Podcasts about qsr

Karly Iacono is a Senior Vice President at CBRE in Saddle Brook, NJ, and one of the most active voices in net lease investing. She's spent years building an investor education platform through her podcast Commercial Real Estate Now while closing deals across the full NNN spectrum — from QSR acquisitions to eight-figure corporate sale-leasebacks.In this episode, Kyle and Karly cover:What net lease actually means — and why every freestanding national brand you drive past is probably an investment propertyHow cap rates are set and why the 10-year treasury correlation is breaking downWhich tenants are compressing (Wawa, Sheets, 7-Eleven) and which are widening (CVS, drug stores)The $1 of rent = $16.60 in value math behind the corporate sale-leasebackWhy private equity uses sale-leasebacks as a standard M&A tool — and how smaller operators are starting to catch onThe most overrated NNN asset right now (spoiler: it's a car wash)What would actually shake the triple net market that no one is talking aboutWhy the 1031 market has come alive in 2025 and where that capital is coming fromWhether you're eyeing your first passive investment or you're already in the NNN space and want to sharpen your lens — this is the episode.

Dan Rowe, CEO and founder of Fransmart, and 35-plus-year-industry vet, joins QSR Uncut this week for a special episode exploring what it takes to grow, the state of concept creation, how franchising is evolving, and much more. We explore some of the stories behind CAVA, Five Guys, QDOBA, and what founders and emerging brands should look for before deciding it's time to expand. How is regulation affecting the industry? Where is the consumer taking us? How can founders check the right boxes? All that and more in this deep dive into the state of QSR.

This week on The Food Professor Podcast, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois welcome two special guests for a wide-ranging, no-holds-barred interview: Axel Schwan, President of Tim Hortons Canada & U.S., and Duncan Fulton, Chief Corporate Officer of Restaurant Brands International (RBI). With Dunkin' Donuts announcing its return to Canada and Canadians passionately debating the future of their most iconic coffee brand, Axel and Duncan showed up ready to answer the tough questions. In a candid 40-minute conversation, Schwan and Fulton open up about Tim Hortons' "Back to Basics" strategy — the largest consumer research project in the company's history — and the quality overhaul that followed: freshly cracked eggs replacing frozen patties in breakfast sandwiches, 40% more apple in the apple fritter, more Venetian cream in the Boston cream, and the removal of artificial colours, flavours and preservatives across the menu. They share how Tim Hortons serves four million guests a day across 4,000 restaurants owned by 1,500 Canadian franchisees, why traffic is the one metric Axel watches daily, and how the brand is winning younger consumers with its Quenchers platform — including the imminent launch of Popping Quenchers — plus celebrity partnerships with Justin Bieber and Ryan Reynolds. The duo also tackles the controversy head-on: Is the wave of announcements — 400 restaurant renovations, 80 new builds, a national hiring campaign — a reaction to Dunkin's arrival? Fulton sets the record straight on the temporary foreign worker debate, noting roughly 4,000 of 110,000 restaurant team members are part of the program, and explains how AI is being deployed to improve the team member experience, from labour scheduling to order accuracy. A rapid-fire round covers everything from the biggest public misconception about Tim Hortons to the products Canadians want back, while Michael shares his own fun factoid: he helped invent Roll Up the Rim during his Dixie Cup days. But first, we start with the food and agriculture news of the week. Sobeys gets served as the Competition Bureau flexes its new Competition Act powers to investigate property controls in Canadian grocery. We break down Ottawa's newly published AI strategy and what it means for agriculture and food, where Canada's persistent data deficit threatens to undermine even the best intentions. Then, the screwworm fly resurfaces in Texas, prompting the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to take targeted action — and sending cattle futures and already-high beef prices climbing. Sylvain also reports from Delaware, where he keynoted a healthcare conference on food as medicine and discovered a surprising threat to American farmland: hundreds of AI data centres being built on fertile soil. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Visiting Professor in Food Policy and Distribution at McGill University and a Professor in Food Distribution and Policy in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability with over 775 published peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. Charlebois is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal. He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, discussing issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries and which is the most listened Canadian management podcast in Canada. Every year since 2012, he has published the now highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.With extensive experience collaborating with businesses, governments, and NGOs, Dr. Charlebois combines academic rigor with practical expertise, making him one of the most influential voices in the global agri-food landscape. His work continues to advance the understanding of food systems, fostering innovation and resilience in a rapidly evolving industry. In 2025, he received the prestigious Charles III medal recognizing his tremendous work in informing Canadians about food issues. Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail, The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the National Retail Federation (NRF) as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025, and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.

The FDA's new Quality Management System Regulation (QMSR) officially became effective on February 2nd, 2026, replacing the legacy Quality System Regulation (QSR) framework that had been in place for nearly 30 years.Three months later, the reality is becoming clear for many manufacturers:QMSR is far more than a simple regulatory update.It represents a complete transformation in how the FDA expects companies to manage quality, risk, design controls, manufacturing, supplier oversight, and post-market surveillance.From Siloed Quality to Lifecycle ThinkingUnder the old QSR framework, companies often treated quality activities separately:Design controlsCAPAManufacturingSupplier managementPost-market surveillanceQMSR changes this mindset entirely.FDA now expects manufacturers to demonstrate integrated, risk-based quality management across the entire product lifecycle.This means:Design changes must connect to manufacturing validationSupplier issues must feed into risk managementPost-market surveillance must proactively identify trendsManagement reviews must show real decision-makingWhy Many Companies Were Not ReadyA major misconception across the industry was believing that ISO 13485 certification automatically meant QMSR readiness.But manufacturers are now discovering major gaps:Incomplete Design History Files (DHF)Weak risk integrationPoor documentation traceabilityReactive PMS systemsLimited management review evidenceFDA inspections are already reflecting these expectations.Inspectors are requesting:Internal audit reportsSupplier audit documentationManagement review recordsRisk-based decision evidenceThis level of transparency is new for many organizations.Real-World Challenges Manufacturers Are FacingOne of the biggest pain points is DHF restructuring.Companies with years of design changes are now being forced to reconstruct the logic behind historical decisions and organize fragmented information into a coherent, risk-based structure.Another major shift is Post-Market Surveillance.QMSR pushes manufacturers from reactive complaint handling toward proactive monitoring of known high-risk failure modes using trend analysis, registries, and real-world data.Management review processes are also under greater scrutiny.FDA now expects leadership teams to demonstrate how quality data drives actual strategic decisions.Best Practices for QMSR TransitionManufacturers preparing for QMSR should focus on:1. Cross-functional collaborationBreak down silos between QA, RA, Manufacturing, Design, and Supply Chain.2. Documentation mappingIdentify where critical design logic and risk decisions currently exist.3. Continuous risk managementImplement ongoing cross-functional risk review meetings.4. Stronger internal auditsMove beyond checklist auditing toward analytical risk-focused auditing.5. Meaningful management reviewsUse management review meetings to demonstrate active leadership involvement in quality decisions.Final ThoughtsQMSR is fundamentally changing the FDA's expectations.Companies that adapt early will build stronger systems, improve product quality, and reduce regulatory risk.Companies that delay may face:FDA 483 observationsWarning LettersProduct launch delaysIncreased remediation costsThe transition to QMSR is not simply a compliance project.It is a complete redesign of how medical device companies manage quality.Who is Monir El Azzouzi? Monir El Azzouzi is the founder and CEO of Easy Medical Device a Consulting firm that is supporting Medical Device manufacturers for any Quality and Regulatory affairs activities all over the world. Monir can help you to create your Quality Management System, Technical Documentation or he can also take care of your Clinical Evaluation, Clinical Investigation through his team or partners. Easy Medical Device can also become your Authorized Representative and Independent Importer Service provider for EU, UK and Switzerland. Monir has around 16 years of experience within the Medical Device industry working for small businesses and also big corporate companies. He has now supported around 100 clients to remain compliant on the market. His passion to the Medical Device filed pushed him to create educative contents like, blog, podcast, YouTube videos, LinkedIn Lives where he invites guests who are sharing educative information to his audience. Visit easymedicaldevice.com to know more.  If you need help implementing QMSR or preparing your teams for FDA inspections, contact: info@easymedicaldevice.com If you are located outside the EU/UK/Switzerland and need an Authorized Representative (and possibly an Importer), we can support you as well.LinkMathangi Srinivasan linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathangiks/Social Media to followMonir El Azzouzi Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/melazzouziTwitter: https://twitter.com/elazzouzimPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/easymedicaldeviceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/easymedicaldeviceThis podcast is hosted by Podcastics, the easiest platform to create and publish your podcast.

In the final episode of our three‑part series recorded at Google Cloud NEXT in Las Vegas, produced in partnership with Kyndryl, we bring together leaders from travel, QSR, retail, payments and cloud services to explore how AI is being deployed at scale inside some of the world's most complex organisations. Host Russell Goldsmith spoke with: 1/ Alibek Datbayev, Engineering Manager AI Platforms, Booking.com 2/ David Faircloth, VP - Technology Architecture & Engineering, Wendy's 3/ Helder Ribeiro, Chief Digital Officer, Sonae MC 4/ Govindaraj Palanisamy, Principal Enterprise Architect, Data, AI & Innovation, Global Payments 5/ Jason McKay, Chief Solutions Officer, Rapidscale Alibek Datbayev, Engineering Manager for AI Platforms at Booking.com, shares how the company is building reliable agentic systems on top of Google's ecosystem, why Gemini's grounding in Maps and Search is uniquely powerful for travel, and how Booking.com is moving from prototypes to production with rigorous evaluation, governance and safety. He also highlights the next frontier: multi‑agent orchestration for end‑to‑end travel experiences. David Faircloth, VP of Technology Architecture & Engineering at Wendy's, explains how the company achieved 99.95% availability by focusing first on people, trust and organisational design before technology. David discusses Conway's Law, platform engineering, and why AI is “not the future, it's the present,” with success defined by frictionless crew experiences, reliable systems and better customer journeys. Helder Ribeiro, Chief Digital Officer at Sonae MC, describes how the retailer is building an AI‑driven migration factory to modernise infrastructure, reduce costs and accelerate product delivery. Helder outlines how AI is used across training, refactoring, spend optimisation and productivity, and why becoming an AI‑first company requires strong foundations, intentional design and a clear focus on speed, efficiency and customer experience. Govindaraj Palanisamy, Principal Enterprise Architect for Data, AI & Innovation at Global Payments, discusses how the company manages a vast, multi‑organisation database fleet and how AI agents will transform DBA workflows. He breaks down the three biggest barriers between pilot and production: trustworthy data, grounding, and governance - and explains why regulated industries must “shift governance left” to scale AI safely. Finally, Jason McKay, Chief Solutions Officer at RapidScale, closes the episode with a candid view on enterprise AI adoption. He highlights the gap between AI ambition and data reality, why day‑zero conversations are always about AI but day‑one conversations are always about data, and how organisations can move from optimism to operational readiness. A wide‑ranging, insight‑rich finale that captures the real state of enterprise AI in 2026.

Host: Paul McIntyre, Editor-At-Large In the last 20 years, KFC CMO Vanessa Rowed has worked across retail, banking, and QSR. Right now, compound market volatility makes “predicting demand really difficult” says Rowed.“That’s the biggest shift I am seeing.” Boards and management are twitchy. “Everything is just happening faster. At the same time, there's less margin for error … The illusion of stability is gone … It’s just complete volatility and it's the speed of volatility that people are struggling with,” per Rowed. “People are moving from asking, ‘what's happened’, to ‘what are we going to do?’ Rowed is walking the talk on velocity – it took just six days for the QSR giant to have all of its business data ingested into a first model run of the Mutinex MMM and her teams are firing up. Mutinex CEO Henry Innis calls the broader market and civic state “the age of the erratic”. But flux presents opportunity for marketers: Organisations “are more willing to take risks to grow”, because, Innis says, they have little choice. There’s also opportunity for marketing to move upstream by mapping what consumer and market instability means for demand forecasting and P&L impacts – questions Innis says would previously have been directed to the CFO or financial planning & analysis teams. Rowed is seeing that play out: “I'm definitely seeing more risk taking now.” She says it’s born of necessity. “At McDonald’s 15 years ago, we had an 18-24 month innovation process. Now you can’t wait 18 months to launch a product – it's been launched by my competitors three times. TikTok food trends come and go overnight … You’re ready to launch, then someone launches two weeks before you do and you have to pivot – that happens more frequently than you would expect.” Hence wasting little time obtaining a sharper read on best growth bets. Rowed plugged into Mutinex upon joining KFC – with an initial model run completed in six days. “In past lives, that's taken us three, four months.” Ex-Optus and Google top marketer Cam Luby joined pet food subscription scale-up Lyka four months ago and likewise immediately tapped Mutinex. “When I was at Google, we would get back the equivalent of an MMM on a campaign six months after they finished ... ‘Okay, great. Thanks for the information. What do you expect us to do with it?’ … People were just busy writing history books, basically.” Today’s MMM approach is less archaic. “We've got the MMM updated to the end of March. We’re currently halfway through April, so the ability to make decisions about what we're going to do in the next few weeks based on what has happened in the last few weeks is … wildly different,” says Luby. From a media perspective, Luby’s using the MMM to determine lost causes, where growth is left on the table – and what increasing ad investment will deliver in hard sales. "[It provides] opportunity to recognise where your losers might be before they really hurt you. You can move to those a lot faster, and quickly optimise,” he says. “A big one for me – as in just this week – is understanding what possibly is left in the tank: If we needed to drive a greater business result than what we're currently seeing, what more opportunity is there? Just very quickly understanding what is the max efficiency of all the channels that we're using ... We've now got the confidence to make a decision. We're going from 30,000 a week to 40,000 a week. Let's action that. Here's what we expect out of it. It gives you that confidence to move incredibly quickly and then see the results flow through in a very short time.” He’s also using AI-powered functionality within Mutinex’s MAITE to unpick seasonality impacts on brand versus performance investments, plus handle reporting and presentation legwork ahead of board meetings: “I've got a board update that's coming up. So I said, ‘Can you please make me a table that does this, this, this, and this’ – copy paste, done. There's my table." As well as growth bets, KFC’s Rowed will tap MMM to cut new product insights faster – with a live example in the last quarter. “We launched a product and there were signs within a week that it wasn’t driving the incremental demand we needed. Historically, we would have waited until the end of that four-week promotional period, then analyse it three months later. But within one week, we said ‘this isn’t working’. We pivoted, reallocated media and creative, adjusted the plan mid-flight – and while we didn't hit the sales target that we needed to, we prevented loss. For me, that's just as important.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I sit down with Glenn Sandifer, a seasoned executive who has directly scaled programs generating $500 million in net revenue across industries, including QSR, consumer electronics, automotive, telecom, and integrated security. Glenn's philosophy is simple: sales is a service profession, not a quota machine. We dive into what it really looks like when a sales culture shifts from quota-chasing to servant leadership, why collapsing SDR, BDR, and AE roles into one is creating a bandwidth crisis, and how grace and loyalty are the most underrated tools in a leader's toolkit. In addition, Glenn opens up about the personal cost he paid before connecting the dots, and how his journey through divorce, therapy, and rebuilding led him to write How To Get Great Dating Outcomes in a Modern World. The parallels between leading a great sales team and building a healthy relationship might surprise you.   Connect with Glenn Sandifer: Book & Resources: www.tmgbookseries.com Business Inquiries: www.glennsandifer.com LinkedIn: @glennsandifer Instagram: @glenn_sandifer2 X: @glennsandifer   Connect with Dr. Nadia: LinkedIn: @‌drnadia Instagram: @‌iamdrnadia Website: www.thedoyenneagency.com Email: hello@thedoyenneagency.com   Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Apply here >

In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, host Paul Barron and co-host Cherryh Cansler are joined by Stacey Kane, Fractional CMO for Emerging Brands, to break down the trends reshaping the restaurant industry. The trio explores how major QSR brands like Starbucks, Dairy Queen, Taco Bell, and White Castle are deploying AI — from personalized beverage recommendations to drive-thru order-taking bots boasting 90% accuracy. They also dig into McDonald's bold move into craft sodas and energy drinks, the explosive growth of the dirty soda category across all dining segments, and the skepticism surrounding Jersey Mike's reported $12 billion IPO filing. If you're a restaurant operator or industry professional trying to separate signal from noise, this is the episode for you. #FastCasualNation #RestaurantTech #QSRtrends Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support. Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/ Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights. Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Trinh Tham, CEO of the Kevito Group, operator of Chatime and Bake Code—two of Canada's fastest-growing quick-service restaurant (QSR) brands. Tham shares a compelling leadership journey spanning grocery retail, luxury fashion, and now high-growth foodservice, offering a masterclass in brand building, cultural authenticity, and scaling modern food concepts. Tham explains how her career—rooted in marketing, e-commerce, and digital merchandising at leading organizations like Sobeys and Harry Rosen—prepared her to lead in an entrepreneurial environment. She discusses the intentional pivot into a purpose-driven role aligned with her cultural heritage, helping bring globally inspired Asian beverage and bakery concepts into the Canadian mainstream. Under her leadership, Chatime has grown to over 100 locations, capitalizing on the explosive popularity of bubble tea—a category she describes as still early in its growth curve in Canada. A central theme is the balance between authenticity and localization. Tham outlines how Kevito adapts global food trends for Canadian consumers while preserving the cultural DNA that gives these brands credibility. She also breaks down the operational realities of scaling a franchise system, including managing costs, driving unit economics, and maintaining consistency—all while innovating with new products and experiences. Her perspective on building versus managing a business—and her emphasis on relationships, creativity, and disciplined execution—offers valuable insights for food entrepreneurs and retail leaders alike. Before the interview, the hosts unpack the week's food and agriculture news. Key topics include shifting consumer attitudes toward sustainability amid economic pressure, rising food inflation (still among the highest in the G7), and new data identifying Canada's most and least expensive cities for grocery shopping. The episode also dives into global trade tensions impacting agri-food, including beef pricing pressures, supply chain dynamics, and potential import strategies to ease consumer costs. Additional discussion touches on farmland policy, grocery labour disruptions, and the ongoing complexity of food affordability. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Visiting Professor in Food Policy and Distribution at McGill University and a Professor in Food Distribution and Policy in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability with over 775 published peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. Charlebois is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal. He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, discussing issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries and which is the most listened Canadian management podcast in Canada. Every year since 2012, he has published the now highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.With extensive experience collaborating with businesses, governments, and NGOs, Dr. Charlebois combines academic rigor with practical expertise, making him one of the most influential voices in the global agri-food landscape. His work continues to advance the understanding of food systems, fostering innovation and resilience in a rapidly evolving industry. In 2025, he received the prestigious Charles III medal recognizing his tremendous work in informing Canadians about food issues. Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail, The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the National Retail Federation (NRF) as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025, and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment explores Burger King's nationwide hiring push and the momentum behind its Reclaim the Flame turnaround plan. Chris Walton, Jennifer Meyers, and John Benson discuss how leadership, remodels, operational upgrades, and franchise investments are helping Burger King regain relevance in the competitive QSR market. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/DuDBhMyLkoo #BurgerKing #ReclaimTheFlame #FastFood #QSR #RestaurantIndustry #FranchiseGrowth #TomCurtis #OmniTalk #BusinessNews #RetailTrends

In this Medtech Matters podcast episode of Mike on Medtech with Mike Drues, president of Vascular Sciences, we're discussing the FDA's recently implemented QMSR. It went into effect on February 2nd and replaced 21 CFR Part 820. The regulation incorporates ISO 13485:2016, which is expected to help align medical device regulations globally. In this podcast, we focus on what device manufacturers should be doing now and what can wait for a later time. During this conversation, the following questions are addressed:As most are already familiar with QMS and now QMSR, we'll dive deeper. Can you tell me if all sections of the QMSR listed in the QSR are required for all medical devices?Is a full QMS required to be in place in order to secure FDA clearance or approval?What about the sections of the QMSR? Are all of them equal in terms of importance? Are some sections more important than others?When do I need to have a QMS in place?What if I never intend to market my device? First, maybe provide an example of when that would be the case, and then address the first part.Should all QMS systems look the same?Are there differences with the QMSR with premarket vs. postmarket?How do you know the QMS is working? How can you be sure?What are the important takeaways from today's session?Listen to this discussion and see if you are compliant with the new QMSR. If you'd like to share thoughts, ask questions, or have a suggestion for a future topic for us to cover, please reach out to me at sfenske@rodmanmedia.com, and we'll see if your ideas/inquiries/suggestions align with a future episode.Send us Fan Mail For more medtech news and information, visit https://www.mpomag.com. 

It's time to reveal our QSR Evolution Conference (with a special discount code for operators) and something new we're working on, an exclusive peer-to-peer restaurant group you can join and connect with fellow leaders, every day. The links: QSR Evolution Conference: https://www.qsrevolutionconference.com/QSR+: https://plus.qsrmagazine.com/

In this episode of the Pizza Marketplace Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace, talks to Bryan Ketelhut, vice president of franchise and business development for Little Caesars.Ketelhut has been with the company for years and now heads up domestic franchising. He's also a former franchisee himself.Little Caesars is known for its streamlined operations. From a development perspective, that simplicity makes the brand more attractive to prospective franchisees compared to more complex QSR models."We focus on value, quality and convenience. That is our is our big messaging, right? We created Hot-N-Ready over 20 years ago, and we've always been a value brand. We cater to that value consumer," Ketelhut told Detwiler during the interview.The brand has its own supply chain with more than 20 distribution centers around the country."Having that controlling the distribution channel as well is very important to a lot of franchises. When we're able to purchase food products or equipment wise more in bulk, we're able to keep those costs lower for our for our partners," Ketelhut added.To listen to the podcast in its entirety, click the link above.

Host: Chris FletcherGuests:Liz McKinnon – Strategic Accounts, Sky Business (13+ years at Sky)Jatin Chandwani – Chief Product & Growth Officer, Byte by Yum (overseeing KFC, Taco Bell, Habit Burger & Pizza Hut's SaaS platform)Recorded live on stage, this episode dives deep into how reliable connectivity has become the backbone of modern hospitality operations — from QSR chains to stadia. The conversation covers how real-time data, AI-driven automation, and seamless guest experiences are all dependent on getting the fundamentals of connectivity right.1. The Three C's of Connectivity (Liz McKinnon)Coverage – ensuring your restaurant has signal everywhere it needsCapacity – handling the growing volume of data trafficConnectivity – making it fit for purpose and reviewing it continuously, not just at install2. Connectivity as a Data Continuity Engine (Jatin Chandwani)Connectivity has evolved from a utility (like water or electricity) to a mission-critical data pipelineWithout it, team members work blind and guest experience suffers immediatelyDigital orders (mobile app, aggregators, kiosks) can make up 30–60% of revenue — all dependent on connectivity3. Speed, Taste & Experience in QSRThe challenge of serving fresh food (e.g. KFC's 15-min cook time) to customers who expect it in 2 minutesTechnology and data forecasting are key to managing this tensionAI forecasting for inventory and labor scheduling has delivered measurable improvements4. Real-Time Data & Agentic AIMoving from "dashboard era" (acting on yesterday's data) to agentic workflows (acting within the shift)Fryer data, hot-hold systems, sales data and customer data combined = next best action in real timeProperly connected stores can improve performance by 10–20%Kill switches and guardrails are essential — AI governance must be built in from day one, not added later5. Guest WiFi as a Business Channel"Snacking data" — QSR customers connect briefly; stadia customers stay for hours; both need seamless WiFiGuest connectivity supports app check-ins, order status, and acquisition/retentionWiFi splash pages can drive promotions, loyalty sign-ups, and personalized messaging6. GDPR & Consent> "Bad consent kills good data. Good consent builds long-term customer relationships." — Jatin ChandwaniGDPR is not a constraint — it's a trust engineSky supports customers with a robust framework to handle data collection properlyTargeted, meaningful consent leads to better, more relevant customer conversations7. The Future: Unified EcosystemsOperators must move away from point solutions toward unified, connected ecosystemsAI + connectivity together will automate mundane tasks, reduce team cognitive load, and elevate the customer experience"We're moving from the age of dashboards to the age of agent workflows for specific business outcomes." — Jatin Chandwani"You cannot function without connectivity." — Jatin Chandwani"It's not install and forget — you put it in and you re-look at it." — Liz McKinnon"We were dropping money on the floor because of poor connectivity." — Chris Fletcher"Humans are craving more human connection — tech should free up your team to provide that." — Jatin ChandwaniTreat connectivity like labour and food cost — it belongs at the boardroom tableReview and right-size your connectivity estate regularly as your tech stack evolvesBuild redundancy and failover into your solution — downtime is immediately visible in salesPartner with your connectivity provider; it's an evolving relationship, not a one-time installStart collecting consented, structured data now — it's the foundation for everything AI will enablePowered by Sky Business.

Queenie Lo, president, Spatial Design at global agency FutureBrand, joins QSR Uncut this week to talk about the next generation of store models and the growing importance of physical experiences as prices continue to rise. For over 15 years, Queenie has worked to design immersive and commercially successful experiences for brands, including McDonald's for the past decade. The company also works with a number of global names, including HMSHost, SSP, Selfridge's, Bloomingdale's, and IKEA. We get into how to scale without losing your identity, and what the real future of QSR design looks like.

In this episode of the Corner Booth Podcast, host Chris Tripoli sits down with Heather Neary, CEO of Taco John's, to discuss the secrets behind growing a successful quick-service restaurant (QSR) brand. Heather shares her inspiring career journey from working in a cheesesteak shop to leading major franchise organizations, offering valuable lessons for restaurant owners and franchise operators looking to scale their businesses. Heather dives deep into franchise management strategies, including how to select the right franchise partners, maintain brand standards, and foster collaboration for long-term success. She explains the importance of strong operational systems, profitability at the unit level, and how technology, such as AI-driven drive-thru solutions, can optimize labor and improve customer experience. Listeners will gain actionable insights on balancing value-driven menu options with premium offerings to attract diverse customer segments. The conversation also explores Taco John's brand refresh initiative, focusing on leveraging heritage, freshness, and nostalgia to stay relevant in today's competitive QSR market. Heather outlines how the company is pruning underperforming units, introducing cost-effective remodel programs, and using data analytics to enhance marketing and menu decisions. Whether you're a restaurant owner, franchisee, or industry professional, this episode delivers practical strategies for driving growth, improving operations, and building a strong brand identity.

Today, we are dropping another episode in our "chats" series, but expanding the audience set to include more folks. This episode is Founder Chats - hearing from those scaling the companies themselves.In this episode, we are talking with Max Denevich, Co-founder and CRO of LoyaltyPlant. Max is going to share with us to road he travelled, entering into this industry, his go to market strategies, scaling across geographic region - and much, much more.QuestionsBefore we talk about products and scale, tell us a bit about your path to this point. What experiences shaped the way you think about business and leadership before LoyaltyPlant?At what point did you realise you wanted to work with complex, traditional industries rather than consumer apps or “easy” tech?Why foodtech, and specifically Quick Service Restaurants? What made you believe this industry had deep structural problems worth solving with technology?What made you decide to join LoyaltyPlant, and what potential did you see that others might have missed?You're often referred to as a co-founder today. How did the transition happen from an executive role to shaping the company's future at that level?LoyaltyPlant was close to running out of investment at one point. What were the first decisions that fundamentally changed the company's trajectory?What were the key milestones that turned LoyaltyPlant from a struggling company into a global enterprise business, from the first major client to scaling across 30 countries?You've worked across the US, UK, MENA, Europe, and CIS. What did you learn about scaling the same product across very different markets, and what absolutely doesn't translate?You built new go-to-market strategies that now generate over 90% of new sales. What did you change compared to a classic SaaS sales playbook, and why did it work in enterprise QSR?Margins are shrinking, aggregators dominate, and costs are rising. What's actually happening on the ground right now in QSR and foodtech, and how should companies adapt?Tell us about a decision you got wrong. What did it cost the business, and what did it teach you as a leader?What advice would you give founders building B2B products for traditional industries today, especially around scale, partnerships, and staying relevant?SponsorsUnblockedBraingrid.TECH DomainsMezmoLinkshttps://loyaltyplant.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/denevich/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/codestory/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

FiiZ Drinks president Scott Ball joins the podcast to break down life operating in arguably QSR's craziest market there is today—beverages. From dirty sodas to energy drinks to more, FiiZ has expanded to more than 70 locations since its 2014 founding. And the goal now is to open 500-plus units over the next 10 years in the U.S., with another 100 being launched in Canada. In just 2024, the brand served more than 200 million ounces of soda. We get into the growth ahead, what the brand is looking for in partners, and what it's going to take to grapple with the biggest beverage leaders as consumers drive the category to new heights.

TalkLP Podcast Host Amber Bradley sits down with Greg Murphy, VP of Risk Management at United Pacific, and honestly… is there anything this guy can't do? How did Greg started out chasing shoplifters on the floor in the 80s and work his way up to running LP, HR, audit, safety, workers' comp AND risk management for one of the largest convenience store/QSR chains in the West?  Listen today to understand how to “think like a scientist” to truly shift your focus and possibly how you think!

Episode Overview:In this episode, Alex Rawlings speaks with Richard Fitzgerald of CapitalSpring, a private equity firm specializing in foodservice and multi-location consumer businesses. Richard shares insights into CapitalSpring's differentiated, sector-focused approach, how they've scaled over 20 years, and the recent $1B+ exit to Bain Capital. He also unpacks their latest fundraising success in a tough market and the importance of specialization in today's crowded PE landscape.Timestamps & Key Topics:00:00 – Introduction Overview of CapitalSpring's focus and two key topics: fundraising success and a $1B+ exit.00:54 – Richard's Background From investment banking to founding CapitalSpring in 2005 with a sector-specialist mindset.03:19 – Why Multi-Location Businesses? Opportunities found on Main Street—resilient, everyday consumer services often overlooked in PE.04:43 – Starting Small, Scaling Big CapitalSpring began with $3M; now 300 investments and $4B deployed across 100+ brands.06:30 – Specialization as a Differentiator Why generalist firms struggle, and how deep focus wins deals without being the highest bidder.08:55 – $1B+ Exit: Sizzling Platter to Bain Capital Growth from 400 to 800+ locations across multiple brands and markets, despite COVID headwinds.14:03 – Key Learning: Labor-Light Models Pandemic emphasized the value of operational efficiency and low labor reliance in QSR investments.15:27 – Fund VII: First Close Success How CapitalSpring raised in a tough market by showcasing portfolio resilience and a hybrid debt/equity model.17:44 – Hybrid Capital Strategy Flexibility to invest via debt, equity, or both—offering solutions to founders and mitigating risk for LPs.20:04 – Book Recommendation: Give and Take by Adam Grant The power of relationships in PE—not just financial modeling.21:57 – Connect with Richard Email: rfitzgerald@capitalspring.com | LinkedIn & website via CapitalSpring.Top Takeaways:Specialization is key in today's competitive PE environment.Hybrid investing (debt + equity) offers flexibility and downside protection.Operationally light, multi-unit businesses prove resilient—even in crises.Long-term success in PE depends on relationships, not just technical skills.Raw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive recruitment through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.

Is investing in Google's century bond a good idea? If you don't want to read any further, and just want the basic answer, for investors it's a terrible idea. On the other hand, for companies, universities or even governments, issuing a century bond is a great way to lock in low rates for a hundred years. As I said for investors, it's a terrible idea, here is an example. In 2020, the Austrian government issued a century bond that locked in a yield of 0.85%, which was a great deal for them. But for investors who purchased that bond, it is now trading for 30 cents on the euro. Another example of how things can change is back in 1997, J.C. Penney issued a 100-year bond. Back then no one would have imagined bankruptcy would occur just a little over 20 years later for the company. You may be wondering who would benefit from buying these bonds? Generally, it would be your insurers or pension funds. They both have long-dated liabilities, so long-term bonds give them comfort, knowing what the future cash flows will be. There will also likely be some hedge funds and high-risk investors that will want to trade the bonds as they will have a high amount of fluctuation based on interest rates. In fixed income investing, there is something called duration, which essentially looks at the number of years it takes to recoup a bond's true cost. The longer the duration, the more price volatility for the bond when it comes to interest rate moves. Ultimately, for the average investor I would say to stay away because predicting which way interest rates are heading can be very difficult game and it could destroy your investment returns.   Big expenses are coming for companies that invest in AI We have talked about this in the past couple years and now after the companies spent roughly $500 billion in 2025 it's estimated they will spend another $3 trillion by the end of the decade. As the companies spend more money on data centers, chips and other items for AI, their depreciation expense will rise each year, which will reduce their income. The big tech companies are kind of sneaky currently with depreciation. Many companies like railroads and other companies report depreciation as a standalone operating expense on their income statement. The reason depreciation is important for investors to understand is that eventually equipment becomes obsolete or worn out and must be replaced. But the big tech companies currently don't have to break out depreciation until 2028 after new rule changes take effect. Currently, they include depreciation in the cost of goods sold or sometimes in research and development or general and administrative expenses. This makes it very difficult for investors and analysts to understand the true numbers. The big tech companies defense is they currently include it in the footnotes. However, companies like Microsoft have as many as 15-20 footnotes, which are generally not seen by investors or analysts. Perhaps the big tech companies will continue to hold onto their lofty valuations for now, but at some point, the real earnings will come through, and the stocks could take a major beating. Don't blame the restaurant or the grocery store for the high price of meat I'm sure you've noticed that if you want to go out and have a good steak, you're probably going to spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $45-$50, depending on the restaurant and how big the steak is. There's a big shortage of cattle in the United States and the numbers are staggering. In January, there were only 86.2 million cattle and calves, which is down from a peak of more than 130 million in the mid 1970s. The number of people in the United States far surpasses the number of cattle and supply/demand being what it is, it is pushing the price of cattle to higher levels. The 86.2 million heads of cattle may sound like a lot, but when you look at the numbers it is the smallest herd since 1951 and that's when the population in the United States was 157 million. The population now stands around 344 million people, which is an increase of 119%. All things being equal, there should be around 188 million heads of cattle available. There are three main reasons why the price of meat is high and the number of cattle is low. We used to receive about 5% of our beef supply from Mexico, but a parasitic fly larvae called screwworm has destroyed that supply. Another problem is a lack of rain in Texas, which is the largest producer of our beef supply with 12.5 million cows. If ranchers don't get enough rain, they produce smaller herds because the cost of feed increases. You may be thinking there's a lot of cows in California as you drive up 15 and you are right because California is the fourth largest producing state for cows at 5 million, but 1.7 million of those cows are dairy cows. The third reason is simply being a rancher is hard work, and it is generally passed down from generation to generation. Most kids when they're growing up do not dream about working on a ranch in the hot sun in the dirt all day long. Also, with the price of land some ranchers realize they're better off selling the ranch for a big profit than continuing to work the land. Fortunately, many ranchers love what they do and despite the hard work continue to do it generation after generation. If you know any young kids that like riding horses, maybe they should consider going to work on a ranch and save all that college money?   Financial Planning: Do Commission-Free Annuities Make Annuities More Attractive? One of the primary downsides of annuities has always been the layers of fees that drag on returns, along with upfront commissions that create conflicts of interest in how they're recommended. Commission-free annuities attempt to address these concerns by eliminating the embedded commission and often lowering internal product expenses, which in theory should improve transparency and net performance. However, these products are typically sold by fee-based advisors who charge ongoing advisory fees, meaning that while the conflict of interest may be reduced, the cost savings inside the annuity can be offset by the advisor's separate fee. Even with improved pricing structures, the fundamental challenge remains, annuities generally offer lower expected long-term internal rates of return compared to investing directly in diversified market portfolios. While annuities provide guarantees such as downside protection and lifetime income, those guarantees come at a cost that often outweighs their benefit. In many cases, investors can generate greater long-term growth and higher income from a well-diversified portfolio. The returns may not be technically guaranteed, but it can still be done in a conservative and sustainable way.   Companies Discussed: Mattel, Inc. (MAT), DraftKings Inc. (DKNG), Ferrari N.V. (RACE) & Restaurant Brands International Inc. (QSR)

In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Lawrence Brown, Chief Development Officer at Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, to explore how one of America's largest specialty dessert franchises is scaling smart — from its iconic first-day-of-spring tradition and drive-through expansion strategy to franchisee unit economics, community-driven marketing, and what makes the ideal Rita's franchise partner in today's competitive QSR landscape.#FastCasualNation #FranchiseDevelopment #RitasItalianIceBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support.Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

In this episode of Next in Media, I sit down live at the Kochava Summit in Sandpoint, Idaho, with Charles Manning, founder and CEO of Kochava. We go deep on one of the most pressing questions facing the industry right now: how profound is the shift to agentic advertising and AI-driven workflows? Charles argues it is not a decade-long evolution like programmatic was. It is breathtakingly faster, and the companies that understand how to use their first-party data as a competitive kernel, rather than leaking it to the walled gardens, are the ones that will come out ahead. He draws a compelling analogy: if programmatic changed the auction, AI is about to change the workflow.We also dig into Kochava's CTV journey, from its mobile app roots to building measurement tools adopted by LG, Samsung, Vizio, and Roku, and how the view-and-do combo between the TV screen and the mobile device is creating powerful new outcome-based measurement opportunities for brands. Charles breaks down what holding companies should fear (and fix), why the ad tech supply chain is due for serious consolidation, and why he predicts a wave of take-privates and roll-ups followed by a bonanza of public offerings over the next two years. He also introduces Station One, Kochava's integrative AI hub that acts like a Slack for AI workflows, designed to help teams transform how they work without giving up control of their data. Key Highlights:⚡ AI vs. Programmatic: Charles explains why the shift to agentic advertising is moving breathtakingly faster than programmatic did. While programmatic took over a decade to fully reshape the auction, AI is set to transform the entire workflow within the next 16 months.

In this episode of CEO to CEO: Behind the Counter, we hand the mics over to A&W Restaurants' CEO Betsy Schmandt and Kilwins' CEO Brian Britton. They discuss life overseeing two of the country's most-iconic foodservice brands, what it's taking to win over customers with experience and service, and how restaurant leaders can inspire growth and performance from the top down.As always, CEO to CEO provides a candid dive into life directing a quick-service chain. There's no editor. No filter. Just real and actionable insight to take to your operation and career.For more episodes of QSR's CEO to CEO series, visit here.

Tomás Gilbert, Director, Strategic Market Insights at Curion, joins QSR Uncut to break down his adventures as a qualitative researcher in the restaurant space. We get into what's driving traffic, what food trends are landing on menus, why beverages are hot, why menu optimization is becoming widespread, and much more. There's a reason in-market research is a growing methodology in QSR.This episode was brought to you by our partners at Curion. 

On this week's Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the latest restaurant industry news, including Chipotle's negative sales year, Taco Bell's ongoing dominance, and the incredible growth in snacks. First up is Chipotle, which last week reported that its same-store sales declined 1.7% in 2025. CEO Scott Boatwright introduced a “Recipe for Growth” plan that has five steps to get the brand back in black, but the company also issued guidance for the year that shows it expects sales to be flat. Sam and Alicia discuss the unsurprising results and whether they think Chipotle's plan for growth — which includes increased usage of limited-time offers and demonstrating the brand's value proposition — will help reverse its fortunes. Next up is Yum Brands, which had mostly good results: Taco Bell continues to dominate in the QSR category, with its same-store sales up 7% in the latest quarter and evidence that it's taking market share from just about every other corner of the restaurant industry. Meanwhile, KFC enjoyed 1% growth — signs, perhaps, that its turnaround plan is working. Sam and Alicia discuss those positive results, but also dig into the myriad issues over at Pizza Hut, which saw sales decline last year and plans to close 250 units in the first half of this year. Finally, the editors turn their attention to snacks, which are enjoying a renaissance across the restaurant space and could drive continued disruption at brands big and small.For more on these stories:Chipotle unveils plan to ‘accelerate growth' after another negative quarterTaco Bell is taking market share from just about everywherePizza Hut is closing 250 U.S. locations in the first half of 2026

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois deliver a wide-ranging discussion that connects Canadian food policy, trade risk, pricing power, and the accelerating role of AI in restaurants. The episode is anchored by a forward-looking interview with Deborah Matteliano Simeoni, Global Head of Restaurants at Amazon Web Services (AWS), recorded live at the NRF Big Show in New York.The first half of the episode focuses on the state of Canadian agriculture and food affordability. Sylvain shares firsthand insights from meetings with farmers across the Prairies, highlighting cautious optimism around renewed beef access to China alongside deep concern about U.S. trade policy and the durability of CUSMA. The hosts debate the federal government's grocery rebate program, questioning its long-term fiscal impact and contrasting it with a structural alternative: removing GST on food and foodservice to address affordability more directly.A key political and policy thread centers on Mark Wiseman, Canada's incoming Ambassador to the United States. Michael and Sylvain discuss Wiseman's previously published criticism of supply management, exploring whether his appointment signals potential pressure on the system during future Canada–U.S. trade negotiations—and whether Ottawa may ultimately position reforms as externally forced rather than domestically driven. The conversation situates supply management within broader competitiveness, trade credibility, and agri-food resilience debates.The hosts also examine PepsiCo's high-profile U.S. snack price reductions, questioning whether the move reflects margin recalibration, competitive signaling, or Super Bowl-era marketing—and why those cuts do not apply to Canada. Additional topics include the quiet disappearance of frozen orange juice concentrate, the continued normalization of food delivery, and why physical restaurants still matter as legitimizing anchors for digital-first and delivery-led food brands.The second half features an in-depth conversation with Deborah Matteliano Simeoni, who reframes AI not as an end goal, but as a tool for solving real restaurant challenges. Drawing on her experience launching Uber Eats and now advising global QSR brands at AWS, she explains how AI is improving drive-through accuracy, enhancing employee satisfaction, and enabling sophisticated personalization within loyalty ecosystems. Deborah emphasizes experimentation, data-driven learning, and customer-centric design as essential to scaling technology responsibly.Lastly we celebrate the Lobster Lady, still fishing at 101, leaving the earth at 103: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/business/virginia-oliver-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.J1A.q_7X.15lWPrsTltE7&smid=url-share About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Visiting Professor in Food Policy and Distribution at McGill University and a Professor in Food Distribution and Policy in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability with over 775 published peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. Charlebois is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal. He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, discussing issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries and which is the most listened Canadian management podcast in Canada. Every year since 2012, he has published the now highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.With extensive experience collaborating with businesses, governments, and NGOs, Dr. Charlebois combines academic rigor with practical expertise, making him one of the most influential voices in the global agri-food landscape. His work continues to advance the understanding of food systems, fostering innovation and resilience in a rapidly evolving industry. In 2025, he received the prestigious Charles III medal recognizing his tremendous work in informing Canadians about food issues. Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail, The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the National Retail Federation (NRF) as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025, and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.

The restaurant industry faces a critical "fork in the road" in 2026 as pricing power runs out and brands pivot to value-driven strategies. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Michael Halen joins Restaurant Mastermind hosts Paul Barron and Anna Tauzin to discuss the K-shaped recovery, casual dining's surprising renaissance led by Chili's viral marketing execution, and the intensifying QSR value wars between McDonald's, Taco Bell, and others. With economic tailwinds from lower gas prices and potential tax reforms, plus shifting consumer discovery patterns favoring TikTok over Google among Gen Z, the conversation reveals why success in 2026 will depend on mastering fundamentals: exceptional operations, smart marketing, and authentic value perception rather than technological silver bullets.#RestaurantIndustry #FoodService #HospitalityTrendsGet Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/ Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

This episode explores the transition from the Quality System Regulation (QSR) to the Quality Management System Regulation (QMSR) and the foundational elements required for medical device compliance. Host Etienne Nichols and guest Mike Drues discuss the philosophy of building a usable system rather than a "museum of SOPs," emphasizing that the standard list of QMS sections should be viewed as a starting point rather than an exhaustive checklist.The conversation examines the critical differences between 510(k), De Novo, and PMA pathways regarding manufacturing requirements. While a 510(k) submission may not strictly require detailed manufacturing information at the time of filing, Mike explains why companies must remain audit-ready from the moment they register their establishment with the FDA. The discussion clarifies the timing of registration and the "radar" companies enter once they become commercially active.Finally, the dialogue focuses on a "triage" approach for resource-constrained startups. By prioritizing Design Controls and Risk Management during early development, teams can remain compliant and ethical without over-investing in post-market systems, such as complaint handling, before they have a product on the market. Mike warns against the dangers of "copy-and-paste" quality systems, urging manufacturers to use professional judgment to tailor their processes to their specific technology.Key Timestamps00:00 - Introduction to QMS requirements and guest Mike Drues.03:45 - The core sections of a QMS according to the Quality System Regulation.05:12 - Why the QSR list is a starting point, not a stopping point.08:20 - Regulatory vs. Ethical vs. Economical: The three legs of the medical device stool.10:30 - Do you need a full QMS for 510(k) vs. PMA submissions?13:15 - Understanding the timing and strategy for FDA Establishment Registration.15:40 - The Triage Approach: Which QMS sections matter most during early development?19:00 - The dangers of boilerplate SOPs and non-specific quality manuals.Quotes"This is a starting point. This is not a stopping point... Use your own good judgment." — Mike Drues"The goal is not really to build a museum of SOPs; the goal is a quality management system that teams will actually use." — Etienne NicholsTakeawaysPrioritize the Big Four: During the development phase, focus your limited resources on Design Controls, Risk Management, Document Control, and Supplier Quality Management.Understand Pathway Nuances: While 510(k) submissions don't require manufacturing details, you must be fully compliant and ready for inspection once your establishment is registered and the product is launched.Avoid Boilerplate SOPs: Quality systems must be specific to your organization. Including irrelevant device types or procedures in...

Ash Patel interviews Paul Frank, a rare combination of longtime developer, broker, and mentor, about what it really takes to survive and succeed in commercial real estate over multiple decades. Paul shares how being thrown into large QSR development projects in the 1980s shaped his risk discipline, why entitlement and municipal processes have become significantly harder in recent years, and how siloed brokerage models limit brokers' real understanding of the full real estate lifecycle. He also breaks down common development and financing mistakes, including DSCR traps, prepayment penalties, and why many “developers” lack the operational depth to underwrite and execute deals properly. The conversation closes with lessons on relationship-driven dealmaking, mentorship, and why discipline—not deal volume or door count—is the real long-term advantage in CRE. Paul FrankCurrent role: Developer, Broker, and Founder, PDF USABased in: CaliforniaSay hi to them at: www.pdf-usa.com IG paulfrankpdf www.linkedin.com/in/paulfrankpdf Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It's free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠⁠ Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades, medical device manufacturers in the US relied on 21 CFR 820 (QSR) — a system known for being procedural and checklist-oriented.But starting February 2nd, 2026, FDA will implement QMSR, changing not only the regulation structure but also the inspection philosophy.QMSR does not eliminate Part 820. Instead, FDA is amending it to incorporate ISO 13485:2016 by reference, bringing the US closer to the global quality language used across Europe, Canada, Japan, and beyond.Why FDA is doing thisFDA's move is driven by three key goals:Harmonization (reduce duplicated systems and audits)Modern quality thinking (move from “procedures” to “system effectiveness and risk”)Inspection efficiency (more end-to-end audits)What inspections may look like under QMSRInstead of jumping between SOPs, inspections may follow real flows like:Complaint → Risk Management → CAPA → Design Change → Supplier ImpactThe focus becomes traceability, consistency, and risk-based justification.What companies should do nowTo be QMSR-ready, companies should:Build an ISO 13485-style process mapMake risk visible everywhere, not only in product developmentImprove CAPA triage and effectiveness checksStrengthen design controls (especially software development & V&V)Train teams on the new “why/how” inspection styleWho is Monir El Azzouzi? Monir El Azzouzi is the founder and CEO of Easy Medical Device a Consulting firm that is supporting Medical Device manufacturers for any Quality and Regulatory affairs activities all over the world. Monir can help you to create your Quality Management System, Technical Documentation or he can also take care of your Clinical Evaluation, Clinical Investigation through his team or partners. Easy Medical Device can also become your Authorized Representative and Independent Importer Service provider for EU, UK and Switzerland. Monir has around 16 years of experience within the Medical Device industry working for small businesses and also big corporate companies. He has now supported around 100 clients to remain compliant on the market. His passion to the Medical Device filed pushed him to create educative contents like, blog, podcast, YouTube videos, LinkedIn Lives where he invites guests who are sharing educative information to his audience. Visit easymedicaldevice.com to know more. 

Joe Blanton, founder & CEO of Stone Restaurant Real Estate, joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein for a trip around the market. We look at how site selection is trending, what kind of properties operators are finding to build in today, and much more during one of the more-dynamic cost periods on record. No matter what's happening in this industry, it always starts with location.

The commercial real estate recovery everyone expected in 2025 did not arrive. Instead, investors are being forced to rethink risk, cash flow, and capital allocation heading into 2026.   In this episode of the Espace Montreal Podcast, Axel Monsaingeon speaks with Marie-Claire Laflamme-Sanders, Senior Vice President and Practice Lead within Avison Young's Québec Capital Markets Team, about why net lease real estate has become one of the most resilient investment strategies in today's uncertain market. Drawing on insights from the Toronto Real Estate Forum and active transactions across Canada, Marie-Claire explains how investors are pricing stability, why single-tenant assets are back in favor, and how net leases function as a hybrid between real estate and corporate bonds.   The conversation also covers the return of interest in office real estate, the rise of sale-leaseback transactions as companies unlock capital, and why Montreal continues to attract both private and institutional investors despite ongoing political and economic headwinds. This episode offers a grounded, real-world look at how sophisticated investors are protecting cash flow and positioning portfolios for the next phase of the cycle.   Topics & Timestamps

Starbucks' strategy pivot to “turn coffee houses into living rooms” and get back to its “third place” was one of the biggest topics of 2025 and promises to grab headlines in 2026. The decision offers abundant lessons for QSRs, as Pete Champion, managing partner at brand experience agency I-AM, shares with QSR editorial director Danny Klein on this episode of QSR Uncut. Pete brings over 20 years' experience in brand environments, having worked with industry giants including Starbucks, Costa Coffee and KFC. We get into how hospitality and QSR brands transform their physical spaces to connect with customers on a deeper, more human level. And why this could make all the difference for one of the most recognizable retail brands in the world.

Lucy, Andrew, and Ben bring you: A look at how widespread societal immiseration is impacting the LTO in the QSR space, and finding out we're closer than we thought to urine harvesting from drunk chimpanzees. *** Outro: The Mistery With Me - Jo Bisso *** Support our show and get exclusive bonus episodes by subscribing on Patreon: www.patreon.com/BoontaVista *** Email the show at mailbag@boontavista.com! Call in and leave us a question or a message on 1800-317-515 to be answered on the show! *** Twitter: twitter.com/boontavista Website: boontavista.com Twitch: twitch.tv/boontavista

Smashburger founder Tom Ryan and CEO Jim Sullivan join Fast Casual Nation to reveal their bold strategy to reclaim the brand's position in the better burger category. Discover how their new "Belief is in the bite" philosophy, innovative $4.99 value platform, and surprise Big Dog success are driving a comeback story. Plus, learn about their aggressive five-year plan to grow from 200 to over 1,000 locations through strategic franchising and non-traditional venues. This conversation explores menu innovation, operational excellence, and why they believe the QSR guys can't compete on quality and fast casual brands can't compete on their price.~This episode is brought to you by KRAFT Philadelphia Cream Cheese~Visit https://bit.ly/Kraft-FCNSmashburger #FastCasual #RestaurantIndustry00:00 – Intro and guests01:20 – Smashburger's new flavor-focused rebrand04:20 – CEO Jim Sullivan and Tom Ryan join06:10 – Smashburger history and product philosophy07:05 – Rebuilding brand identity and premium position08:10 – Fast innovation: LTOs and Big Dogs09:20 – Value platform at $4.9910:15 – Premium lineup and loaded sides12:00 – “Belief is in the bite” brand strategy13:20 – New logo, colors and store identity17:15 – Growth goals and expansion plansGet Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

Dr. Yuan Li, Director of Medical Business at DQS and a former medical device auditor with deep expertise across orthopaedic manufacturing and regulatory systems.In this episode, we discuss the sweeping regulatory transition coming to the U.S. with the introduction of the Quality Management System Regulation (QMSR), which formally aligns 21 CFR Part 820 with ISO 13485. Yuan unpacks what this shift means for U.S.-based manufacturers, why FDA is phasing out the QSR audit model and why contract manufacturers and software-based device firms are particularly vulnerable if they delay planning.We also explore the growing use of AI in QMS platforms, the pitfalls of template-driven compliance, and why “regulatory fatigue” is no excuse when patients' lives are at stake. From post-market surveillance strategies to paperless QMS migrations and the validation grey zone, Yuan offers pragmatic, deeply informed advice for those navigating FDA audits, ISO certification and international expansionTimestamps[00:02:36] Why QMSR is a Big Deal for U.S. Manufacturers[00:04:09] Key Differences Between 21 CFR 820 and ISO 13485[00:05:09] Why Companies Wait Too Long to Comply[00:07:19] Impact on Contract Manufacturers and Supply Chains[00:08:36] Do You Really Need ISO 13485 Certification?[00:10:18] AI-Generated QMS Systems: Useful or Risky?[00:11:52] Most Memorable Audit Story: Iterative Design Gone Wrong[00:14:46] How to Spot Proactive vs Reactive Post-Market Surveillance[00:17:03] Why Software Companies Struggle with The Regulatory Mindset[00:20:57] What Validation Really Means Under ISO 13485Connect with Yuan - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuan-li-phd-3bb14013/Learn more about DQS - ⁠https://www.dqsglobal.com/en/Get in touch with Karandeep Badwal - ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/karandeepbadwal/ ⁠⁠Follow Karandeep on YouTube - ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@KarandeepBadwal⁠⁠Subscribe to the Podcast

Founded in 2007 by Tony Lamb, Kona Ice launched its first Kona Entertainment Vehicle in Florence, Kentucky. Today, the brand has grown to more than 1,900 trucks and nearly 3,000 points of sale, serving 49 states. The brand has also given back more than $200 million to local communities. Lamb joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein on this episode of QSR Uncut to share the journey, how the company is evolving toward new concepts and more trucks, and why it continues to rack up awards for its unique franchise opportunity. 

On this week's Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the latest restaurant industry news, including Burger King's menu and marketing shifts, Gen Alpha's growing importance, and the latest data on fast-food and fast-casual traffic. First up is Burger King, which is rolling out a new campaign — including four new menu items — tied to the film “The SpongeBob Movie: The Search for Squarepants.” The brand also stated its intention to double down on beef where its competitors are pushing further into chicken. What to make of these moves? Sam and Alicia share their thoughts on Burger King's play for broader demographics and how it could signal a big evolution for the third-largest burger QSR chain. Speaking of demographics, Sam and Alicia next tackle Gen Alpha and how restaurant chains are making a play for their business with promotions tied to trends like “6-7.” Find out why it's never too soon to build a strategy for the next generation — but also why restaurant companies must be smart of how they connect with younger customers, particularly on digital platforms like social media. Finally, Sam and Alicia discuss new data that suggests quick-service and fast-casual traffic is expected to be slow for the next several months. How might chains react to this reality — and what can they do to differentiate in a “sea of sameness”? For more on these stories: SpongeBob menu part of Burger King's new marketing strategyRestaurant brands start speaking Gen Alpha's languageThe fast-casual category is losing steam

Scott Ball, President of FiiZ Drinks, joins Fast Casual Nation to break down how the fastest-growing specialty soda franchise went from 50 to 70+ locations and sold over 200 units in just one year. The former Dunkin' franchisee reveals the secrets behind FiiZ's low-cost buildout model (half the price of competitors), why 80-85% of sales come through drive-thru, and how customers are visiting 5 times per week for customized dirty sodas. From 700 sq ft prototypes to Walmart partnerships, Ball shares the blueprint for beverage franchise success and why legacy brands like McDonald's and White Castle are jumping into the dirty soda category. If you're in the restaurant business, this is the beverage trend you can't afford to ignore.#DirtySoda #FranchiseGrowth #RestaurantBusinessGet Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

Mike Perry, founder and chief creative officer at hospitality, food and beverage brand agency Tavern, joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to discuss how restaurants can endure in today's weary consumer environment. Why is brand identity mission critical? What missteps are some classic chains making with design and marketing? We explore the industry, from Starbucks to Cracker Barrel to Sizzler, and more, laying the roadmap for reinvention, and what's to come. Perry's 15-plus year career spans roles at TikTok and NBC Sports, and he's worked with brands such as Burger King and Budweiser. Note: This episode contains explicit language.

Keith Benjamin, co-founder of Uptown Hospitality Group in Charleston, tells the story of how throwing massive Penn State tailgates set him on a 20-year path from NYC bartender to operator of six concepts—while raising three kids under five. After buying small equity stakes in New York bars and becoming an operating partner at 29, he felt pulled to Charleston and went all-in on a $5M buildout of Uptown Social, a 10,000 sq. ft. sports bar and nightlife hub inside a 1915 building. He recalls surviving COVID—shutting down 48 hours after his wedding—then creating Bodega, a New York-style breakfast sandwich brand that grew from a parking-lot pop-up to multiple locations. Uptown Hospitality later added Share House, the upscale tavern By the Way (with partners from Southern Charm), and The Waverly, a wedding venue. Through rapid growth, thin margins, seasonality, and crushing liquor liability laws, Keith stays centered on preparation, service, and his belief that restaurants and bars are the emotional backbone of a community—and that operators carry that responsibility on their shoulders. 10 Takeaways Hospitality people “run into the fire.” You're either wired for the chaos and unpredictability of restaurant ownership or it will spit you out. Preparation beats the playbook. Every shift changes at minute one; the only constant is how ready your team is for the unexpected. Tailgates were the training ground. Running $40K-per-season Penn State tailgates taught Keith energy management, leadership, and crowd control. From golden handcuffs to ownership. High-earning NYC bartending could have trapped him, but he insisted on a path to management and equity. Charleston was the “chips all in” leap. With no collateral, Keith borrowed from friends and family to take on a 25-year lease and rebuild a 1915 building. COVID nearly crushed the dream—but sparked Bodega. Forced shutdowns led to launching a breakfast-sandwich concept that quickly exploded in popularity. Growth exposed growing pains. Opening multiple concepts while having three young kids humbled him and revealed how thin the margins can be. Food-heavy concepts are a different math. Booze-driven venues thrive; a full-service breakfast-and-lunch model did not, leading to a fast pivot to QSR. Liquor liability laws threaten the industry. South Carolina's rules once assigned 100% blame to anyone who served one drink to someone later in a wreck, pushing insurance premiums into the stratosphere. Service and community are the lasting moats. With heavy competition and rising closures, the only real differentiator is how you make people feel—because restaurants are the heart of every community.

In this episode of Smart Franchising, Dan Rowe sits down with Chris Gannon, founder of Bolay Fresh Bold Kitchen and son of Outback Steakhouse co-founder Tim Gannon, to explore the critical question: should you franchise your restaurant concept? With 22 locations across Florida, Bolay Fresh Bold Kitchen represents a "better for you" fast-casual concept focused on scratch-made, chef-driven bowls with craveable flavors. Chris shares invaluable lessons from his restaurant DNA—including working his way up from busser at Outback despite being the founder's son, his experience at PDQ, and the challenges of maintaining quality and consistency while scaling. The conversation dives deep into operational realities that prospective franchisees need to understand: the complexity of scratch cooking, the relentless focus required for training, the critical importance of site selection (with unique tips like consulting local police officers who truly know communities), and why "the best site you'll ever select is the one you say no to."Chris reveals Bolay Fresh Bold Kitchen's growth strategy of seeking experienced multi-unit, multi-brand operators (MUMBOs) as franchise partners—not traditional QSR franchisees or first-timers—who understand that building top-line sales through hospitality and quality drives bottom-line success. He emphasizes that successful franchising requires treating partners like marriages, maintaining culture at scale, and resisting the temptation to cut food quality for margin optimization. Dan and Chris discuss industry challenges including skyrocketing build costs, the over-saturated restaurant market, the need to master off-premise channels, and why strong unit economics are non-negotiable in today's environment. For anyone considering franchising—whether as a franchisor or franchisee—this conversation offers hard-earned wisdom on site selection, people selection, maintaining standards across multiple units, and the fundamental trade-offs between corporate growth versus franchise partnership models.

In the next episode of QSR magazine's CEO to CEO series, where we have two leading executives turn the mic on each other, Cheba Hut's Marc Torres and Toppers Pizza's Adam Oldenburg share how they rose through the ranks of their respective brands and what they're seeing in the marketplace today. They swap candid stories on leadership, operations, and much more in our longest episode yet. 

Join Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler as they sit down with Stephanie Perdue, VP of Brand Marketing at Chipotle Mexican Grill, to discuss how the fast casual leader is navigating industry challenges. Learn about Chipotle's accelerated menu innovation strategy, including fresh sauces made daily and the new Build Your Own meal for groups. Discover how they're winning back Gen Z through gamification, the Chipotle U rewards program, and transparent food storytelling. Stephanie shares insights on digital transformation with 38% of sales now digital, AI initiatives empowering crew members, and the strategic roadmap for 2026 amid industrywide headwinds.#FastCasual #RestaurantIndustry #ChipotleEpisode Highlights0:00 - Intro & fast casual overview0:19 - Economic shifts & traffic decline0:46 - Guest: Stephanie Perdue, VP of Brand at Chipotle1:17 - Rise of “micro meals” & snacking trend3:10 - How fast casual brands are adapting4:20 - Gen Z habits & fewer restaurant visits5:12 - Inside Chipotle's marketing & menu innovation7:46 - Gen Z's love for bold flavor & customization8:00 - New family meal concept & digital ordering10:05 - Convenience for families & busy lifestyles12:00 - Connecting with Gen Z through rewards & authenticity13:49 - Balancing quality, value, and rising costs14:38 - Using creators to highlight real ingredients15:55 - Portion size debate & customer perception17:34 - Rewards, nutrition goals & app experience19:46 - Listening to customers & TikTok hacks20:30 - New sauces & flavor innovationGet Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

What Does It Take to Scale from Two Gyms to 100+ Stores Across America?n this episode of Retail Retold, Chris Ressa welcomes franchise powerhouse Kal Gullipali — the man who turned two Orange Theory studios into a 100-unit empire spanning Marco's Pizza, Dave's Hot Chicken, European Wax Center, and more. From Wall Street to wellness centers to hot chicken, Kal's story is a masterclass in bold moves, smart capital, and relentless growth.Kal reveals how selling his first franchise lit the spark for scale — and how COVID became the ultimate wake-up call to diversify. Today, his group operates across multiple states, building new stores, buying portfolios, and driving more than $35–40 million in annual growth. He breaks down the numbers, the strategy, and the mindset it takes to play at this level.This episode dives into what it really takes to win in franchising: sharp site selection, patient capital, and powerful partnerships. Kal also calls out a coming shift in the fast-casual world — the return of true customer service — as brands rediscover that speed means nothing without hospitality.What You'll Hear:How Kal built a 100+ unit, multi-brand portfolio in under a decadeWhy diversification saved his business modelThe real economics behind scaling franchisesWhy the next big franchise trend is a return to the human touchChapters00:00 – Meet Kal GullipaliFrom Wall Street to Main Street — how a former Merrill Lynch analyst became a franchise powerhouse.02:00 – The First Franchise BetWhy Kal's first leap into Orange Theory Fitness changed everything.04:00 – From Two Gyms to a Hundred UnitsThe mindset, capital, and partnerships behind explosive growth.06:00 – Lessons from Selling and ScalingHow selling early wins funded a smarter, more diversified empire.07:45 – Enter the Pizza and Hot Chicken GameWhy COVID turned Kal into a believer in delivery-driven, resilient brands.09:30 – Building vs. BuyingThe strategy behind mixing acquisitions with ground-up new builds.10:30 – Why Dave's Hot Chicken Took OffHigh AUVs, hot branding, and a cult following—Kal breaks down the magic formula.13:00 – The Numbers Behind the EmpireA candid look at performance, diversification, and what drives profitability.15:00 – The Power of People and ProcessInside Kal's shared-services model and how he scales culture across brands.18:00 – The Franchise Trend No One's Talking AboutWhy customer service—not tech—will define the next era of QSR success.

Wil talks with Jeff Perera, founder of Jeff's Bagel Run, to unpack a quintessentially scrappy entrepreneurial tale: laid off in 2019, Jeff stayed home with his kids while his wife returned to work, and, prompted by her longing for authentic New York-style bagels, he taught himself to bake from scratch in their kitchen, turning a novice's sticky-fingered mishaps (including a rescue call to King Arthur Flour's baker hotline) into a perfected recipe that evoked childhood nostalgia for his wife. What began as porch pick-ups and 20-mile deliveries for four bagels snowballed during the pandemic into home deliveries of 40 dozen a day, farmers-market lines that braved Florida rainstorms, and eventually a first leased storefront in July 2021; by 2025 the brand boasts 24 locations (6 corporate, 18 franchised), a laser-focused “bake fresh, bring joy, build community” ethos, and a franchise pipeline of 141 signed agreements—all while rejecting scalable shortcuts like frozen products or off-site baking to preserve the artisan, open-kitchen magic that turned a love story into a booming bagel empire.10 Key Takeaways Start with passion, not a plan—Jeff learned bagel-making purely to please his wife, not to launch a business; the emotional “closed-eyes, transported-to-Long Island” moment proved the recipe's power.  Do unscalable things early—driving 20 miles for four bagels, delivering porch-to-porch, and trading bagels for toilet paper during COVID built loyalty and refined operations.  Embrace humility and ask for help—calling King Arthur's hotline, inviting chef Tim Keating to critique kitchen layout, and leaning on mentors accelerated learning without ego.  Niche down ruthlessly—86'd labor-intensive black-and-white cookies rather than outsource them to uphold the “bake fresh” pillar; no freezers, no sandwiches, no toasting—just hot bagels, spreads, and coffee.  Pandemic chaos = opportunity—stockpiled flour, bought a commercial mixer, and leveraged Instagram/DM orders to scale home production to 40 dozen/day while the world shut down.  Franchising preserves community feel—chose franchise model to let owner-operators replicate the intimate, open-kitchen vibe Danielle and Jeff created in store #1.  Hire for cultural & culture fit—early hires came from Instagram video submissions; now stress team chemistry in tight QSR kitchens where “customers can tell” if the vibe is off.  Location is king—target “bagel deserts” in the Southeast/Southwest; repurpose closed Einstein, Starbucks, and bank drive-thrus; prioritize high-traffic Publix-anchored centers.  Morning-only model simplifies labor—6 a.m.–2:30 p.m. operation enables one-shift staffing, owner-operator flexibility, and weekend bonkers volume without late-night burnout.  Give back to earn loyalty—partnering with Give Kids the World, Make-A-Wish, and local schools; community pillar turns customers into advocates and franchisees into neighbors.

Beans & Brews Coffeehouse CEO Doug Willmarth joins QSR Uncut this week to discuss the story and potential of an 80-plus unit brand that's been home to “high-altitude roasting” since 1993. What does that mean? How does it differentiate the fast casual? We get into all that as well as Doug's background as a Naval officer and Aviator and where the overall category—one of QSR's hottest—goes from here.

James chats with Prateek Misra, head of Luxury and Food & Beverage for India at JLL. They discuss the complexities and opportunities for international retailers entering the Indian market, which is home to over 1.4 billion people with a significant portion under 35 years old. Prateek highlights the importance of local partnerships and understanding diverse consumer preferences across India's regions. They explore successful strategies, such as market research, establishing Global Capability Centers (GCCs), and adapting product offerings. Examples include McDonald's localized vegetarian burgers and Uniqlo's culturally adapted clothing. Prateek also emphasizes the growing spaces for e-commerce, QSR, fast fashion, and experiential retail, offering insights into the best practices and potential pitfalls for foreign brands looking to succeed in India. James Cook is the Director of Retail Research in the Americas for JLL.  Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify  Listen: WhereWeBuy.show  Email: jamesd.cook@jll.com  YouTube: http://everythingweknow.show/ Read more retail research here:  http://www.us.jll.com/retail Theme music is Run in the Night by The Good Lawdz, under Creative Commons license.  

It's Eye on Franchising Friday with your host, Lance Graulich! Today, I'm diving in with Mark Amery, Founder & CEO of Puddle Pools, the fast-growing pool cleaning & maintenance franchise making waves across North America.