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PODCAST

Grounded

Join us as we engage with top tier producers in the foodservice industry to hear their perspective from all links throughout the supply chain. Here, we discuss brand development, company culture, global supply chain strategy, culinary innovation and leadership from folks who founded, operate or manage multi-unit restaurant chains. Each show is tailored around the guest to dig deep into their unique journey and how it shapes their current procurement strategy in order to aggregate the best insights

business nutrition

All Episodes

51:00

An Appetite for Risk: Billy Loesch Founder/CEO Baya Bar

Grounded ·

2026/02/17

In this episode of Grounded, Lauren Mitchell sits down with Billy Loesch to explore the mindset, risk tolerance, and systems required to scale a modern food brand. Billy shares his journey from Wall Street to founding Baya Bar in 2016, and how he grew the concept from a single Brooklyn location to 41 locations with more in development. Billy Loesch is the Founder and CEO of Baya Bar, one of the fastest-growing smoothie and açaí concepts in the U.S., featured in Entrepreneur Magazine’s

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35:40

Authentic Hospitality at Scale: Inside Hopdoddy’s...

Grounded ·

2026/02/02

Hopdoddy Burger Bar President & CEO Jeff Chandler joins Lauren Mitchell to break down what it takes to scale a fast-casual brand without losing what makes it special. Jeff shares leadership lessons from his University of Washington football days, how Hopdoddy approaches authentic hospitality, and why quality-driven sourcing and true vendor partnerships matter—especially after COVID. If you’re building culture, driving growth, or navigating menu innovation, this episode is packed with

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40:38

From Barstool to Boss: James Bonanno on Building...

Grounded ·

2026/01/20

Episode OverviewIn this episode of Grounded, host Lauren Mitchell sits down with James Bonanno, Founder & CEO of Upstream Hospitality Group, to unpack how a kitchen dream turned into a fast-growing hospitality portfolio across Long Island—and beyond. James shares the “two weeks to open” origin story behind Tap Room, what it really takes to scale from one location to 20+, and how culture, character, and tech have helped Upstream become a Top Workplace of 2025. James Bonanno is the

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42:30

Why Great Meals Tell Great Stories: Chef Chris Decker...

Grounded ·

2026/01/12

Episode OverviewChef Chris Decker joins Grounded to share how 30 years of pizza-making turned into a mission-driven craft rooted in community, creativity, and connection. He and host Lauren Mitchell unpack the story behind Truly Pizza—from its name and hospitality philosophy to the culture that keeps guests coming back for life’s biggest moments. This episode is a reminder that great meals tell stories—and the details (and people) make the experience.Guest: Chris Decker — Chef, Truly

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57:40

Leading with Balance: Career Growth, Travel, and...

Grounded ·

2025/12/16

In this episode of Grounded, host Lauren Mitchell brings together an inspiring panel of women leaders in hospitality to explore a question many professionals wrestle with: How do you continue to grow in your career while protecting your physical and mental well-being—especially with a demanding travel schedule?Joining the conversation are four dynamic leaders, each carving her own path in the industry:Julie Zucker, Partner & CMO, Branded HospitalityShelly Garner, Assistant Vice

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41:36

Supply Chain Expert Exchange Recap: Freight, Fresh,...

Grounded ·

2025/12/10

Supply Chain Expert Exchange Recap: Freight, Fresh, and the Power of Peer NetworksIn this special recap episode of Grounded, host Lauren Mitchell sits down with a powerhouse panel of supply chain leaders to unpack the biggest insights from this year’s Supply Chain Expert Exchange. Joining Lauren are:Jen Silveira, Vice President of Supply Chain, CAVAOwen Brady, Executive Vice President, BEP Fresh (Buyers Edge Platform)Adam Hing, Director of Supply Chain, Noodles & CompanySara Burnett,

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38:55

Data-Driven Leadership with Checkers & Rally’s Ken...

Grounded ·

2025/11/18

Explore how modern supply chain leadership goes beyond procurement in this episode with Ken Bianchi, Senior Director of Purchasing at Checkers & Rally’s Drive-In Restaurants. With more than 25 years of experience across leading brands, Ken brings deep insight into operational resilience, supplier partnerships, and data-driven transformation.From replacing spreadsheets with real-time dashboards to navigating global disruptions, Ken shares what it takes to lead a responsive, future-ready

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52:49

Sustainability in Action with Snooze A.M. Eatery’s...

Grounded ·

2025/11/11

How does starting on the front lines of a restaurant shape the way you lead at the executive level? On this episode of The Grounded Podcast, host Lauren Mitchell sits down with Cindy Keys, Vice President of Procurement at Snooze A.M. Eatery, to talk about leadership, scaling, and building meaningful supplier partnerships.From starting as a hostess to now leading procurement for one of the most vibrant breakfast concepts in the country, Cindy’s career story is as inspiring as it is

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39:32

Collective Volume Advantage with Church’s Texas...

Grounded ·

2025/11/04

What does it take to run a global supply chain while keeping brand values intact across diverse international markets? On this episode of The Grounded Podcast, host Lauren Mitchell sits down with Will Cash, Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain & Quality Assurance at Church’s Texas Chicken.With more than 15 years of experience at iconic brands like Popeye’s and Krispy Kreme, Will brings a wealth of knowledge on navigating international supply chains, ensuring food quality, and

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49:28

Endurance in Executive Leadership with Stonefire...

Grounded ·

2025/10/28

What does it take to grow from flipping burgers at 15 to leading a successful restaurant brand built on people, purpose, and consistency? On this episode of The Grounded Podcast, host Lauren Mitchell sits down with David Youngberg, CEO of Stonefire Grill, to talk about leadership, growth, and staying grounded in the fundamentals of hospitality.From helping BJ’s Restaurants expand from 20 to 200 locations to now steering Stonefire Grill through its next era of innovation, David shares

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35:55

Empowering Restaurant Voices with Lori Cominsky of...

Grounded ·

2025/10/21

What does it take to successfully grow a brand while keeping operations simple, consistent, and people-focused? On this episode of The Grounded Podcast, host Lauren Mitchell sits down with Lori Cominsky, Vice President of Operations and Training at Pancheros Mexican Grill, to explore leadership, training, and scalable growth in the fast-paced hospitality industry.Lori shares how staying closely connected to frontline employees, embracing simplicity in operations, and investing in mentorship

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33:29

Serving Dodgers Baseball Stadium: Michael Chalmers on...

Grounded ·

2025/10/14

Explore how blending culinary insight with supply chain strategy can create more resilient, guest-centric food operations. Michael Chalmers, Director of Supply Chain Strategy at Levy Restaurants, shares his unique career path from the U.S. Marine Corps to the kitchen and into supply chain leadership.In this episode, Michael breaks down the power of cross-functional collaboration, how data and forecasting reduce waste, and why direct supplier relationships matter more than ever. Whether

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46:25

An Inside Look at Dairy Supply Chain with Jeff...

Grounded ·

2025/10/07

Ready to navigate the complex world of food service procurement and dairy supply chain management? In this episode of The Grounded Podcast, we sit down with Jeff McNally, a procurement expert with over 30 years of experience working with brands like Starbucks, Papa Murphy’s, and IPC for Subway.Jeff shares his proven strategies for ensuring guaranteed supply, balancing hybrid sourcing models, and adapting to evolving consumer preferences for high-quality, locally sourced products. From

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51:25

Making Friends with Strangers with Farmer Boys’...

Grounded ·

2025/09/30

How do you grow a restaurant brand without losing sight of what makes it special? For Joseph Ortiz, President and COO of Farmer Boys, the answer lies in balancing innovation with the brand’s farm-fresh values and unwavering focus on quality.In this episode, Joseph shares how Farmer Boys leverages data-driven decision-making, thoughtful expansion strategies, and a strong company culture to deliver consistent, high-quality experiences for guests. He also dives into the brand’s investments in

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29:26

Innovation Meets Tradition with Tony Roma’s Mohaimina...

Grounded ·

2025/09/23

What does it take to revive a legacy restaurant brand while also running your own law firm? For Mohaimina Haque, CEO of Tony Roma’s and Principal Attorney at her own firm, it’s about balancing innovation, adaptability, and analytical precision.In this episode, Mohaimina shares her journey from attorney to CEO and how her legal expertise has shaped Tony Roma’s brand revival. From menu innovation and tech-driven recruitment to flexible franchise partnerships and international growth, she

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39:02

The Five Pillars of Franchising with Riko’s Pizza’s...

Grounded ·

2025/09/16

From franchisee to leading national brands, Carl Bachmann’s journey in the restaurant industry is packed with lessons in growth, innovation, and operational excellence. Now as President and Chief Operating Officer at Riko’s Pizza, Carl brings his experience from Ruby Tuesday, BurgerFi, and Smashburger to a fast-growing brand that’s redefining what pizza can be.In this episode, Carl shares his five foundational pillars for building and scaling a successful franchise, covering everything from

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32:07

Franchising & Development with Angry Chickz’s Mike...

Grounded ·

2025/09/09

Explore the intersection of scalable growth, people-first culture, and franchise leadership in this candid conversation with Mike LaRue, Vice President of Franchise Development and Franchisee at Angry Chickz. Mike shares how the brand has expanded rapidly while staying true to its roots through systematic franchise vetting, strong internal culture, and a memorable guest experience.In this episode, Mike unpacks what it takes to grow a brand without sacrificing quality, how to balance tech

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38:17

Leadership in the Digital Age with Costa Vida’s Wade...

Grounded ·

2025/09/02

What does it take to scale a restaurant brand while staying true to people-first values? Wade Allen, President at Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill, shares how leadership, innovation, and balance guide both his professional and personal life.In this episode, Wade discusses the importance of putting people before technology, leading through outcomes instead of just strategies, and ensuring innovation aligns with evolving guest expectations. He also explores responsible data use, maintaining

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47:27

From a Reactive to Proactive Mindset with Cooper’s...

Grounded ·

2025/08/26

What happens when you blend an operator’s mindset with cutting-edge procurement strategy?Dan Gould, Director of Procurement and Logistics at Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurants, shares how his background in operations shapes every sourcing decision.In this episode, Dan dives into the art and science of building strong supplier relationships, the role of technology in transforming procurement, and why contingency planning is non-negotiable. He also shares how Cooper’s Hawk quickly turns new

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57:46

A New Era in Global QSR with Pepper Lunch’s Troy...

Grounded ·

2025/08/19

Step into the world of sizzling plates, franchise excellence, and global brand growth. Troy Hooper, CEO of Hot Palette America and Co-CEO of Pepper Lunch Worldwide, shares how he’s building a distinctive dining experience rooted in quality, consistency, and operational innovation. From global sourcing to guest engagement, Troy offers a masterclass in how to scale a brand while staying true to its core.In this episode, Troy unpacks how experiential dining, proprietary systems, and strong

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51 results

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