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PODCAST

Fast Casual Nation

Join the longest-running and most influential podcast in the fast-casual restaurant industry. Hosted by Paul Barron, the founder of fastcasual.com, the Top 100, and the Fast Casual Executive Summit. Joining him as Co-Host is Cherryh Cansler, Sr. Editor of Fastcasual.com. This team has reunited after over a decade to deliver unparalleled insights into the trends and future direction of the fast-casual sector.Each week, they will share their deep knowledge gained from over two decades as a leading

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

28:16

Macro Trends and Expert Insights on the Future of...

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/11/19

Join host Cherryh Cansler as she sits down with Brian Choi, CEO of The Food Institute, to tackle the biggest challenges facing restaurants in 2026. With consumer sentiment at 50-year lows and economic uncertainty looming, Brian shares his Wall Street expertise and food industry insights on how fast casual brands can thrive. Discover why going back to basics, leveraging social media, and embracing global flavors are key to success. Learn about emerging trends from West African cuisine to

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42:35

Chipotle's Gen Z Recovery and Fast Casual URGENT...

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/11/12

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

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36:38

Shake Shack's Bold Expansion: Formats, Tech, and...

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/11/05

Andrew McCaughan, Chief Development Officer at Shake Shack, joins Fast Casual Nation to discuss the iconic burger brand's ambitious journey from 3 locations to a goal of 1,500 U.S. restaurants. McCaughan shares insights on Shake Shack's evolution from urban high-profile locations to suburban expansion with multiple formats including drive-throughs, experiential flagships with full bars, and innovative digital ordering systems. Learn about their technology strategy, international growth across 20

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36:53

Building a Burger Brand from Scratch

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/10/29

Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler interview Billal Jaber, founder of SMASHED, a chef-driven burger concept navigating the challenges of startup life in the crowded fast casual burger space. Jaber shares his journey from trademark troubles to strategic market selection, explaining why he's targeting tier-two cities, building a prototype in a micro-market, and prioritizing intentional growth over rapid expansion. Learn about his philosophy of radical simplicity, the art of the

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39:08

Building a Fast Casual Empire: How Dillas Quesadillas...

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/10/22

Kyle and Maggie Gordon share how they grew Dillas Quesadillas from a college road trip idea to an 11-unit concept generating $2M+ in average unit volumes. In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, the husband-and-wife team discusses their journey from bootstrapping a second-generation location to implementing AI-powered prep systems, optimizing drive-thru operations, and preparing for franchise expansion with industry veteran Michael Maby. Learn about their flow-cook methodology, the strategy behind

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23:27

Winning Gen Z and Millennials In Economic Uncertainty

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/10/20

Join hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler at the Fast Casual Executive Summit 2025 as they interview marketing experts Kayla Dillon (Fractional CMO, Common Table Services) and Shoshannah DiDomenico (Senior Marketing Manager, Scooter's Coffee) about winning Gen Z and millennials during economic uncertainty. Discover why retention beats acquisition, how community partnerships can deliver 34% sales lifts at zero cost, and why authenticity matters more than ever. Learn which social platforms actually

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22:53

Blaze Pizza's HR Strategy: Building Culture in a...

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/10/15

Stacey Gelber, VP of Human Resources at Blaze Pizza, joins hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler live from the Fast Casual Executive Summit to discuss the evolving challenges of building teams in today's restaurant industry. With 270 locations across three countries, Blaze is navigating the complexities of a multigenerational workforce dominated by Gen Z employees who demand work-life balance, mental health support, and authentic culture. Gelber shares how Blaze is revolutionizing training with

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36:10

BRIX Holdings CEO Shares Vision for Multi-Brand...

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/10/09

BRIX Holdings CEO Sherif Mityas joins Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler to discuss managing eight restaurant brands including Friendly's, Red Mango, and Orange Leaf. Learn how BRIX is using AI for personalized marketing and operations, why nostalgia marketing is driving double-digit growth, and what trends will shape the restaurant industry through 2030. Mityas shares insights on multi-brand strategy, technology adoption, regional brand growth, and the power of strategic

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34:12

Multi-Brand Mastery Meets AI Innovation

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/10/01

Norman Wu of Conscious Hospitality Group reveals how he manages nine fast-casual brands across the Pacific Northwest, from Just Poke's 40 franchise locations to community-focused concepts like Haps burgers. Wu discusses his regional growth strategy, sustainability commitments from day one, and why operations must come first in multi-brand management. Plus, Won Jeong from Smart Trainer demonstrates how AI is transforming restaurant operations—from three-second schedule generation to sales predictions

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50:48

Building the World's Largest Mobile Empire: Tony...

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/09/25

Tony Lamb, CEO and founder of Kona Ice, reveals how he built the world's largest mobile food empire with 2,200 franchise trucks across three brands: Kona Ice, Traveling Tom's, and Beverly Ann's. In this Fast Casual Nation episode, Lamb breaks down his unconventional flat-fee royalty model ($3,000/year vs. percentage-based), vertical integration strategy that includes in-house truck manufacturing, proprietary technology platform, and event-based business model that has generated over $200 million in

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45:29

Fast Casual Growth Playbook: How Chicken Salad Chick...

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/09/17

Discover how Chicken Salad Chick CEO Scott Deviney transformed a 32-location startup into a 309-unit fast-casual empire in under a decade. In this Fast Casual Nation episode, Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler dive deep into the brand's franchise growth strategies, operational advantages, and expansion secrets. Learn about their "category of one" positioning, market adaptability across demographics, and future growth plans targeting 1,000+ locations.#FastCasual #FranchiseGrowth #RestaurantIndustryGet

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39:54

Lime Fresh Mexican Grill's Strategic Revival: Menu...

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/09/10

Lime Fresh Mexican Grill CEO Patrick Fore joins Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler to discuss the brand's dramatic transformation, including a 30% menu overhaul, innovative partnerships with artisanal brands like Tabanero hot sauce, and ambitious franchise expansion plans targeting 50 units over two years. Fore reveals how the 21-year-old concept is winning Gen Z customers through strategic scarcity, reintroduced hospitality roles, and their successful Florida Panthers

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38:09

Longboards Wraps and Bowls: Kansas City's Authentic...

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/09/03

Kansas City's Longboards Wraps and Bowls joins Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler to share their incredible growth story from startup to 8 locations and 130 employees. Founder Gilbert Macapagal discusses his Filipino-inspired menu, innovative Shaka Pop beverage line, and authentic brand approach that's resonating with suburban markets. The team reveals their franchise expansion plans, digital strategy generating 45-55% of sales, and commitment to promoting from within while

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56:41

Graze Craze: Bringing Hospitality Back to Fast-Casual...

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/08/28

Cory Hibbard, President of Graze Craze, reveals how his charcuterie-focused fast-casual brand achieved 14 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth while QSR giants struggle. Operating from small 500-1,000 sq ft locations, Graze Craze has scaled to nearly 100 units in under 5 years by focusing on corporate catering and premium boards that solve dining challenges for businesses and consumers seeking elevated food experiences with fast-casual convenience.#FastCasualNation #GrazeCraze

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40:16

From Family Pizzeria to Fast-Casual Success: Joey...

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/08/20

This episode is brought to you by KRAFT Philadelphia Cream CheeseVisit https://bit.ly/Kraft-FCNJoin Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler as they sit down with Joey Cioffi, founder and CEO of The Salad House, to explore his inspiring journey from working in his family's pizzeria to building one of the industry's most promising health-focused franchise concepts. Recently named to Fast Casual's 2025 Top 100 Movers & Shakers, Cioffi shares valuable insights on hospitality,

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36:05

How la Madeline Cracked the Growth Code

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/08/13

This episode is brought to you by KRAFT Philadelphia Cream CheeseVisit https://bit.ly/Kraft-FCNLa Madeleine French Bakery & Café CEO John Dillon joins Fast Casual Nation to discuss the 43-year-old brand's strategic renaissance, including their game-changing $8.99 Pick Three value offering, expansion beyond Texas into 11 states, and how they're doubling down on French authenticity to stand out in a crowded fast-casual market growing at 9% annually.FastCasual #RestaurantIndustry #LaMadeleineGet

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46:04

The Fast Casual Taco Boom: Building The Perfect Brand 🌮

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/08/12

Why are tacos taking over America's fast-casual scene? From corner food trucks to billion-dollar chains, the taco industry is exploding—and there's no sign of slowing down.In this episode, we sit down with Brooke Perry, VP of Marketing at Velvet Taco, one of the hottest names in the fast-casual taco space. Brooke breaks down exactly what's fueling this incredible growth and why consumers can't get enough of elevated taco experiences.What You'll Discover:- The surprising factors behind the

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42:58

Dining Trends Are Reshaping Menu Strategy and Marketing

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/07/30

DIG's CMO Jessica Serrano reveals how the chef-driven fast-casual chain rebuilt its brand identity, scaled from Manhattan to suburban markets, and leveraged AI for better customer insights. Learn about their hyper-local marketing strategy, loyalty program transformation, and unique chef-operator model that maintains scratch-cooking quality across 33+ locations while expanding beyond urban cores.This episode brought to you by: INFI — Self-ordering made simple.👉 Visit infi.us to schedule a demo and

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18:39

Self Service Trends in Fast Casual Restaurants

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/07/23

The self-service kiosk industry is exploding from $12 billion to $21 billion by 2027, and Don McCoole from Infi USA reveals how restaurants are seeing 40% sales increases through AI-powered upselling. From food trucks to major chains, kiosks are solving labor shortages, boosting average tickets by 20-30%, and delivering ROI in just 4-5 days. Discover why Gen Z prefers kiosks, how one location doubled tips from 8% to 14%, and the game-changing technology that's transforming customer engagement across

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42:32

Building a Billion-Dollar Brand from Philadelphia Roots

Fast Casual Nation ·

2025/07/16

Derrick Hayes, CEO of Big Dave's Cheesesteaks, shares his incredible journey from a postal worker to building a fast-casual empire in this inspiring Fast Casual Nation episode. Named after his late father, Big Dave's has grown from a single location with a broken grill to 7 stores and 15 franchise locations, ranking #6 on Fast Casual Magazine's emerging brands list. Hayes discusses his strategic approach to franchising, innovative drive-thru model, and vision for creating a billion-dollar brand that

en

184 results

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