Titans of Foodservice

In this Christmas special of the Titans of Food Service podcast, host Nick Portillo invites his father, John Portillo, to discuss their favorite holiday foods, traditions, and movies. They also reflect on their professional achievements in the past year. John emphasizes the importance of prompt communication in the food service industry and shares a significant sales experience. Nick and John expr...

In this episode, host Nick Portillo shares his excitement for the upcoming season of the Titans of Foodservice podcast and reflects on the valuable insights gained from the previous 52 episodes. Nick talks about how to become comfortable with failure, the power of following up, and the value of getting involved in your community. Listen this week as Nick reflects on the impact of season one of the...

In this special episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with his wife Carly Portillo. Carly is a marriage and family therapist with her own private practice. She specializes in helping individuals and couples navigate relationships and improve their mental health. Nick and Carly discuss their experiences in their respective professions as a food service professional...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with Chris Jennings, a sales training expert with over 30 years of experience. Chris believes in creating better conversations and win-win relationships. Chris talks about the importance of being authentic and relatable when talking to customers and encourages salespeople to ask for referrals and introductions, as they...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with executive coach and organizational development expert Margie Oleson. Margie shares her insights on transforming leadership teams and building high-performing organizations. She emphasizes the importance of teamwork and clarity in achieving success and offers practical advice for leaders to improve their team dynam...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with Patrick Day, Vice President and General Manager at Giordano's Food Service. Patrick shares his journey from owning and running restaurants to becoming a top sales rep at Cisco and eventually landing his current role at Giordano's. He emphasizes the importance of understanding how things work in the food service in...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with Barb Colucci, Corporate Executive Chef of Del Taco, a culinary trailblazer with a remarkable journey in the food service industry. Barb's expertise spans across full service restaurants, quick service restaurants, and manufacturing. She has worked with renowned brands and has left her mark through her commitment t...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with Liz Seelye, founder and Brand Wayfinder of StarryEyed Strategy, a global insights, strategy, design, and activation consultancy in the food service industry. Liz shares her journey in the food service industry and her passion for helping food brands define their purpose and create meaningful connections with their...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with Taylor Crown, past President of Acosta. Taylor started his career working alongside his father in their family-owned food service brokerage, Buzz Crown Enterprises. Taylor shares his remarkable journey in the food service industry and his journey to becoming the President of Acosta Food Service. He discusses how t...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with Nicolas Fanucci, Owner of Fanucci Restaurant Group. Nicolas shares his journey in the food service industry, from working with renowned French chef Roger Verge to his time at the French Laundry under Thomas Keller. He discusses the high expectations and intense training at the French Laundry, as well as the restau...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with Talia Samuels, President of Outshine Public Relations, a company that specializes in PR and marketing for the culinary and hospitality industry. In this episode, Talia shares her journey from being a Spanish linguistic major to starting her PR agency at the age of 23. She discusses the challenges and triumphs of r...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with Porter Hinton, COO of Canteen. Porter discusses the growth and success of Canteen and talks about the challenges and opportunities in the industry, such as labor shortages, regulations, and inflation. Porter emphasizes the importance of listening, learning, and being adaptable in order to succeed in the food servi...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with Tim Strand, President of RESCO. Tim shares his background and how he got into the food business, growing up in a family-owned company. He discusses RESCO's focus on providing exceptional sales support for food service manufacturers, including lead generation and marketing materials. Tim shares his perspective on l...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks to Eric Goodman, President and CEO of Mountain View Services. Eric shares his journey in the food service industry and his commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. He discusses the unique niche of his business, which provides full-line grocery service, medical supplies, and janitorial supplies to group...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks to Rosalyn Darling, a culinary innovator and entrepreneur, who shares her journey from marketing to the food service industry. She discusses her passion for food and how she developed her unique mindset of culinary compassion. Rosalyn emphasizes the importance of empathy and understanding in creating meaningful culinar...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with Scott Tomes, CRO of Bongards Creameries. Scott shares his remarkable journey in the food service industry, starting as a division manager at Schwann's. Today, he is a trailblazer in the industry, leading Bongard's to new heights of success. Scott discusses the challenges he faced, the strategies he implemented, an...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with Jack Crawford, a sales expert in the K-12 food service industry. He currently serves over 900,000 students daily and is the industry chair for the School Nutrition Association. Jack shares his insights on the tactical steps that make the K-12 industry successful. He discusses the importance of bids, the role of di...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with Brian Will, a renowned entrepreneur, author, and titan in the world of business and sales management. He has an impressive track record of success, having co-founded and led seven highly successful companies across diverse sectors that reached a valuation of over half a billion dollars at their peak. Brian shares...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with Craig Haley, President of Smokey Mo's Texas Barbecue. Craig shares his journey and insights into the food service industry. Starting as a delivery driver in high school, Craig fell in love with the restaurant industry and worked his way up to become a restaurant manager. Craig's passion for operations and guest ex...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with Marlon Gordon, Founder and CEO of NxtGen Network. Marlon is transforming the education and non-commercial space through his groundbreaking initiatives and creative marketing agency. From a digital magazine for K-12 to the revolutionary platform known as First Taste TV, Marlon's team is pushing boundaries and redef...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with Adam Letizio, Senior Vice President of A.J. Letizio Sales and Marketing. Adam shares his journey in the foodservice industry and discusses how his family has been in the industry for over 100 years, starting with a meat store in 1912. He talks about his experience in the Navy and how it taught him valuable leaders...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with Cathy Holley Publisher and Editor-in-Chief at Flavor & The Menu Magazine and owner of the Flavor Experience event. Cathay and Nick discuss trends in the food service industry, focusing on Gen Z and their preference for experiential dining. Kathy shares insights into the Flavor Experience event and the importan...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with Kern Halls, Owner, and Chief Innovator at Ingenious Culinary Concepts. Kern discusses his journey in the foodservice industry, including his work in the school foodservice sector and helping schools increase revenue through cafeteria refreshes. Kern also talks about the power of discipline in your personal and pro...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with Paul Mangiamele, Owner, Chairman, and CEO of Legendary Restaurant Brands. Paul discusses various aspects of running a franchise model and being a global company in the restaurant industry. He shares his passion for the brands he leads and owns, emphasizing the importance of love for the brand, team, and guests. Ni...

In this episode of the Titans of Foodservice podcast, host Nick Portillo speaks with Kareema Goodwin, Senior Vice President of National Account Sales for Tractor Beverage Co. Goodwin shares insights from her journey in the foodservice and provides tips and tricks for selling into national accounts. Nick and Kareema talk about the challenges of working in the industry, the importance of customer se...