Fast Casual Nation Restaurant Podcast
Join the #1 Restaurant Business Podcast Shaping the Future of The Restaurant Industry!
Hosted by Paul Barron, industry pioneer, investor, and author of The Chipotle Effect. Co-hosted by Cherryh Cansler, the editorial force behind Fastcasual.com, this is where restaurant operators get the competitive edge. Every week, this power duo decodes the trends, strategies, and innovations transforming the restaurant business, driven by the Fast Casual mindset, redefining what's possible across all restaurant segments. With over two decades of combined expertise, Paul and Cherryh don't just report on the industry; they've helped build it. This isn't just a podcast. It's your playbook for what's next.
Watch the show on YouTube!
Become a Guest on the show!
Advertise on the #1 Restaurant Business Podcast
Join the #1 Restaurant Business Podcast Shaping the Future of The Restaurant Industry!
Hosted by Paul Barron, industry pioneer, investor, and author of The Chipotle Effect. Co-hosted by Cherryh Cansler, the editorial force behind Fastcasual.com, this is where restaurant operators get the competitive edge. Every week, this power duo decodes the trends, strategies, and innovations transforming the restaurant business, driven by the Fast Casual mindset, redefining what's possible across all restaurant segments. With over two decades of combined expertise, Paul and Cherryh don't just report on the industry; they've helped build it. This isn't just a podcast. It's your playbook for what's next.
Watch the show on YouTube!
Become a Guest on the show!
Advertise on the #1 Restaurant Business Podcast
Episodes

May 5, 2021
May 5, 2021
19 min
Guest: David Selman, Culinary Director - The StandBecome 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
May 5, 2021
19 min

Apr 30, 2021
Apr 30, 2021
27 min
The Fast Casual Nation podcast offers exclusive interviews with experts ranging from top chefs and brand makers to executives and restaurateurs who work in one of the fastest-growing segments of the restaurant industry. In this episode, host Paul Barron chats with Joe Fontana, the owner and founder of Fry the Coop, to explore drive-thrus and the accelerated growth of chicken concepts in the fast casual space.Fry the Coop is a Nashville hot chicken concept based in Chicago. Established in 2017, the chain specializes in Nashville hot chicken, fries, and a wide variety of chicken sandwiches. Mac and cheese, donut fried spicy butter, and a number of chicken combos are also featured on the menu.“We are pretty new. We just opened up two drive-thru locations in the past five months, so we’re in the infant stages of our brand,” says Fontana. “We opened up pretty slow, but once we started getting media notoriety, the lines started forming.”Fast casual chicken concepts have exploded in popularity in recent years. And since the pandemic, consumers have changed their dining habits—more people are ordering online or eating their food off-location, which pairs well with the fast casual model. Ghost kitchens have also seen success, though some operators are still hesitant to invest in the uncertain venture.“The problem with ghost kitchens is you have to deliver food through a third party partner,” notes Fontana. “That’s 25 to 30 percent of your revenue. I think that makes sense when you have a lot of customers coming in and it’s an add-on, but if that’s your only business model it’s really hard to make a profit.”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
Apr 30, 2021
27 min

Apr 16, 2021
88. Worthington: Vegan Barbeque Chicketts Pizza
Apr 16, 2021
Apr 16, 2021
15 min
The Fast Casual Nation podcast offers exclusive interviews with experts ranging from top chefs and brand makers to executives and restaurateurs who work in one of the fastest-growing segments of the restaurant industry. In this episode, host Paul Barron chats with Jon Fish, the vice president of marketing for Worthington, to provide a hands-on look at some of the latest innovative plant-based products on the market today.Worthington is a plant-based or “plant powered” brand that specializes in providing clean, healthy alternatives to meat products. The company’s products are packed with protein, and offer vegetarians, vegans, and health-conscious consumers a number of delicious meal options.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
Apr 16, 2021
15 min

Apr 6, 2021
Apr 6, 2021
28 min
The Fast Casual Nation podcast offers exclusive interviews with experts ranging from top chefs and brand makers to executives and restaurateurs who work in one of the fastest-growing segments of the restaurant industry. In this episode, host Paul Barron sits down with Chris Birkinshaw, the chief executive officer of Aloha Poke, to explore franchising a poke bowl concept during a pandemic.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
Apr 6, 2021
28 min

Mar 10, 2021
Mar 10, 2021
25 min
Fast casual must diversify in order to stay afloat after the delivery bubble bursts, according to Sam Nazarian, CEO of C3, the company behind Umami Burger, Krispy Rice and Sam’s Crispy Chicken. During Covid, Sam’s virtual restaurant company – a subsidiary of sbe – jumped from $20 billion to $40 billion in online sales. Now faced with the reality of a reopening economy, C3 is aggressively diversifying through the rapid development and expansion of virtual restaurant brands, the opening of over 300 ghost kitchens and digital food halls, and the introduction of a proprietary delivery app launching in 2021.Guest: Sam Nazarian, CEO - C3C3 sbe Website ➜ https://t2m.io/C3sbe#GhostKitchens #VirtualRestaurants #FoodDelivery~CEO Sam Nazarian interview | Focusing on Virtual Restaurant Brands & Ghost Kitchens~⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺Get the latest restaurant and hospitality insider tips and education on saving your restaurant business in our FREE Virtual Event Platform 🎓 https://t2m.io/VirtualEventsSubscribe on YouTube ✅ https://t2m.io/YoutubeSubscribeFacebook 📱 https://t2m.io/FoodableFacebookTwitter 📱 https://t2m.io/FoodableTwitter───────────────────────────Want to start your own virtual event or education series? Try our pro-level virtual event services 🎬 https://t2m.io/VirtualServicesBecome 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
Mar 10, 2021
25 min

Mar 8, 2021
Mar 8, 2021
25 min
Steele was the entrepreneur, founder, & CEO of STEELE Fitness, which was successfully sold to LiftBrands Global in 2017. CRISP & GREEN is a fast-casual restaurant that combines delicious and sustainable chef-crafted menu featuring salads, grain bowls, and smoothies. They are committed to providing wellness resources and events to create healthier, happier and stronger communities. CRISP & GREEN’s second largest expansion with 10 stores set to open in the Floridamarket with zero venture capital backing.Guest: Steele Smiley, Founder & CEO of STEELE BRANDSCrisp & Green website ➜ https://t2m.io/CrispGreenSteele Brands website ➜ https://t2m.io/Steele#VentureCapital #FastCasual #Restaurants~Scaling Restaurant with Zero Venture Capital | Crisp & Green's Plant-Based Success~⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺Get the latest restaurant and hospitality insider tips and education on saving your restaurant business in our FREE Virtual Event Platform 🎓 https://t2m.io/VirtualEventsSubscribe on YouTube ✅ https://t2m.io/YoutubeSubscribeFacebook 📱 https://t2m.io/FoodableFacebookTwitter 📱 https://t2m.io/FoodableTwitter───────────────────────────Want to start your own virtual event or education series? Try our pro-level virtual event services 🎬 https://t2m.io/VirtualServicesBecome 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
Mar 8, 2021
25 min

Feb 12, 2021
Feb 12, 2021
24 min
Del Taco, the iconic Mexican-American concept, debuted its highly-anticipated new restaurant design prototype. The new "Fresh Flex" design focuses on: restaurant accessibility, speed of service and brand transparency. The latest design features third-party delivery pick-up stations, double drive-thru lanes dedicated to mobile orders or delivery driver pickups and dedicated parking lot areas for those who want to park, eat and go.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
Feb 12, 2021
24 min

Feb 10, 2021
Feb 10, 2021
26 min
The Fast Casual Nation podcast offers exclusive interviews with experts ranging from top chefs and brand makers to executives and restaurateurs who work in one of the fastest-growing segments of the restaurant industry. In this episode, host Paul Barron sits down with Travis Bickham, the vice president of marketing for Birdeye, to explore how restaurant operators can grow their businesses online in 2021.This content brought to you by Birdeye.Birdeye is an all-in-one customer experience platform that provides 60,000+ businesses with tools to deliver great experiences at every step of the customer journey. Businesses use Birdeye to be found online, chosen through listings and reviews, be connected with customers, and deliver the best end-to-end experience with surveys and insights tools.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
Feb 10, 2021
26 min

Feb 8, 2021
Feb 8, 2021
29 min
Better-burger chain BurgerFi is plotting a massive expansion strategy. With plans to add 30-35 new locations this year, expanding ghost kitchen operations and the brand’s first drive-thru it has been a tremendous year of growth for BurgerFi as they have just gone public (BFI). The company's new CEO also has nearly three decades of experience in various positions at Burger King. The 125-unit chain credited “significant increases” in delivery and app sales for the small revenue boost in 2020. Given the aggressive growth plan, BurgerFi could be an undervalued stock to own within the hard hit restaurant industry.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
Feb 8, 2021
29 min

Feb 4, 2021
Feb 4, 2021
25 min
Birdcall, a contemporary take on a retro chicken restaurant is the third restaurant concept and venture for the group that is lead by chef Jean-Philippe Failyau along with his partner Peter Newlin. Customers witness the birdcall experience by ordering from custom designed kiosks. Built from the ground up, Newlin and his team have developed their very own user-friendly, customer facing, POS system that allows the guest to feel completely immersed in the brand experience from start to finish.Guest: Peter Newlin - CEO of BirdcallBecome 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
Feb 4, 2021
25 min