Fast Casual Nation

Savor Podcast Network
  • 4.8 (20)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Join the #1 Restaurant Business Podcast Shaping the Future of The Restaurant Industry! Hosted by Paul Barron—industry pioneer, investor, and author of The Chipotle Effect—alongside Cherryh Cansler, the editorial force behind Fastcasual.com, this is where restaurant operators get the competitive edge. Every week, this power duo decodes the trends, strategies, and innovations transforming the restaurant business, driven by the Fast Casual mindset, redefining what's possible across all restaurant segments. With over two decades of combined expertise, Paul and Cherryh don't just report on the industry; they've helped build it. This isn't just a podcast. It's your playbook for what's next. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support.

  1. 3D AGO

    The Impossible Menu: How Tarka Cracked the Code on "Fast" Indian Food

    In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Tinku Saini, CEO and co-founder of Tarka Indian Kitchen, to explore how the Austin-based brand has spent nearly two decades cracking the code on fast casual Indian food — from its full-service origins at Clay Pit to nine locations across Texas, covering everything from fresh-to-order curry operations and supply chain hard lessons to the brand's upcoming bowl launch and catering push via Toast. #FastCasualNation #TarkaIndianKitchen #RestaurantIndustry Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support. Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/ Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights. Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

    40 min

  2. APR 7

    From Food Truck to Franchise Phenomenon: Inside Mike's Red Tacos' Rapid Rise

    In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, host Cherryh Cansler sits down with Lance Salsman, SVP of Operations & Training at Mike's Red Tacos, recorded live at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit in San Diego. Lance shares the brand's origin story — from a birria food truck founded by Mike in 2021 to a rapidly expanding franchise concept backed by industry legend Bill Phelps — and breaks down how Mike's is borrowing and improving on the Dave's Hot Chicken playbook to scale with experienced multi-unit franchisees, rigorous brand standards, and innovative kitchen technology that keeps the authenticity of slow-simmered birria intact across every location. #FastCasualNation #MikesRedTacos #RestaurantFranchising Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support. Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/ Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights. Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

    18 min

  3. MAR 31

    The Celebrity Trap: Why Being a "Wahlberg" Wasn't Enough to Save the Brand

    In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Randy Sharpe, CEO of Wahlburgers, to discuss one of the more compelling brand turnaround stories in the restaurant industry right now. Sharpe breaks down how he consolidated 17 menus into three, exited underperforming franchise relationships, and repositioned Wahlburgers across four distinct growth platforms — including a groundbreaking partnership with Home Depot and a major airport expansion push. If you're a restaurant operator, franchisee, or hospitality professional thinking about brand strategy, multi-unit growth, or non-traditional venue models, this conversation is one you don't want to miss. #Wahlburgers #FastCasualNation #RestaurantIndustry Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support. Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/ Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights. Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

    38 min

  4. MAR 24

    The $600,000 Gamble: Why Jae Kim Almost Walked Away from the Sharks

    Jae Kim, founder of Chi'Lantro, joins Fast Casual Nation to share how he built a Korean-Tex Mex fusion brand from a single Austin food truck in 2010 into a 13-location Texas fast casual empire, covering his three Shark Tank auditions, his experience pitching Barbara Corcoran, the unit economics that drove his growth strategy, and why people, not menu or marketing, remain the foundation of everything he builds. #FastCasualNation #ChiLantro #KoreanTexMex Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support. Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/ Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights. Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

    40 min

  5. MAR 10

    The Great Divide: What the Restaurant Industry's Economic Reality Means for Your Business

    In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Dr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist at the National Restaurant Association, to unpack the economic forces reshaping the restaurant industry. From shrinking profit margins and the K-shaped economy to the rise of technology adoption and long-term demographic pressures, Dr. Moutray delivers a data-driven look at what operators are facing right now — and what they need to do to survive and grow in an increasingly divided consumer landscape. THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY: direct2you Transform Your Direct Mail Strategy Innovative Solutions For Modern Direct Mail Campaigns That Deliver Results www.d2upostcards.com #FastCasualNation #RestaurantIndustry #RestaurantEconomics Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support. Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/ Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights. Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

    57 min

  6. MAR 3

    How Velvet Taco Built a Cult Brand — and Plans to Keep It That Way

    Chris Schultz, CEO of Velvet Taco, joins Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler on Fast Casual Nation to break down the operational blueprint behind one of the restaurant industry's most beloved cult brands. From the legendary Weekly Taco Feature (WTF) — a chef-driven rotating menu item that has launched every single week for nearly 15 years — to the in-house rotisserie Back Door Chicken sold every Monday for $20, Schultz reveals how operational discipline, supply chain rigor, and an unwavering commitment to clarity are what actually fuel creativity and brand loyalty at scale. He also shares his take on technology's rightful place in hospitality, what Starbucks can teach every operator about the dangers of losing focus, and where Velvet Taco is headed next. #FastCasualNation #VelvetTaco #RestaurantBusiness The episode is sponsored by Momos - https://www.momos.com/ Momos Guest AI helps multi-location restaurants, QSRs, and hospitality brands unify service, experience, and marketing - using AI to turn one-time buyers into repeat guests and drive satisfaction, loyalty, and revenue growth. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support. Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/ Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights. Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

    55 min

  7. FEB 24

    Fast Casual Leadership: Legacy Brands, Modern Moves

    In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Paul Damico, President & CEO of Ascent Hospitality Management, to discuss his bold strategy for reinventing two iconic legacy brands — Perkins Restaurant & Bakery and Huddle House. Damico shares how cutting-edge Toast POS technology is transforming operations across 600 units, why extended hours are driving 20–40% sales increases at select locations, and how the new Perkins Griddle and Go fast casual format is designed to win over a younger generation of diners — all while keeping the legendary value that loyal guests have counted on for over 65 years. #FastCasualNation #RestaurantLeadership #FamilyDining Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support. Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/ Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights. Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

    43 min

  8. FEB 18

    The Seasonal Business Playbook: Thriving in a Summer-Driven Industry

    In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Lawrence Brown, Chief Development Officer at Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, to explore how one of America's largest specialty dessert franchises is scaling smart — from its iconic first-day-of-spring tradition and drive-through expansion strategy to franchisee unit economics, community-driven marketing, and what makes the ideal Rita's franchise partner in today's competitive QSR landscape. #FastCasualNation #FranchiseDevelopment #RitasItalianIce Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support. Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/ Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights. Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

    45 min
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4.8
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Join the #1 Restaurant Business Podcast Shaping the Future of The Restaurant Industry! Hosted by Paul Barron—industry pioneer, investor, and author of The Chipotle Effect—alongside Cherryh Cansler, the editorial force behind Fastcasual.com, this is where restaurant operators get the competitive edge. Every week, this power duo decodes the trends, strategies, and innovations transforming the restaurant business, driven by the Fast Casual mindset, redefining what's possible across all restaurant segments. With over two decades of combined expertise, Paul and Cherryh don't just report on the industry; they've helped build it. This isn't just a podcast. It's your playbook for what's next. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support.

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