The Operator's Table

Cris Morgado

Welcome to The Operator’s Table—a conversation series for founders and operators in food, beverage, and logistics who care about results over buzzwords. Each episode, host Cris Morgado pulls up a chair with industry leaders to explore the moments that shaped them (Backstory & Mentors), the playbooks they use today (What’s Working vs. Friction), and current realities (Shifts, channels, and tech). We keep it operator-first, practical, and human: quick wins that last and “from-the-floor” lessons you won’t find in pitch decks. You’ll also hear a fast Lightning Round with questions like what is your favourite book or podacst to recommend to other operators. Whether you’re scaling a CPG brand, running a restaurant group, or solving last-mile headaches, you’ll get clear ideas you can put to work tomorrow—and the inspiration to keep going. Subscribe and share with someone who loves real stories from real operators. The Operator’s Table—where we meet the people who keep business moving.

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  1. 27.11.2025

    French Whisky, Costa Rica Rum & Growth w/ Pierre Bardinet | Les Bienheureux

    French whisky, Costa Rican single-estate rum, and a French house betting big on the US market. In this episode of The Operator’s Table, host Cris Morgado sits down with Pierre Bardinet, Technical Director & US Export Manager at Les Bienheureux — the team behind Bellevoye French whisky and rums like El Pasador de Oro and Embargo — to unpack how they’re redefining what French-made spirits can be while gearing up for a major 2026 US launch. Pierre shares his family roots in wine and rum, the early lessons from scaling a distillery 10× while improving quality, and why blind tasting is the company’s non-negotiable for every new product. They dive into the big shifts in whisky and rum trends (premiumisation vs “de-premiumisation,” new world whiskies, traceability in rum, low/no-alcohol), and how Les Bienheureux is using French credibility plus Costa Rican terroir to stand out in crowded categories. From there, the conversation moves into the operator seat: How they position French whisky in markets dominated by Scotch & American whiskeyWhy single-estate Costa Rican rum and transparency are central to their growth storyWhere AI, automation and data could transform sales reporting, forecasting and content at scaleWhat makes an ideal importer / distributor partner and how they systemise finding themThe KPIs and headlines Pierre wants to celebrate in 2026 as they launch in the US In the final stretch, Pierre shares what keeps him grounded — daily bike rides along the Hudson, a strong value-driven team culture at Les Bienheureux — plus: A long-form biography of Napoleon as a surprising leadership playbookHis golden nugget for anyone building a career in spirits: never lose sight of the consumer, and never trade your values for short-term winsWhy bringing “good products to good people” is the simple why behind his work If you’re into premium spirits, export strategy, distributors, this episode is packed with operator-level insight.

  2. 18.11.2025

    Scaling CPG Brands Without Burning Out | Andy Harrow (Second Seat Partners)

    Veteran CPG operator Andy Horrow, founder of Second Seat Partners, joins Cris Morgado on The Operator’s Table to break down how early-stage and emerging CPG, food & beverage brands can scale sustainably—without grinding themselves into the ground. In this episode, Andy shares lessons from years inside PepsiCo/Gatorade, protein and beverage startups, and now as a “second seat” operator helping founders with go-to-market, retail velocity and profitable growth. You’ll hear Andy’s take on: His shift from big corporate roles to launching Second Seat PartnersThe “co-pilot / wingman” model and the kind of founders he can help the mostWhy most brands aren’t ready for Walmart or Costco (and what to prove first)How to think about cash, margins, COGS and marketing spend without sinking the businessBuilding distribution in alcohol & beverage through the three-tier system and deep distributor relationshipsGrowing in concentric circles instead of chasing national scale too earlyThe mindset behind his Substack, “Less Grind, More Joy”, and why joy, walking and reflection matter just as much as strategy and KPIsHow community, friendships and a strong “second seat” network keep you going when entrepreneurship gets tough If you’re a CPG founder, food & beverage operator, or challenger brand trying to scale smart—while still having a life—this conversation is for you. Connect with Andy 🔹 Website: secondseatpartners.com 🔹 Substack: “Less Grind, More Joy” (search on Substack) 🔹 LinkedIn: Andy Harrow If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Operator’s Table, share it with a founder friend, and leave a comment with your biggest takeaway from Andy’s journey. #CPG #SecondSeatPartners #AndyHarrow #CrisMorgado #FoodAndBeverage #GoToMarket #RetailVelocity #CPGConsulting #EntrepreneurLife #LessGrindMoreJoy

  3. 17.11.2025

    Desmond Clark: From NFL Tight End to Logistics Leader with a Winning Mindset

    Former Chicago Bears tight end Desmond Clark sits down at The Operator’s Table with host Cris Morgado to unpack how he went from the NFL to building Bear Down Logistics into a fast-growing freight brokerage. In this episode, Desmond shares his philosophy that “every obstacle is an opportunity”—and how that mindset powers his journey as a founder, leader and coach. You’ll hear us dive into: How Desmond’s NFL career shaped his leadership, resilience and mindsetThe early business failures that taught him to bet on himselfGrowing Bear Down Logistics with heavy haul, niche expertise and SEO-driven lead genFighting double-brokering and fraud in freight and protecting cash flowWhy people, systems and marketing all matter—and which one he’d invest in firstThe role of faith, the Bible and “1% better every day” in his personal operating systemCulture as “who we are inside the virtual walls” at Bear Down LogisticsWhere Desmond sees the next big opportunities in freight & logisticsIf you’re an operator, broker, or founder in logistics (or just love real talk on growth, mindset and leadership), this one’s for you. 🔔 Subscribe to The Operator’s Table for more conversations with the people who keep business moving. 👍 Like, comment and share this episode with someone who needs a mindset boost today. #DesmondClark #BearDownLogistics #LogisticsPodcast #FreightBroker #EntrepreneurMindset

Info

Welcome to The Operator’s Table—a conversation series for founders and operators in food, beverage, and logistics who care about results over buzzwords. Each episode, host Cris Morgado pulls up a chair with industry leaders to explore the moments that shaped them (Backstory & Mentors), the playbooks they use today (What’s Working vs. Friction), and current realities (Shifts, channels, and tech). We keep it operator-first, practical, and human: quick wins that last and “from-the-floor” lessons you won’t find in pitch decks. You’ll also hear a fast Lightning Round with questions like what is your favourite book or podacst to recommend to other operators. Whether you’re scaling a CPG brand, running a restaurant group, or solving last-mile headaches, you’ll get clear ideas you can put to work tomorrow—and the inspiration to keep going. Subscribe and share with someone who loves real stories from real operators. The Operator’s Table—where we meet the people who keep business moving.