Food on Demand

Sri Divel, founder of The Culinary CMO, joins the podcast to share how brands are capitalizing on new technologies to overcome marketing hurdles and improve their digital presence. 

Kevin Bentley, head of technology for Jollibee Group North America, shares his take on the biggest topics in restaurant technology, everything from the potential to roll out voice AI drive-thru capabilities at Jollibee to the potential staff impacts of advancing technology in the foodservice space. 

Cassie Duval, director of catering at Mo'Bettahs, joins the podcast live from the exhibit floor of the 2026 Food On Demand in Dallas to share insight regarding the success of the catering program she oversees at Mo'Bettahs and common catering pitfalls for other brands. 

Harrison Shih, senior director at DoorDash Labs, breaks down the current state of autonomous delivery and the future it offers. Shih also shares insight into the design and vision behind Dot, DoorDash's autonomous delivery robot.

Alexis Parra, Chief Visionary Officer at Nékter Juice Bar, shares how tech is shaping growth for the fast-expanding juice and smoothie brand. She shares how digital channels drive the business, with the app generating about a third of orders and more than half of sales coming from third-party delivery. Parra also covers menu innovation and how travel and life experiences have helped shape her appr...

Jeremy Cantarow, director of supply marketing at ezCater joins the podcast to discuss the changing consumer preferences for catering, stand-out approaches to catering menu innovation, the strategies behind ezCater's tech integrations and more. 

Stephen Klein, CEO and co-founder of Saivory, joins the podcast to discuss how restaurant operators use artificial intelligence to help decipher guest data, tailor the ordering process to consumers and overcome gaps in their tech stacks. 

Aalok Kapoor, COO of CookUnity, discusses the evolution of meal kit delivery and how CookUnity leverages technology to offer personalized, restaurant-quality prepared meals to consumers. 

Andrew Glantz, CEO and Founder of GiftAMeal, joins the Food On Demand Podcast to discuss his story as a social entrepreneur, how the platform uses restaurant marketing to combat food insecurity and more. 

Emily Williams Knight, president and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association, joins this episode of the Food On Demand podcast to discuss restaurant adoption of AI, food delivery policy changes, third-party delivery friction points and more.  

Angela Diffly, Director of Restaurant Digital and Technology Capabilities at Coca-Cola, talks restaurant tech trends and how the company is helping restaurants boost digital ordering and guest retention through smart partnerships. She also explores the future of instant delivery and where the digital dining experience is headed.

In this episode, Zach Rash, CEO and Founder of Coco Robotics, walks us through the journey of building the company—from its inception to its latest advancements in AI and automation. He shares what it takes behind the scenes to prepare cities for robotic delivery and how Coco partners with restaurants for last-mile logistics. We also explore the benefits of robotic delivery and where he sees the f...

Ahead of speaking on a panel at the conference, Ashley Elzinga joins the podcast to discuss key packaging trends, such as the growing focus on recyclability, compostability, and reuse. And touches on how legislation is shaping packaging decisions and how brands are leveraging packaging as a marketing opportunity.

Fresh off their "Demystifying AI" panel at the Food On Demand Conference, Carl and Deborah join us to break down how AI can help operators across the industry. From voice AI in the drive-thru to predictive data modeling, they share real-world use cases, unexpected wins, and what operators should focus on next.

In this episode, we sit down with Shawn P. Walchef, founder of Cali BBQ Media, right after a dynamic Next Gen Marketing panel at the Food On Demand Conference. Shawn shares his journey from running a San Diego barbecue restaurant to becoming a leading voice in restaurant storytelling through social media and podcasting. We dive into practical advice for operators hesitant about video content, the...

In this episode, we're bringing you insights straight from Vegas at the eighth annual Food On Demand Conference! Bernadette sits down with Allen Beck, Director of Off-Premise and Catering at Costa Vida, as he breaks down how the brand uses a holistic, fully burdened approach to grow its catering business profitably. Plus, hear how technology integration plays a critical role in operations—and why...

In this episode, industry veteran and current catering consultant Jim Rand shares lessons from building and scaling catering programs at brands like Panera Bread and PF Chang's. Jim walks us through how to build a robust catering program—from understanding production and technology integration to menu adaptation—and how operators can use tools and online ordering systems to streamline operations....

Jenifer Kern, CMO of Qu, joins us to unpack key insights from Qu's 2025 State of Digital Report. We dive into the major trends shaping the restaurant industry—from the shift from third-party to first-party ordering, to tech stack consolidation, AI adoption, the rise of kiosks and smart kitchens, and more. Plus, how success hinges on how effectively restaurants can unify and activate their data.

In this episode, Cynthia Hollen, CEO of Mavi.io, shares how in-car ordering is changing the game for consumers. We explore the growing demand for seamless ordering as people look for ways to streamline the process without reaching for their phones. Cynthia also discusses how tech can enhance promotions, upselling, and overall user experience. From the rise of pre-ordering after the pandemic to dis...

Join Fred LeFranc, CEO of Results Thru Strategy, as we explore the adoption of agentic and generative AI, the impact of robotics, and how restaurants are navigating the value wars. Plus, Fred gives us a look at what's driving success at brands like Chili's in today's competitive market. 

With no one-size-fits-all solution, managing a tech stack can be tricky—especially when handling multiple vendors while operators are already juggling so many hats.. In this episode, Maia dives deep into the everyday tech challenges restaurants face, from legacy POS system switches to simple Wi-Fi issues. She explains how Science On Call helps tackle these problems and shares strategies for restau...

Jenn Saunders-Haynes, Director of Global Catering at Subway explores how catering has shifted in recent years, with changing consumer demands for speed, quality, and accuracy. She shares how Subway adapts through tech and compelling food visuals, along with valuable advice for operators of any size. 

In this episode, Anna explores the differences in restaurant marketing strategies for small, local businesses versus larger brands, focusing on community engagement and standing out in a competitive market. She also discusses how leveraging technology and customer data for personalization can foster stronger connections with customers.

Deborah Matteliano, Global Head of Amazon Web Services discusses how AI, predictive ordering, and chatbots are transforming the restaurant industry, plus dives into the future role of tech in hospitality. She also shares valuable, actionable leadership tips for women in tech, focusing on confidence, resilience, and empowering others.

Andrew dives into Papa John's hybrid delivery strategy, how the brand leverages technology to adapt to new generations in a competitive pizza market, and explores the future of pizza delivery innovations.