Restrocast

In this episode of Restrocast, British restaurateur Jasper Reid, Founder & CEO, International Market Management, shares his journey of building global food brands in India’s tough and competitive market. He talks about how he brought Pizza Express to India, beat Reliance to land Jamie Oliver’s brand, and convinced Wendy’s U.S. CEO to launch a ₹29 burger in India. Reid explains that high rents...

On Restrocast, Ashish Tulsian (Co-founder and CEO, Restroworks) is joined by Chris Demery, CTO of Blaze Pizza, who shares his path from the U.S. military to leading restaurant tech across multi-location brands including Domino's, Bloomin' Brands, PF Chang's, and Blaze Pizza. Chris discusses how his military background shaped his leadership style and why listening to frontline teams...

Rusty Bills, COO of Galardi Group (Wienerschnitzel, Tastee Freez), joins Ashish Tulsian, Co-founder and CEO of Restroworks, on Restrocast to share his path from busboy to the C-suite in the franchise restaurant business. He opens up about his early days in the kitchen, how hands-on leadership shaped his career, and why building strong relationships with franchisees is the foundation of long-term s...

In this episode of Restrocast, Ashish Tulsian, Co-founder and CEO of Restroworks, sits down with Chris Incorvati, CTO at Jack's Family Restaurants, to explore one of the most unconventional paths in multi-location restaurant technology. From a journalism graduate and restaurant GM to leading tech across 270+ QSR locations, Chris shares how curiosity, hands-on learning, and deep operational em...

Ashish Tulsian, Co-founder and CEO of Restroworks, welcomes Kyle Mark, restaurant tech leader and current head of technology at WOWorks, to Restrocast to discuss his career across enterprise restaurant operations. Kyle shares how his path started at Apple's flagship store, led through roles at Standard Market, Datum Technologies, and Fresh Kitchen, and brought him to WOWorks, where he now lea...

Restrocast host Ashish Tulsian, Co-founder and CEO of Restroworks, talks with Joseph Unger, President and COO of GOSH Enterprises, the multi-brand restaurant group behind Lenny's Grill & Subs and Charlie's Cheesesteaks. Joe walks through his path across the restaurant industry, from frontline operator roles to running a brand portfolio at scale. From starting as a sandwich artist at...

In this episode of Restrocast, Chad Mackay, CEO of Fire & Vine Hospitality, shares his journey from growing up around restaurants run by his father to stepping away into the corporate world, only to return with renewed vision and a commitment to do things differently. He talks candidly about the pivotal moments in his leadership journey—surviving the 2008 financial crisis while building a flag...

In this episode of Restrocast, Wing Lam, co-founder of Wahoo’s Fish Tacos, shares the secrets behind building a thriving restaurant brand for over 35 years. From starting small to scaling smart, Wing reveals how his unique approach to marketing, customer engagement, and business resilience has kept Wahoo’s relevant in an ever-changing industry. He dives into influencer marketing before social medi...

In this episode of Restrocast, Ashish Tulsian sits down with James Walker, a seasoned leader with over three decades of experience in the restaurant industry. Known for thriving in chaotic environments, James shares his journey from managing restaurants to leading transformative initiatives in hospitality.  He recounts memorable stories, like working with Chris Elliott at Cinnabon, and highlights...

Samer S. Hamadeh, the entrepreneur behind hospitality concepts Akiba Dori and Stereo Arcade, stops by Restrocast for a conversation with host Ashish Tulsian, Co-founder and CEO of Restroworks, about building a multi-brand hospitality group across Dubai and Saudi Arabia. From organizing his first music festival at 15 to designing dining and nightlife venues at scale, Samer talks through the creativ...

In this episode of Restrocast, Ashish Tulsian, Co-founder and CEO of Restroworks, sits down with John Peyton, CEO of Dine Brands Global, the multi-brand restaurant group behind Applebee's and IHOP. They discuss John's path through consulting, hospitality, and franchising. John shares how mentorship at Starwood Hotels shaped his understanding of leadership and operational excellence, high...

In this episode of Restrocast, Eric Slaymaker, the driving force behind Wingers Alehouse, shares his journey from the world of advertising to building a successful restaurant brand. With early roots in marketing for his father’s franchises, Eric developed a unique perspective on branding, which later inspired him to create Wingers.  Eric dives into Wingers’ evolution, explaining how he adapted the...

On Restrocast, Ashish Tulsian (Co-founder and CEO, Restroworks) is joined by Phil Friedman, CEO of Salsarita's and a four-decade veteran in scaling multi-location restaurant brands. Phil walks through his path from washing dishes to managing food distribution in Vietnam, then scaling major brands like Panda Express and McAlister's Deli, with lessons on leadership, innovation, and resilie...

Saer Imad joins Ashish Tulsian, Co-founder and CEO of Restroworks, on Restrocast to share his career shift from corporate banking in Lebanon to becoming a multi-brand F&B operator in Dubai. Saer discusses his early career advising entrepreneurs at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders, where he first gained insights into the F&B world.  He then shares how he tran...

In this podcast episode, Jerry Baldwin shares his remarkable four-decade career in the food and beverage industry. Starting from humble beginnings as a street food salesman, Baldwin shares how his early experiences in sales and distribution shaped his understanding of supply chain management.  He delves into the challenges and opportunities within the restaurant industry, particularly in the post-...

In this episode of Restrocast, host Ashish Tulsian sits down with John Haggai, CEO of Burtons Grill & Bar, to explore his extraordinary career journey. From his humble beginnings as a high school busboy, Haggai shares how his initial part-time job evolved into a 30-year career in the hospitality industry.  He discusses his transition from managing partner at Outback Steakhouse to founding Taza...

In this episode of Restrocast, host Ashish Tulsian sits down with Nadine Benchaffai, a trailblazing entrepreneur with a rich background in the food and beverage industry. Nadine shares her journey from working in FMCG with global giants like Kraft and Nestlé to co-founding Tortilla Mexican Grills in the UK, which grew to over 60 stores. She also delves into her experience founding Taqado Mexican K...

Embark on an illuminating odyssey with Restrocast in the latest episode featuring Kevin Bentley, the Head of Technology at Jollibee North America, in an exclusive session. Join our host, Ashish Tulsian, as he delves into the riveting narrative of Kevin Bentley's extraordinary journey, transitioning from a formidable NFL linebacker to a tech luminary in the restaurant industry. In this captiva...

In this episode of Restrocast, Ashish Tulsian, Co-founder and CEO of Restroworks, sits down with Craig Dunaway, COO of Penn Station Subs, a multi-location franchise sub sandwich brand. Craig shares his path from a career in public accounting to leading a franchise brand. With over 24 years of experience in the restaurant industry, Craig discusses how his role has evolved, the importance of balanci...

In this episode of Restrocast, Ashish Tulsian, Co-founder and CEO of Restroworks, sits down with Leon Davoyan, CTO of Dave's Hot Chicken, one of the fastest-growing multi-location restaurant brands in the US. They explore his career across three decades of restaurant technology. Starting as a POS technician, Leon rose through the ranks to become a leading figure in restaurant tech. He shares...

In this engaging episode of Restrocast, Ashish Tulsian interviews Mazen Kanaan, CEO of House of Pops. Mazen shares his journey from Lebanon, where he studied economics and finance, to his 13-year career at Unilever. During his time handling Unilever’s ice cream business, Mazen identified a market gap for healthy yet delicious ice cream, sparking the creation of House of Pops. Mazen delves into the...

In this captivating episode of Restrocast, Ashish Tulsian interviews Stratis Morfogen, the dynamic founder and CEO of Brooklyn Chop House and Brooklyn Dumpling Shop. Stratis Morfogen has been an innovator in New York City’s hospitality scene for decades. He brought New York’s famed Fulton Fish Market to the internet in 1997 with the creation of FultonStreet.com, and was the restaurateur behind man...

In this captivating podcast episode, join us on a journey through the diverse chapters of Alaa Sayed's remarkable career, from the football fields of Egypt to the bustling kitchens of renowned global restaurants. Hosted by Ashish Tulsian, the interview unfolds Alaa's inspiring story of resilience and adaptation, offering a rare glimpse into the dynamic world of hospitality. Starting as a...

Welcome to the latest episode of Restrocast, where host Ashish Tulsian sits down with Wade Allen, the EVP of Strategic Growth at Costa Vida, to unravel the intriguing story of a digital innovation veteran with over 22 years of experience. Costa Vida, under Wade's guidance, has been at the forefront of revolutionizing the restaurant industry. In this episode, dive deep into Wade Allen's d...

In this enlightening episode of Restrocast, host Ashish Tulsian engages with Joe Frem, the innovative Co-founder and CEO of Matbakhi, an F&B management company transforming hospitality services for 1-4 star hotels. Joe shares his inspiring journey from his early entrepreneurial endeavors at the age of 13 to his strategic academic pursuits in engineering and subsequent impactful tenure at McKin...