Fast Casual Nation Restaurant Podcast

Join Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler as they explore fast casual's global expansion with brands like Teriyaki Madness and Mason's Famous Lobster making international debuts. Discover how beverage innovation—from craft mocktails to full bars—is reshaping the segment while fast casual continues to outperform both QSR and casual dining in same-store sales. The hosts analyze Chili's strategic position...

In this engaging Fast Casual Nation episode, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler interview Josh Spiegelman of Roam Artisan Burgers about transforming the better burger segment. Discover how this six-location Bay Area concept balances premium sourcing (100% grass-fed beef, free-range turkey) with accessible pricing while innovating through Web3 loyalty, thoughtful store design, and sustainability...

In this eye-opening episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Mark Lohmann, CEO of the rapidly growing chicken concept Birdcall. Discover how this 15-unit brand is disrupting the competitive chicken sandwich space with its award-winning food, proprietary "Poncho" technology system, and strategic growth approach. Lohmann shares valuable insights on balancing...

Newk's Eatery CEO Frank Paci joins Fast Casual Nation to discuss how the 98-location chain is adapting to major industry shifts. With off-premise sales now representing 55% of their business (including 11% from catering), Newk's is building smaller restaurants, implementing digital ordering solutions, and revamping their catering program. Paci shares insights on their expansion strategy targeting...

Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler interview Cassidy Jones, founder of Atlanta's LOL Burger Bar, who reveals how she's disrupting the better burger segment with creative menu items like acronym-named burgers and over-the-top "freak shakes." With two locations already operating and plans for a food truck, Jones shares her ambitious franchising strategy, social media marketing...

In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler interview Hady Kfoury, CEO of fast-growing Middle Eastern concept NAYA. Kfoury shares how his Lebanese-inspired brand has grown to 31 locations with plans for 200 by 2030. The conversation covers NAYA's Chipotle-inspired assembly line model, strategic positioning in the Northeast, digital ordering evolution, and innovativ...

Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler interview Buena Papa founders James and Joanna Windon about their innovative loaded fries concept. The Colombian-inspired brand serves premium hand-cut fries topped with global flavors like their signature Mexicano. From humble beginnings in a Raleigh food hall to a $400,000 Shark Tank deal with Robert Herjavec, Buena Papa has overcome chall...

Discover TikiTaco, the innovative Kansas City fast casual brand making waves in the restaurant industry. CEO Eric Knott shares how this emerging restaurant concept blends technology, creative Mexican-inspired cuisine, and strategic growth, attracting 600 new customers through third-party delivery in just one month. With locations ranging from walkup windows to full-service spaces, TikiTaco represe...

In this insightful episode of Fast Casual Nation, host Paul Barron speaks with Charles Bililies, Founder and CEO of Souvla, about pioneering the "fast fine" category that blends counter service with full-service restaurant quality. Bililies shares how Souvla has maintained its core menu for 11 years while serving over a million meals annually across six locations, appealing to Gen Z through omnich...

In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler interview Jane McPherson, SVP of Marketing at Penn Station East Coast Subs. McPherson discusses the brand's impressive growth to 320 locations across 14 states, their strategic approach to technology adoption, and commitment to quality through their signature cheesesteaks and fresh-cut fries. She shares insights on their...

Daniel and Rosa Figueredo turned their passion into a thriving Cuban sandwich business by embracing hustle, sacrifice, and authentic storytelling. Starting from their childhood home with minimal resources, they built Sanguich into a viral brand without spending a single dollar on influencers. Their strategic approach focuses on quality, community engagement, and measured growth, proving that succe...

In this insightful Fast Casual Nation podcast episode, Sam Stanovich of Big Chicken reveals how they're revolutionizing franchise development with AI-powered conversational applications that evaluate candidates based on values rather than just financials. He shares exciting plans for AI implementation in equipment maintenance troubleshooting, customer-facing kiosks featuring Shaquille O'Neal's per...

In this eye-opening episode, we dive deep with Flytrex CEO Yariv Bash to explore how drone delivery is revolutionizing the restaurant industry. With over 130,000 successful deliveries under their belt, Flytrex has become America's largest drone delivery service, bringing hot food to customers' backyards in just 3-4 minutes. The future of food delivery looks promising as Bash reveals how their dron...

Meet Brandon Knudsen, the visionary behind Ziggi's Coffee's remarkable journey from a college dream to a 100+ location powerhouse. In this exclusive interview, Brandon reveals how Ziggi's has mastered the art of serving both traditional coffee enthusiasts and Gen Z customers, with a unique menu spanning craft coffee, energy drinks, and the trending dirty soda category. Discover their innovative ap...

Join Fast Casual Nation's Paul Baron as he sits down with Urbane Cafe founder Tom Holt to explore sustainable growth in the fast casual sector. From strategic expansion in second-tier markets to addressing labor challenges and maintaining community connections, Holt shares invaluable insights from building a successful 34-unit California brand that emphasizes quality, value, and authentic hospital...

Big Chicken and PepsiCo are collaborating to innovate in the fast-casual restaurant industry, with a strong focus on appealing to Gen Z consumers. Their partnership involves developing new menu items, enhancing digital engagement, and addressing changing preferences such as zero-calorie options and spicier flavors. Both companies are adapting to Gen Z's snacking habits and emphasizing sustainabili...

Mooyah Burgers and Dillas have successfully engaged Gen Z by understanding their preferences for quality, personalization, and community. Both brands prioritize authenticity, social media, and technology to connect with this demographic. Employee retention is a key focus, achieved through positive work environments and tech-enabled training. GenZ #RestaurantIndustry #marketingstrategy 🫶 Subscribe...

🫶 Subscribe NOW - Unlock a world of knowledge, innovation, and growth from the largest podcast network in food service! - https://savorfm.substack.com/ In this episode of our podcast, we sit down with two industry titans to explore how technology is shaping the future of fast-casual dining: Gregg Majewski, CEO and Founder of Craveworthy Brands, and Heather Leed Neary, President and CEO of Taco Jo...

🫶 Subscribe NOW - Unlock a world of knowledge, innovation, and growth from the largest podcast network in food service! - https://savorfm.substack.com/ Paul Barron recently hosted an insightful podcast featuring Geoff Alexander of Wow Bao and industry consultant Rudy Miick to discuss a groundbreaking new loyalty technology for restaurants. This innovation is being hailed as the most significant a...

Welcome to Surcheros' Story We Dive into Tex-Mex Evolution In this inspiring episode of Fast Casual Nation, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Luke Christian, the visionary founder and CEO of  Surcheros . Our conversation unfolded the remarkable journey of Surcheros from its humble beginnings to becoming a cornerstone of the fast-casual Tex-Mex industry. Rooted in Resilience: The Birth of Sur...

In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, Paul Barron dives into Pincho's incredible journey. This South Florida restaurant brand spearheaded the remarkable resurgence of consumer sentiment in the fast casual dining sector in 2023. Join us as we sit down with Pincho's CEO, Otto Othman, to unravel the secrets behind their success and explore the pivotal role of hospitality and order accuracy in shapin...

The Power of Micro-Influencer Marketing: Benefits and Predictions In today's Fast Casual Nation Podcast, we talk with Nekter Juice Bar and their innovative strategies around next gen marketing. Staying ahead of the curve is essential. One strategy that has been gaining traction, especially in Technology-forward media and related industries, is micro-influencer marketing. This approach leverages in...

In this deep-dive conversation on Fast Casual Nation, I speak with Bennett Maxwell, the visionary founder of Dirty Dough Cookies , and discuss his groundbreaking strategies that are transforming the franchising world. A Sweet Journey from Solar to Cookies First off, who is Bennett Maxwell? He's a multifaceted entrepreneur, not your average cookie-cutter businessman. Starting from real estate in Ut...

Fast-casual dining has become a staple of the modern dining experience, offering a perfect blend of convenience and quality. As the food industry continues to evolve, certain cities are emerging as hotspots for fast casual brands. Covering this sector since 1996 has given me a unique insight to emerging and rebirth markets - today will explore five cities that stand out as ideal locations for fast...

Welcome to another insightful episode of Fast Casual Nation Podcast, where we uncover the latest and greatest in the fast-casual sector of the food industry. Today, we're diving into a story of innovation, health, and the entrepreneurial spirit with Alessandro Biggi, founder of Avo. The Genesis of Avo – A Health-Focused Culinary Delight In our conversation, Alessandro shares the fascinating evolut...