Fries & Grind

Technology EN ↓ 18 episodes

Fries & Grind is a podcast featuring owners from 3 of the fastest-growing restaurant technology companies in the US, including Zack Oates, CEO of Ovation, Abhinav Kapur, CEO of Bikky, Jason Abelkop Co-CEO of Plein Air, and Paul McEnany, Co-CEO of Plein Air. Each episode features leaders from across the restaurant industry joining the group to discuss key industry issues and news, the challenges of growth, and what it takes to thrive in one of the most competitive industries in the world.

Author

Fries & Grind

Episodes

Scaling Weird 01.03.2026 44:21

Ahsan Jiva, EVP Strategy & Transformation at Mellow Mushroom joins the crew.

Predictions 23.01.2026 35:41

VP, Editorial Director of QSR and FSR Magazines Danny Klein joins the show.

How to Win Everywhere 13.01.2026 49:25

How do you go from nearly no digital presence to more than 40% of sales in just a few years? Tracy Kim, CEO of Dig Inn, joins the crew to discuss.

Engineering Value 30.12.2025 45:24

The great Jessica Serrano joins the gang to talk value, nostalgia, insight, and menu innovation.

3PD to 1P 17.12.2025 37:47

Can you drive your 3PD guests to 1P? It's complicated.

The Transformation of Full Service 19.11.2025 37:28

The gang is back. This time with Scott Lawton, Chairman of bartaco.

Episode 12 - The Article 19.08.2024 43:37

The gang takes on the restaurant-nerd-famous NYT article from Peter Wells. Have we ruined the restaurant experience? You're about to find out.

Episode 11 - Is this the future of restaurants? 13.06.2024 50:09

Wonder? City Storage Systems? Is this the future of restaurants? The gang discusses.

Episode 10 - Value 23.05.2024 40:40

This week, the gang talks value. Do we need all the fancy stuff?

Episode 9 - Noah Glass 17.04.2024 54:48

Noah Glass, Founder and CEO of Olo, joins the gang to talk about the organization he built over the past nearly 20 years, and they again dip into the build vs. buy debate.

Episode 8 - Niko Papademetriou 02.04.2024 52:02

This week, Niko Papademetriou, Co-Founder of Qu, joins the gang to talk through their buzzy moves over the last few months. They became the first POS provider to bring Olo pay into the restaurant, announced an investment from Danny Meyer's Enlightened Hospitality, and were selected as POS across all GoTo Foods brands. Enjoy!

Episode 7 - Dynamic Pricing 21.03.2024 38:13

This week, the gang gets together to debate dynamic pricing. Can it work? Listen now to find out.

Episode 6 - Build or Buy 28.02.2024 50:03

This week, the gang gets together to debate Wingstop's shift to homegrown tech, and the broader implications for the restaurant community.

Episode 5 - Gregg Majewski 08.02.2024 51:44

Gregg Majewski, the founder and CEO of Craveworthy Brands, joins the gang to talk about the unique organization he's created. They've now built a portfolio of brands like Ghengis Grill, Wing It On!, BD's, Krafted, and Dirty Dough, among many others. In a previous life, Gregg was the CEO of Jimmy John's and helped them scale from 30 to more than 300 locations before the sale to Inspire. Enjoy!

Episode 4 - The Holiday Episode 22.12.2023 48:09

In a very special Holiday episode, the gang reflects on the year and talks about what we expect for our companies in the year ahead.

Episode 3 - Wade Allen 14.12.2023 38:21

Wade Allen joins the gang. Wade held several senior leadership roles at Brinker International including CDO, CIO, Head of Innovation, and VP of Marketing. Wade is now EVP, Strategic Growth for Costa Vida, leading marketing, IT, and off-premise.

Episode 2 - Kelly Macpherson 01.12.2023 1:03:16

Kelly Macpherson, Chief Technology & Supply Chain Officer of Union Square Hospitality, joins Zack, Abhi, Jason, and Paul to talk 3PD, budgeting for technology, hiring well, and the future for virtual restaurants.

Episode 1 - Origins 30.11.2023 59:58

The gang talks about why they got started and how they got to where they are.