Shows / QSR Uncut
QSR Uncut
QSR Uncut is a podcast from the editors of QSR magazine—the leading publication for foodservice owners and operators—that discusses the current state and future of the fast-food restaurant industry. Made for restaurant executives, entrepreneurs, consumers, and leaders, each episode candidly shares expert advice from some of the industry's most insightful leaders.
Episodes
- QSR Uncut
The Dream and Determination of Big Dave's Cheesesteaks
Derrick Hayes, CEO and founder of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, has taken his brand from a 700-square-foot gas station location to one of Atlanta’s most-popular…
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Tropical Smoothie CEO Charles Watson Breaks it Down
(Very) few restaurant brands in America are growing as fast as Tropical Smoothie Cafe, while also generating these type of sales. CEO Charles Watson joins QSR…
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Restaurant Equipment and Living on Mars, with Devon Zielinski
Devon Zielinski, the president of USA Restaurant Suppliers, joins the podcast this week to talk about the state of equipment in the sector, how he started the…
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A Former Chick-fil-A Marketing Director on the Future of Comms
Kate Finley, who worked as a Marketing Director for Chick-fil-A, is now the founder and CEO of Belle Communications, an award-winning and top-ranked digital PR…
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Welcome to the Kiosk Revolution
Kiosks are flooding the quick-service industry right now, from the biggest brands to fast casuals looking to scale. But what are the pitfalls and real…
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Potbelly’s Marketing Mastery, with CMO David Daniels
How does a cult-favorite restaurant chain embrace the masses? It’s a multi-tiered strategy from store design to digital campaigns to rethinking every customer…
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Tech and the Catering Explosion, with Lunchbox’s Nabeel Alamgir
Lunchbox cofounder and CEO Nabeel Alamgir returns to QSR Uncut to talk about what’s fast become one of the biggest opportunities in the restaurant marketplace…
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Sambazon’s Next Chapter of Growth Arrives
The Açaí pioneer recently launched into franchising for the first time in 24 years. CEO and cofounder Ryan Black joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to…
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The Making of a Better Chicken Joint, with Max Sheets
No stranger to the restaurant industry, Max Sheets got his start as a teenager scraping cheese off pans in a Pizza Hut kitchen. He later spent more than 20…
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A Special Announcement (and Deal) from QSR Uncut
One of the industry’s biggest events is approaching, and we’re offering listeners an exclusive deal to attend. UNCUT25 is what's mentioned in the podcast. And…
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Cinnabon and Carvel Join Forces, with Kristen Hartman
Kristen Hartman, the president of Specialty Brands at GoTo Foods (formerly Focus Brands)—the parent company of Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba…
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The Halal Guys CEO Ahmed Abouelenein on Legacy Leadership and Lasting Growth
The food-cart-to-global-franchise brand has expansion on the mind once again as it prepares to take its iconic concept to new markets. Meanwhile, CEO Ahmed…
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Why Every Restaurant Leader Needs Followers, with Jason Brooks
Jason Brooks has spent more than 30 years in the restaurant industry with six of the top 100 brands. He joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to share some…
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Should Your Restaurant Try Influencer Marketing?
Viral Nation cofounder and CEO Joe Gagliese joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to discuss what’s fast become one of the most successful marketing realms…
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Consistency Over Expansion, with Farmer Boys COO Joseph Oritz
Farmer Boys COO and president Joseph Ortiz joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to take us inside a 40-plus-year-old brand that continues to chart its own…
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Controlling the Kitchen Chaos, with Diana Geseking
Diana Geseking, General Counsel at Restaurant Technologies, joins QSR Editorial Director Danny Klein to dive into the ever-evolving topic of sustainability and…
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Going Beyond Taco Tuesday, with Taco John’s CMO Barry Westrum
Taco John’s chief marketing officer Barry Westrum joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to discuss the brand's expansion throughout the Midwest as it…
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The Future of AI at the Drive-Thru
Eric Lam, CEO of Berry AI, joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to discuss one of the most-buzzed about industry topics in recent memory: can you improve…
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Winning in a $146 Billion Industry, with Sip Fresh Founder Sharon Arthofer
The inspiration for Sip Fresh began, as the company likes to say, on a balmy evening at a local bar. Could a juice chain mirror the mixology trend that had…
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The State of Digital in Fast Food and Fast Casual: Revisited
Last year, restaurant operators shared their key priorities and initiatives in Qu’s fourth-annual State of Digital report. Now, CMO Jen Kern joins QSR…
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Shark Tank’s Matt Higgins Goes Unfiltered
RSE Ventures founder and “Shark Tank” guest Matt Higgins has created a multi-billion-dollar investment portfolio of leading fine-dining and fast-casual…
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A Conversation with Ronald McDonald Himself
Dustin Portillo joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to discuss a journey unlike any other we’ve had here on QSR Uncut. From becoming the third-youngest…
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The Future of Restaurant Innovation, with Wow Bao’s Geoff Alexander
Few restaurant brands, if any, have stayed at the forefront of innovation like Wow Bao, a concept that began as a small Chicago storefront and has now spread…
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Sandwiches, Stories, and a Vision of Growth, with Penn Station’s Craig Dunaway
Penn Station East Coast Subs chief operating officer Craig Dunaway joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein for a wide-ranging chat on the challenger brand's…
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The U.S. Bubble Tea Boom, with Gong cha President Geoff Henry
Gong cha president Geoff Henry, who assumed the international bubble tea brand's top U.S. role last March, has 20 years of experience as a leader in the quick…
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Cicis and the Life of Leading a Legacy Pizza Brand
Jeff Hetsel, president of Cicis Pizza, joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to share insight into what all restaurants search for in this business—brand…
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Lessons and Predictions from a Category Pioneer
Nekter Juice Bar CEO Steve Schulze joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to discuss the story and journey of one of the category’s true icons. Plus, we’ll…
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Meet a Fast Casual to Watch in 2024
CEO Greg Willman has Naf Naf Grill poised and ready to hit the growth lever this coming year. He joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to discuss how his…
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The Evolution of Honey Baked Ham, from the Holidays to the Every Day
Honey Baked Ham CMO Tripp McLaughlin joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to talk about the evolution of the legacy brand. For generations, Honey Baked…
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Jersey Mike’s and the Secret to Operational Excellence
Three Jersey Mike’s leaders—Kevin Loughran, Field Training and Development Specialist, Amanda Vrabel, Manager of Business Management Systems, and Brian Deeth…
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Nate Hybl’s Unique Entrepreneurial Journey
Nate Hybl is an ex-NFL quarterback-turned CEO of Atlanta-born gusto!, a fresh bowls and wraps brand with 12 restaurants and counting. It’s been one wild…
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What's Really ‘Sustainable’ These Days?
Brad Laport, the CEO of WinCup, joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to discuss the topic of greenwashing and the challenges it creates for restaurant…
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Dynamic Pricing: Myth or Magic Bullet?
Sherri Kimes, Emeritus Professor at Hotel School at Cornell, joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to break down one of the hottest and most-debated topics…
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A Multi-Brand Franchise’s Unique Strategy for Growth
Austin Capoferi, the president of Next Brands, the family-owned strategic manager and growth accelerator of Beef-a-Roo and Blenderz, is charging forward with…
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The Heiress of Miller Coors is Growing Multiple Fast Casuals
Darden Coors, heiress of the Miller Coors company, also known as the CEO of Salad Collective, has decided to enter the world of franchising. Recently, she…
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The Reinvention of Veggie Grill
One of the plant-based category's true pioneers recently had to shut down 12 locations. Cofounder and CEO, T.K. Pillan, joins QSR editorial director Danny…
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Restaurant Marketing in a Changing World, with Brandon Rhoten
GroundTruth CMO Brandon Rhoten joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein for a wide-ranging chat on how the job of today’s restaurant marketer has changed. What…
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The Female Culinary Powerhouses Out to Revolutionize Plant-Based Cuisine
Sisters and mompreneurs, Heather Golden Ray and Jenny Engel, are the authors of two cookbooks (Zooey Deschanel is a fan), and chefs and owners of Spork Foods…
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Drew Brees Scores Again with Smalls Sliders
NFL legend Drew Brees, along with founder Brandon Landry, join QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to discuss the sizzling growth of Smalls Sliders, a rising…
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The Breakout Journey of Bango Bowls
Ryan Thorman, founder and CEO of Bango Bowls, joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to talk about how the brand is satisfying demand for healthy food…
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The Evolution of Digital Marketing, with El Pollo Loco’s Gabe Alonso
How do you build cultural relevance for your brand in the current restaurant landscape? Authentically honor heritage while fostering a genuine connection with…
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Restaurant Investments, Opportunity, and the Future of Growth, with Jim Balis
CapitalSpring's Managing Director of Strategic Operations, Jim Balis, joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to take stock of the restaurant industry as the…
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Mighty Quinn’s and the Making of a BBQ Empire
Micha Magid, co-CEO of rising barbecue fast casual Mighty Quinn’s, joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to discuss the brand’s growth plans, how to…
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Salad Station's Journey from Farm to Franchise
In 2012, Scott Henderson founded Salad Station, a Louisiana-based, family-focused restaurant concept, providing its guests with fresh produce—straight from the…
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Is Catering Making a Comeback?
One of the pandemic’s hardest-hit fields is back in force, and we’ve got the data to prove it. Mike O’Hanlon, ezCater’s chief partnership officer, joins QSR…
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The Purpose-Driven Mission of Tacos 4 Life
Cofounder Austin Samuelson joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to discuss the background and ambitions of Tacos 4 Life, a brand ranked among the hottest…
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The State of Insurance for Restaurants
This has been a wild time for restaurants, from continued pandemic recovery to cyber-attacks to a changing labor force. How do you prepare and protect your…
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Why Crisp & Green is Ready to Explode
Steele Smiley returns to QSR Uncut to update what’s becoming one of the most compelling growth stories in the business. Crisp & Green is on track to open 50…
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Jon Taffer Returns with a $20,000 Offer
The outspoken star of “Bar Rescue” is teaming with Shift4 on a $20,000 business grant program open to restaurant owners. We’ll talk about how to apply, what it…
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Pizza Hut President David Graves on a Transformation for the Ages
In 2020, one of the world’s most iconic restaurant brands began a journey to find its brand DNA. The result: Become the “Pizza Lover’s Pizza.” From creating…
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The Sweet Legacy of Handel's Homemade Ice Cream, with CEO Rich Matherne
Once named the best ice cream on the planet by National Geographic, Handel's has been in the business of making and selling fresh ice cream since 1945. Now…
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The Enduring and Evolving Story of Donatos, with CEO Tom Krouse
Tom Krouse, CEO of Donatos, the fast-casual pizza franchise famous for its “Edge to Edge” toppings, joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to discuss 60…
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Smoothie King Has Big News, with CMO Marianne Radley
The 1,400-unit brand is diving into a whole-new category. Spearheading the charge is marketing chief Marianne Radley, who arrived in September and hit the…
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Olo CEO Noah Glass Reveals the Restaurant of the Future
Noah Glass, chief executive and founder of Olo, an open SaaS platform that empowers a network of over 600 brands across 87,000 locations, shares his vision for…
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From Surfer to Superfruit Empire: How Abby Taylor Grew Playa Bowls
Self-described Jersey Shore girl Abby Taylor was surfing her way around the globe when the idea to open an acai shop struck. Now, Playa Bowls has 170-plus…
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Where is the Restaurant Consumer Really Going?
Rachel Buss, director of client services at Curion, takes us inside the mind of today’s restaurant guest. What are the trends to watch? How can you tell if a…
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The Future of the Soda Fountain Takes Shape
What's coming to a soda fountain near you in 2023? Kevin Sherman, CEO of Tractor Beverage Co., predicts innovation will shake up the conventional fountain…
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Jon Taffer on Changing the Restaurant Game as We Know It
The always-outspoken star of “Bar Rescue" joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley to introduce the first concept with his name on it, and one Taffer…
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Pizza Factory Finds its Stride
CEO MJ Riva rejoins the QSR team to share an exciting update from one of the category’s fastest-rising brands. The franchise is leading with a culture-first…
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How The Melt Made Guests ‘Love it Here’ Again
The Melt CEO Ralph Bower joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to share the inside story behind one of the industry’s most impressive turnaround stories…