Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back On The Menu podcast

#Business #Marketing #Restaurant Marketing

32:08

Did you know there’s an actual science to uncovering your hidden genius? It’s not about filling out a “dream job” worksheet—it’s about understanding how your brain is wired, identifying your natural aptitudes, and using them to thrive. This isn’t just a self-discovery exercise. It’s a game-changer for your career, your relationships, and how you show up in the world. Betsy Wills and Alex Ellison are redefining how we approach career discovery, proving that finding the right path isn’t just about landing a job—it’s about creating a life that aligns with who you actually are. ✅ Betsy Wills – Cofounder of YouScience, a groundbreaking psychometric assessment platform reshaping how we understand our talents. She’s also the Director of Marketing & Branding at Diversified Trust and a frequent lecturer at Vanderbilt University and NYU’s Stern School of Business. ✅ Alex Ellison – Founder of Throughline Guidance, a global college and career counseling practice. She’s a sought-after writer, speaker, and expert in college readiness and career development. ✅ Together, they co-authored Your Hidden Genius: The Science-Backed Strategy to Uncovering and Harnessing Your Innate Talents. Discovering your hidden genius isn’t just about career success—it’s about tapping into what makes you, you . Connect with Betsy & Alex: Website (Free Downloads): www.yourhiddengenius.com Book: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/your-hidden-genius-elizabeth-m-willsalexandra-ellison Related Podcast Episodes: How To Be You, But Better with Olga Khazan | 288 Finding Purpose Through Human Design with Emma Dunwoody | 228 195 / Finding (And Using) Your Voice with Amy Green Smith Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music…

Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the Menu

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Shining a light on the change-minded Restaurant Leaders behind our favorite brands. Get inspired with innovative brand building, guest engagement, and revenue-driving strategies. Join host Jen Kern, long-time CMO, as she dishes with leading restaurant pros who are elevating their game and careers by staying agile in the face of uncertainty to help their brands shine and prosper.

72 episodes

Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the Menu

updated about a year ago

Series home•Feed

72 episodes

#Business #Marketing #Restaurant Marketing

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Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the Menu

1
Let's Fix Loyalty 52:44

44 weeks ago52:44

52:44

We’re talking about all things loyalty in this block-buster episode with Zach Goldstein, the CEO of Thanx. Zach and Jen discuss why loyalty is broken, with 80% of Fast Casuals and QSRs looking to improve and invest in better loyalty strategies. The conversation emphasizes that the future of restaurant loyalty is here, now. It's data-driven, personalized, dynamic, and poised to redefine how guest loyalty is built and delivered for restaurant brands. Moments to listen for: The true definition of “loyalty” Shortcomings of "Loyalty 2.0" and the potential of "Loyalty 3.0” Learnings from other industries - hotels & airlines The shift towards digital-first strategies Ways personalization has proven to improve engagement and customer retention The unspoken element all loyalty programs need to succeed (hint: it starts with a "C") Related Assets: Loyalty 3.0: Elevating Guest Engagement Through Deeper Insights Qu’s 5th Annual State of Digital Restaurant Loyalty is Stuck in Neutral, by Joe Guszowski Thanx is the leading loyalty and guest engagement platform to grow restaurant customer lifetime value in the digital era - without relying on expensive discounts Connect with Zach on LinkedIn Check out Qu's Annual State of Digital for Enterprise QSR & Fast Casual Brands…

Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the Menu

1
The Straight Talk on Data: Best of Soundbites 28:47

49 weeks ago28:47

28:47

Welcome to Part 2 in our "Best of" Series. This episode doubles down on data (not for) dummies as we explore the transformative power of data in the connected restaurant. Our esteemed guests dive into all aspects of data beyond the numbers⸺specifically, its strategic role in driving innovation from the kitchen to the customer experience. Top takeaways include: How API ecosystems impact data collection and strategies Innovative approaches for data storytelling Presenting the data … Is the dashboard dead?! The skinny on data lakes, data models, and analyzing data in flow Challenges and techniques for managing large volumes of data volumes efficiently Integrating real-time data for operational efficiency in the kitchen How loyalty apps can help (or not) with data capture and customer engagement Hear how data-centric approaches can reshape the restaurant industry, especially when rooted in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). Guest soundbites from: Phil Crawford (Adyen) / Josh Boshard (Savory) / Kelly MacPherson (Union Square Hospitality Group) / Darien Bates (FourTop Solutions) / Meredith Sandland & Carl Orsbourn (The Digital Restaurant) Related Episodes AI Inside & Outside the Four Walls – Phil Crawford, CKE The Future of Data Starts Here – Darien Bates, FourTop Check out Qu's Annual State of Digital for Enterprise QSR & Fast Casual Brands…

Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the Menu

1
AI Insights Unleashed: Best Sound Bites of 2023 18:15

1 year ago18:15

18:15

This is the first of a short 3-part series with top 2023 sound bites that are resonating deeply in 2024: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data, and Platforms. This first episode delves into one of the year's most talked-about subjects: Artificial Intelligence (AI). The guests paint a hopeful picture of technology as a tool for enhancement, efficiency and automation--rather than displacement. Join Jen as she is accompanied by industry luminaries: Phil Crawford, former CTO at CKE; Darien Bates CEO of Fourtop Solutions; Richard Shank, Sr. Principal & VP of Innovation at Technomics; and Bobby Yazdani, the visionary Founder of Cota Capital. Moments to Listen for: How artificial intelligence can transform restaurant operations and enhance customer service. Using AI to manage inventory and customize dining experiences. Insights into AI's capacity to streamline tasks and predict trends. Voice ordering with reporting and analytics. And the biggest emphasis of the episode is that technology is built to support, not replace, human efforts. Related Episodes AI Inside & Outside the Four Walls – Phil Crawford, CKE The State of Foodservice Technology - Richard Shank, Technomics The Future of Data Starts Here – Darien Bates, FourTop Investing in the Future of Restaurants - Bobby Yazdani, Cota Capital Related Assets: Finally, an App that Saves Your Store Managers Time & Money 2024 State of Digital for Enterprise QSR & Fast Casual Brands Check out Qu's Annual State of Digital for Enterprise QSR & Fast Casual Brands…

Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the Menu

1
Investing in the Future of Restaurants 38:50

1 year ago38:50

38:50

Get ready for a blockbuster episode that's been cooking up for years! We've got the incredible Bobby Yazdani , the mastermind behind Cota Capital and lead investor in Qu, joining the party on Restaurants Reinvented with Jen Kern. Jen and Bobby take a ride through the thrilling intersection of restaurant tech and investment, following Bobby's epic journey from Tehran to the tech capital of Silicon Valley and Oracle. Bobby delves into his investment playbook, sharing the criteria and principles that guide him, learned from over 200+ investments from Uber to Google and Dropbox. They unravel the maze of the restaurant tech ecosystem, from its complexities and emotional connections to the innovation opportunities available today. Hear Bobby wax poetic about leaning into the future of restaurants by building a stable, scalable platform company and culture committed to innovating on behalf of the industry. Moments to listen for: Conditions needed to build a successful platform company; expectations and timelines. The Cognitive Age - today's new new market cycle. The innovation playground created by the constant "tug of war" between customer expectations and operational efficiency. The importance of abstract thinking in technology to turn complexity into simplification. What it means to be a responsible financial and morale steward in the restaurant tech market. We talk Pizza! Bobby's love for pizza and the simplicity of it. Related Episodes: The Big POS Reframe Here’s What Innovation Looks Like – Amir Hudda, CEO of Qu Related Assets: What is a Unified Commerce Platform and Why Does it Matter? Why 2023 is the “Year of Efficiency” for Restaurants Connect with Bobby on LinkedIn Check out Qu's Annual State of Digital for Enterprise QSR & Fast Casual Brands…

Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the Menu

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The State of Foodservice Technology 1:04:23

1 year ago1:04:23

1:04:23

Get ready to hear all the juicy data and trends that came out of Technomic's "State of Foodservice Technology" report. Our guest, Richard Shank is the Sr. Principal & VP of Innovation at Technomic and he shares all the leading insights from the report with us. We focus on three main pillars defining the future of restaurant tech: 1) the kitchen as the nucleus of the restaurant 2) the role of AI/ML - separating hype from reality 3) the evolution of customer loyalty programs Moments to listen for: Richard emphasizes that all systems, from front-of-house to back-of-house, must align with the kitchen for a smooth customer experience. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not just a buzzword; it's a tool that can revolutionize the restaurant industry Restaurants need to innovate in the loyalty space, focusing on personalization and strategic rewards to truly engage customers. Related Episodes: The Big POS Reframe Here’s What Innovation Looks Like – Amir Hudda, CEO of Qu AI Inside & Outside the Four Walls – Phil Crawford, CKE Related Assets: Why 2023 is the “Year of Efficiency” for Restaurants Technomic: Vital Insights for the Foodservice Industry Connect with Richard on LinkedIn Check out Qu's Annual State of Digital for Enterprise QSR & Fast Casual Brands…

Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the Menu

1
The Big POS Reframe 19:38

2 years ago19:38

19:38

In the latest episode of Restaurants Reinvented, Jen Kern dives deep into the current frazzled, tenuous state of POS and tackles head-first the broad misconception that “POS is Dead.” Jen clarifies market confusion by clearly stating that POS isn’t dead but is instead going through a massive transformation and evolution. POS is no longer the main dish, it’s the side dish. POS is neither Hero nor Zero. Jen articulates the current evolution of POS as simply one of many order channels stemming off a data-driven and unified foundational platform. At Qu, this is what we call the Unified Commerce Platform. Moments to listen for: Why POS has become an old habit in the restaurant industry How POS has evolved from Main Dish to Side Dish Why it's critical we cease saying "POS is Dead" and instead ask "How should my POS evolve to best serve my employees and guest needs in the future?" How to reset your framing of POS so you and your employees can embrace it once again, for what it is now today What's a Data-First Commerce Platform got to do with it? Related Episodes: What Does it Mean to Go “Beyond POS” – Amir Hudda, CEO of Qu (Part 3 of 3) How to Get Closer to Your Customer & What Does POS Have to Do with It? – Solomon Choi She’s a Game Changer – Kelly MacPherson Related Articles: 10 Components of a Unified Commerce Platform The Big POS Reframe POS is Dead, Right ? Connect with Jen on LinkedIn Check out Qu's Annual State of Digital for Enterprise QSR & Fast Casual Brands…

Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the Menu

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We Did This Together: 3 Years of Reinvention 45:17

2 years ago45:17

45:17

In this celebratory episode, Chelsea Madden, Marketing Director at Qu, turns the tables on your hostess Jen Kern, CMO of Qu. Reminisce with Jen & Chelsea as we look back on the past 3 years of the podcast. 3 years, 70 episodes, and thousands of reinventions later, these two marketing mavens muse over the collective beauty and struggle we’ve all experienced in restaurants and technology. The Best News Yet … >> From deep in the pandemic to today’s challenges around labor, supply chain, and efficiency - the American Dream is still alive and well in restaurants! We’ve heard this loud and clear from every brilliant guest who has been on our podcast. Thank you to all our gracious listeners for all your support these past 3 years. We could not have done it without all the generous and caring people in restaurants who exude hospitality from their core. We love and cherish each and every one of you! Your support and enthusiasm have continued to fuel our passion and commitment to this cause, empowering us to keep forging ahead with fresh perspectives and new-found inspiration. Related Episodes: Here’s What Innovation Looks Like – Amir Hudda, CEO of Qu (Part 2 of 3) How to Support Restaurant Employees in Need – Sheila Bennett, CORE Labor Series: We’re In The People Business – Amir Mostafavi Connect with Jen and Chelsea on LinkedIn Check out Qu's Annual State of Digital for Enterprise QSR & Fast Casual Brands…

Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the Menu

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She's a Game Changer - Kelly MacPherson 42:41

2 years ago42:41

42:41

Join our special guest Kelly MacPherson, from the mega-James Beard award winning Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG). More than a trailblazer, she's been a Game Changer for her entire career. Kelly shares her remarkable journey in hospitality and retail, from configuring her first POS network to becoming one of the early female CTOs -- and she continues to revolutionize how restaurants operate. Despite plans for retirement, she canceled them to join USHG and lead their Technology and Supply Chain division, driven by the brand's core pillars of "Enlightened Hospitality," a term coined by their famous founder, Danny Meyer. Moments to listen for: Kelly’s mission to change how we deliver Reporting & Analytics. Her quest to use data for powerful storytelling. Building exceptional Employee-First Experiences with a mobile-first strategy. The Connected Restaurant. What it is and how USHG is delivering it. The timeless tech question: Best in Class or All-in-One Solutions? Importance of partnerships and open collaboration among tech companies. The journey to CTO and what convinced Kelly to come out of retirement. The path to achieving “Enlightened Hospitality,” and how USHG does it. Related Episodes: The Future of Data Starts Here – Darien Bates AI Inside & Outside the Four Walls – Phil Crawford, CKE Here’s What Innovation Looks Like – Amir Hudda, CEO of Qu Related Assets: Article: How Software Architecture Impacts Restaurant Performance White Paper: What is a Unified Commerce Platform? Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn Setting the Table : The Transforming Power of Hospitality, by Danny Meyer Check out Qu's Annual State of Digital for Enterprise QSR & Fast Casual Brands…

Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the Menu

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The Path to Digital Maturity 1:00:24

2 years ago1:00:24

1:00:24

Two-time authors, Meredith Sandland and Carl Orsbourn, join Restaurants Reinvented for the second time! Hear their predictions about the next big restaurant concept > the digitally native restaurant and key snips from their new book “The Path to Digital Maturity.” Moments to listen for: The key phases in the path to digital maturity How to better drive first-party data ownership The next new concept category to hit restaurants SVB's influence on the startup tech scene Improving efficiency through AI Innovative approaches to off-prem dining through ghost kitchens Related Episodes: Delivering the Digital Restaurant – Meredith Sandland & Carl Orsbourn Mastering the Digital Dance – Michael Chachula, CIO, Fat Brands AI Inside & Outside the Four Walls – Phil Crawford, CKE Related Assets: 8 Digital Trends Shaping 2023 The Path to Digital Maturity Connect with Meredith & Carl on LinkedIn Check out Qu's Annual State of Digital for Enterprise QSR & Fast Casual Brands…

Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the Menu

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Bridging Communities: GiftAMeal & The Social Conscious Restaurant 28:33

2 years ago28:33

28:33

In this episode of Restaurants Reinvented, host Jen Kern from Qu invites Andrew Glantz, the founder of GiftAMeal, and Dan Sokolik, Vice President of Marketing at Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken, to discuss their partnership that aims to fight hunger and support local communities. GiftAMeal is a mobile app that enables users to provide meals to those in need by simply taking a photo of what they're eating at participating restaurants. The app has already facilitated the donation of 1.3 million meals and continues to expand its reach. Moments to Listen for: A unique solution to food insecurity The role of technology in GiftAMeal's success Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken embraces GiftAMeal Building the GiftAMeal advisory board and team The benefits and impact of the partnership on Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken > increased loyalty and social media reach. Related Episodes: How to Support Restaurant Employees in Need – Sheila Bennett, CORE AI Inside & Outside the Four Walls – Phil Crawford, CKE Accelerating Digital Transformation – Andy Rebhun, El Pollo Loco Related Assets: GiftAMeal Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken Connect with Dan on LinkedIn Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn Check out Qu's Annual State of Digital for Enterprise QSR & Fast Casual Brands…

Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the Menu

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AI Inside & Outside the Four Walls - Phil Crawford CTO of CKE Restaurants 52:04

2 years ago52:04

52:04

Join the man, the myth, the legend - Phil Crawford, CTO of CKE Restaurants, on how he’s using AI to drive better efficiencies for his brand and what he thinks “the store of the future” will operate like. Moments to Listen for: Harnessing technology more efficiently to save time (labor efficiency), extract data easier (personalization efficiency), and please guests (revenue efficiency) How CKE is using new AI technologies at the drive-thru How CKE is using AI on the back end to build proactive algorithms Kitchen efficiency and optimization strategies The next generation - what they’ll expect True contextual personalization Two critical components of a healthy franchisor-franchisee relationship Giving back through GiftAMeal About the Star Wars figurines Related Episodes: Savory’s Growth Formula Starts with Data Ownership – Josh Boshard The Future of Data Starts Here – Darien Bates Here’s What Innovation Looks Like – Amir Hudda, CEO of Qu (Part 2 of 3) Related Assets: 2023 State of Digital for Enterprise Brands GiftAMeal Connect with Phil on LinkedIn Check out Qu's Annual State of Digital for Enterprise QSR & Fast Casual Brands…

Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the Menu

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Savory’s Growth Formula Starts with Data Ownership (and it works!) - Josh Boshard COO 55:25

2 years ago55:25

55:25

Josh Boshard, the COO of Savory, leads the Operations & Technology teams for their 10-brand portfolio. Since their first location in 2008, Josh + Savory have amassed a wealth of best practices that he shares openly in this episode. Key Moments to Listen for: A solid foundation of data ownership & APIs Integrating systems to drive local store performance Partners must share the data A/B testing best-of-breed systems Growth playbooks, benchmarks, and KPIs Restaurants must continually innovate and right now it’s all about AI State-of-the-art technology has no value without the right people Stick-to-it-iveness makes things happen Putting owners’ goals & values first Related Episode: The Future of Data Starts Here – Darien Bates Burn it Down & Fail Forward Fast – Justin Keenen What Does it Mean to Go “Beyond POS” – Amir Hudda Connect with Josh on LinkedIn Learn more about Savory Check out Qu's Annual State of Digital for Enterprise QSR & Fast Casual Brands…

Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the Menu

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The Future of Data Starts Here - Darien Bates, co-founder, Fourtop Solutions 1:02:22

2 years ago1:02:22

1:02:22

If you’re wondering how to make sense of that ocean of data your restaurant is trying to wrangle, Darien has answers! Formerly the CTO at &Pizza, Darien’s new company, Fourtop Solutions , is all about helping restaurants organize and activate their data -- while encouraging humans to do the discovery of data and using technology to automate that discovery. Top Moments to Listen For: Technology is not a pre-packaged meal, it’s a set of ingredients with overlapping capabilities and core components Start by centralizing your data, or you’ll constantly be back-tracking Dashboards are where data goes to die - they don’t make good use of data - humans do “There are no bad systems, only bad architectures” Data is like water and you have an ocean that needs structures and flows Let robots be robots (automation) and humans be human (discoverers) The value of POS has been largely overlooked; it needs to be a hub to pull in centralized data Hart House is using Fourtop Solutions to deploy its employee-first operations Technology is not a purpose -- it’s a tool to accomplish something; start with your business objectives and then find the right-fit systems to support that. The future of automation and ChatGPT Related Episodes: Burn it Down & Fail Forward Fast – Justin Keenen of Hart House Mastering the Digital Dance – Michael Chachula, CIO, Fat Brands Here’s What Innovation Looks Like – Amir Hudda, CEO of Qu Trailblazin’ CTO Completes Full Tech Refresh in Under 1 Year – Dawn Gillis Freebirds World Burrito Resources: “Dashboards is where data goes to die” by Darien Bates Connect with Darien on LinkedIn Check out Qu's Annual State of Digital for Enterprise QSR & Fast Casual Brands…

Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the Menu

1
Mastering the Digital Dance - Michael Chachula, CIO of Fat Brands 51:25

2 years ago51:25

51:25

The CIO of FAT Brands, Michael Chachula, brings the heat to our CTO Trailblazer series talking about all things technology, customer experience, marketing hacks, and how the restaurant world evolved from a show to a dance post pandemic. Are you dancing with your customers? Or still operating a static show? Hot Takes: Training your guests on effectively using all the available order channels is critical to improving order accuracy and avoiding defection. 5 Components of FAT Brands tech organization - Technology, Data, Security, Digital, and Tech Ops. Best of Breed, Distilled. (hint: it's a mutt). Best of Breed is what's best for you. Biggest barriers facing CIO/CTOs - security, talent pool, supply chain Hottest trends - metaverse, bitcoin How FAT is building a technology toolbox that's flexible, future-proof and built on a solid foundation. Bolt-on is now glue-on. It's a living organism. The Vision (4 things) - Solid Foundation, Flexible Stack, Control of Data, Personalized Experiences. Don't give up your soul to pursue your dreams. Build a deep, rich network personally and professionally. Keep your people close, have fun at work, and include loved ones in your work travel! Michael's Advice - Listen and Love <3 Related Episodes: Trailblazin’ CTO Completes Full Tech Refresh in Under 1 Year – Dawn Gillis, Freebirds Burn it Down & Fail Forward Fast – Justin Keenen, Hart House Here’s What Innovation Looks Like – Amir Hudda, CEO of Qu (Part 2 of 3) Connect with Michael on LinkedIn Learn more about FAT Brands Check out Qu's Annual State of Digital for Enterprise QSR & Fast Casual Brands…

Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the Menu

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Burn it Down and Fail Forward Fast - Justin Keenen CTO Hart House 1:09:15

2 years ago1:09:15