast Casual, you’ll learn about operating family businesses and the “Power of Food” frameworks that Flame Broiler has leveraged to create rapid growth and fierce customer loyalty. It’s a u...

In this episode we welcome guest Carl Osbourn from JUICER

Cultivating Purpose-Driven Retention Strategies for Lasting Employee Loyalty With the industry turnover rate at 150% and increasing, the stakes to retain your employees are higher than ever. To help you understand your employees better and create cultures and programs that keep them with you for the long-term, we’ve invited Fred LeFranc on the latest episode of Fast Casual. As a chief strategist w...

Making Quick Decisions Under Uncertainty No question that since COVID, the dining experience for many has rapidly advanced. From the introduction of concepts like drive-thru only restaurants and QR code menus, it’s safe to say that the industry is experiencing unprecedented change, which requires operators to be privy to the market and make quick decisions that align with their customers’ evolving...

How to Optimize Drive-Thru Excellence with Tech-Driven Efficiency No doubt that technology is reshaping the drive-thru landscape. From streamlining order processes and slashing labor constraints to ensuring impeccable quality control, the drive-thru of tomorrow is here today, and algorithms are at the wheel. To teach you about how tech is reshaping the drive-thru experience, we’ve invited CKE CTO...

Understanding the Field: How to Elevate Corporate Success through Field Operations In today’s fast-paced business landscape, understanding both field and corporate operations is the key to achieving operational excellence. Yet, all too often, the vital role of field operations is misunderstood and overlooked. In this webinar, field operations-turned-corporate operations VP Christie Cruz will delve...

How to manage guest experiences, employers, and operations post-COVID QR code menus, drive-thru-only restaurants, AI — there’s no question that COVID accelerated the adoption of tech in the industry. Being a standout establishment in the competitive landscape today requires you to understand how dining’s evolved and how this change can be leveraged as an advantage. On this episode of Fast Casual,...

How to Build an A-team: Turning Your Employees into Lifers Most operators believe that pay is what matters most to job seekers. The truth is that 25% more candidates prioritize culture over pay, yet many restaurants fail to enforce and scale positive work culture. The stakes to build strong workplace culture are higher than ever, granted that industry turnover is at an all-time high. To help you b...

All restaurants want to improve profitability, but most overlook unseen operational costs. Things like table settings, silverware, and even condiment packets are often hindering your bottom line. If you want to cut your costs, start analyzing and understanding these seemingly insignificant expenses. Listen this podcast to unlock Steve Mancini’s (a.k.a the Strategy Savant) key points on identifying...

Pickup-only restaurants, food lockers, robots - new dining concepts like these are emerging all over the industry and reshaping the way operators are running their restaurants. Join us and Brix Holdings CTO Carissa de Santis to get an insight on what technologies she sees driving the future of dining and learn what technology she’s pioneering at Friendly’s, Smoothie World, Red Mango, and other ico...

Hiring and retaining staff is the #1 problem in the restaurant industry right now - and most hiring managers think that increasing pay is what’s going to keep their employees (spoiler: it’s not) Join us and Earl Enterprise Executive  Michael Beacham  on this episode of Fast Casual to learn what’s really motivating Gen Z workers to stick around long term and how execs at top brands are creating bra...

Based out of sunny Los Angeles, Dave’s Hot Chicken is the nation’s fastest growing chain. Poised to grow by nearly 100% by 2025, it’s backed by top franchisors and household names like Drake, to name a few 😉 

On our inaugural episode of Fast Casual , Josh and Sam revealed the story behind Big Chicken’s origins, Shaq’s visionary move into the chicken business, their exciting plans for future growth, and the importance of brand loyalty. Their exact plans (and what you can do to stay ahead of the curve)?