Behind the Numbers

Restaurant365
  • 5.0 (11)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Hosted by Rich Sweeney and Marc Cohen of Restaurant365, Behind The Numbers features in-depth interviews with some of the most prominent and successful figures in the restaurant and hospitality space. Join us each week to learn more about the technology that powers out industry and how you can take advantage in your own business!

  1. OCT 30

    Culture First: How Gregg Majewski Scaled Craveworthy Brands to $300M in 28 Months

    In this episode of Behind the Numbers, hosts Marc Cohen and Rich Sweeney sit down with Gregg Majewski, CEO and founder of Craveworthy Brands, to unpack how a 28-month-old company grew to 18 brands, 4,300 employees, and over $300 million in systemwide sales. Gregg shares why culture must come before numbers, how he empowers franchisees to succeed, and why hospitality—not automation—remains the heart of the restaurant business. From Big Chicken with Shaquille O’Neal to Taffer’s Tavern, Gregg reveals the mindset and metrics that drive modern restaurant growth. Connect with Craveworthy Connect with Gregg Majewski on LinkedIn

    51 min

  2. OCT 10

    Margins, Growth, and the Power of Transparency With Joshua Lacer Wadkins

    In this episode of Behind the Numbers, hosts Marc Cohen and Rich Sweeney sit down with Joshua Lacer Watkins, CFO of Ice Age Management Inc., a McDonald’s franchisee group operating more than 50 restaurants across North Carolina. Joshua shares how focusing on margins, cash flow, and operational KPIs drives sustainable growth and how tools like Restaurant365 empower both finance and operations teams to make smarter, faster decisions. Key insights include: • Why cash flow is king in restaurant operations • How technology improves financial transparency and decision-making • The growing role of fractional CFOs in the restaurant industry • How connecting financial data with real operations drives better results • The importance of empathy and communication between accounting and operations teams

    36 min

  3. SEP 26

    How Wholly Stromboli Turns Data into Discipline (and Profit)

    World Pizza Champion Melissa Rickman pulls back the curtain on how Wholly Stromboli runs with the discipline of a national chain on just one (soon to be two) locations. Discover how her team drives food costs down to 18.5%, right-sizes staff from 48 to 38 employees, and has tracked more than 866,000 dough balls since 2010. From portion control with engraved scoops to AI-driven menu pricing, Melissa shows why treating a restaurant like a real business is the key to profitability and peace of mind. If you want your restaurant to scale—or simply survive—this is the playbook. Connect with Melissa Visit Wholly Stromboli websiteConnect with Melissa Rickman on LinkedInWholly Stromboli on FacebookWholly Stromboli on Instagram Connect with the Show Connect with Rich Sweeney on LinkedInConnect with Marc Cohen on LinkedInR365 on FacebookR365 on XR365 on LinkedInR365 on Instagram

    51 min

  4. SEP 10

    How Restaurant Operators Sustainably Protect & Grow Their Businesses

    California’s 2024 PAGA reform finally gives operators leverage if they do the work. Employment attorney Anthony Zaller explains how proactive audits, supervisor training, updated policies, and documented corrective actions can cap certain penalties at 15%. We dig into why PAGA filings still exceed 10,000 a year, the $200 per-paycheck pay-stub risk, when to add HR support (25 employees) and bring it in-house (50), and how top operators use 15-minute labor matrices with schedule guardrails to manage rising wages. Practical steps, real numbers, and a clear playbook to turn legal risk into operational discipline. Connect with Anthony Zaller Connect with Anthony on LinkedInVisit Zaller Law's WebsiteFollow Zaller Law on LinkedInConnect with Zaller Law on FacebookFollow Anthony Zaller on XWatch The Legal Lineup on YouTubeFollow Anthony Zaller on Instagram Connect with the Show Connect with Rich Sweeney on LinkedInConnect with Marc Cohen on LinkedInR365 on FacebookR365 on XR365 on LinkedInR365 on Instagram

    50 min

  5. AUG 21

    How AI and Fractional CFOs Are Redefining Restaurant Finance with Bruce Nelson

    CFO and author Bruce Nelson breaks down how AI is changing the finance side of restaurants. From when to bring in a fractional CFO (hint: around $10M in revenue) to why one source of truth for numbers is essential, Bruce shares lessons from his career and vision for the future. Connect with Bruce Nelson Connect with Bruce on LinkedInVisit Bruce's Website Connect with the Show Connect with Rich Sweeney on LinkedInConnect with Marc Cohen on LinkedInR365 on FacebookR365 on XR365 on LinkedInR365 on Instagram

    19 min

  6. AUG 7

    Know Your Numbers, Tell Your Story: Inside San Pedro Fish Market’s Reinvention

    What happens when you’re evicted from a 3,000-seat restaurant? If you’re Michael Ungaro of San Pedro Fish Market, you innovate, adapt, and scale…from a parking lot. In this episode of Behind the Numbers, Michael shares how knowing his numbers, leaning into tech like Restaurant365, and telling the right story helped turn disruption into growth. Connect with Michael Ungaro & San Pedro Fish Market Connect with Michael Ungaro on LinkedInConnect with San Pedro Fish Market on LinkedInFollow San Pedro Fish Market on InstagramCheck out Kings of Fish on Amazon Prime Connect with the Show Connect with Rich Sweeney on LinkedInConnect with Marc Cohen on LinkedInR365 on FacebookR365 on XR365 on LinkedInR365 on Instagram

    51 min

  7. JUL 10

    How Dashboards, Bonuses, and Financial Fluency Build Better Restaurant Operators

    Rick Miller and Max Prifogle from RLM Hospitality join Behind the Numbers to share the systems they use to create financially fluent operators. Learn how weekly soft closes, actual vs. theoretical reporting, and custom dashboards align managers with the business—and why the right bonus plan can unlock your team’s full potential. Connect with the Guests Connect with Max Prifogle on LinkedInConnect with Rick Miller on LinkedInVisit RLM Hospitality website Connect with the Show Connect with Rich Sweeney on LinkedInConnect with Marc Cohen on LinkedInR365 on FacebookR365 on XR365 on LinkedInR365 on Instagram

    45 min

  8. JUN 26

    Why Happy Employees and Smart Tech Drive Restaurant Growth with Philip Gay

    Hospitality finance veteran Philip Gay joins Marc Cohen and Rich Sweeney to break down what truly drives restaurant success. From building EYAS Capital’s QSR portfolio to investing in employee training at Paperchase, Philip shares how happy teams, operational scorecards, and AI-powered engagement fuel profitability. Plus, hear his timeless rule: people, product, and place drive profit. Connect with the Guest Connect with Philip Gay on LinkedInConnect with Paperchase on InstagramConnect with Paperchase on LinkedinConnect with Eyas Capital on Linkedin Connect with the Show Connect with Rich Sweeney on LinkedInConnect with Marc Cohen on LinkedInR365 on FacebookR365 on XR365 on LinkedInR365 on Instagram

    49 min
See All (14)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Hosted by Rich Sweeney and Marc Cohen of Restaurant365, Behind The Numbers features in-depth interviews with some of the most prominent and successful figures in the restaurant and hospitality space. Join us each week to learn more about the technology that powers out industry and how you can take advantage in your own business!

Information

  • Creator
    Restaurant365
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Behind the Numbers
  • Show Website
    Behind the Numbers

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