QSR Magazine's Fast Forward

QSR magazine

QSR Magazine's Fast Forward, a podcast from the editors of the leading publication for foodservice owners and operators, discusses the future of the fast food restaurant industry. Made for restaurant executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders, each episode features an interview with fast-casual founders and visionaries who discuss the ongoing successes and challenges of building a restaurant company from scratch.

  • 39 minutes 42 seconds
    Lessons in Leadership and Restaurant Success, with Dr. Emily Williams Knight

    Dr. Emily Williams Knight, the CEO of Texas Restaurant Association, joins QSR editorial Danny Klein and WiRL associate editor Satyne Doner for a special crossover episode between QSR Uncut and our sister podcast, Women in Restaurant Leadership. We discuss everything from climbing the ladder to the industry’s most-pressing issues and regulatory challenges to this February’s upcoming WiRL Summit, and much more. If you're interested in learning more about WiRL or attending our February event, visit here: https://www.womenleadrestaurants.com/

    19 December 2024, 5:00 pm
  • 43 minutes 29 seconds
    Taking a Legacy Sandwich Chain to National Growth, with Healey Mendicino

    Healey Mendicino, the president of Port of Subs, began as a franchisee and opened the chain’s 100th restaurant. Now, she’s serving as president and plotting a path to 500 units in five years with a commitment to quality, differentiation, and leading as a best-in-class franchisor. 

    13 December 2024, 1:00 pm
  • 35 minutes 57 seconds
    The Enduring Legacy of Golden Krust, with VP of Marketing Steven Clarke

    VP of Marketing Steven Clarke Joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to discuss the 35th anniversary of Golden Krust, a brand that remains to this day a family-run operation that started from a single location in the Bronx, New York, before expanding nationwide. After immigrating to New York from Jamaica in the 1980s, Lowell F. Hawthorne and his 10 siblings founded Golden Krust in 1989. Clarke is carrying on that legacy, looking ahead to growth, and balancing modernizing the brand while also paying tribute to what’s made it such an icon since day one.

    5 December 2024, 2:00 pm
  • 30 minutes 17 seconds
    The Making and Evolution of a Multi-Brand Empire, with Brix Holdings CEO Sherif Mityas

    Brix Holdings CEO Sherif Mityas, the leader of a group that includes Red Mango, Smoothie Factory + Kitchen, Souper Salad, Orange Leaf, Humble Donut Co., Pizza Jukebox, Friendly’s, and, most recently, Clean Juice, joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to dive into the workings and inspiration anchoring the portfolio, as well as the state of franchising, investing, consumer preference, and much more through a wide-ranging discussion around restaurant growth and the keys to staying ahead.

    27 November 2024, 9:00 pm
  • 34 minutes 13 seconds
    The Rise of the Dumplings, with Brooklyn Dumpling Shop CEO Jeff Galletly

    Brooklyn Dumpling Shop’s Jeff Galletly—the brand’s first CEO in its history—joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to take a look inside the hybrid-automat and how it’s redefining dining with cutting-edge self-service technology. We also get into the future of the space and where the consumer is taking restaurants, and how his background (most recently as VP and General Manager of Tim Hortons USA) is influencing his leadership style and plans for the fast-growing brand.

    21 November 2024, 8:00 pm
  • 47 minutes 31 seconds
    The State of Virtual Dining, with Robbie Earl

    Linked Eats president and Virtual Dining Concepts cofounder Robbie Earl joins QSR editors Danny Klein and Ben Coley for a deep dive into a category and topic that continues to evolve. All the rage when dining rooms shut down, how have virtual brands innovated to remain a viable revenue option? How are operators viewing the potential? What kind of technology has entered the fray to open more avenues of business and help restaurants handle the rush of digital orders? We get into all of that and a whole lot more.

    14 November 2024, 8:00 pm
  • 37 minutes 12 seconds
    Bad Ass Coffee Brews Up Growth, with CEO Scott Snyder

    Competing in the QSR coffee game is always a wild journey. Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii CEO Scott Snyder joins QSR magazine editorial director Danny Klein to discuss how the 1989-founded brand is standing out in the segment and why it’s poised for expansion. We also get into broader beverage trends, design, the state of the consumer, and way more.

    7 November 2024, 8:00 pm
  • 41 minutes 12 seconds
    The CEO Transforming Healthy Fast-Casual Dining

    WOWorks’ CEO Kelly Roddy joins QSR editorial director to discuss the inspiration, development, and evolution of one of the category’s fastest-growing multi-brand groups, which now includes Saladworks, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, Frutta Bowls, The Simple Greek, Barberitos, and Z!Eats (formerly Zoup!). As the former president of Schlotzsky’s, he repositioned the brand from a sandwich deli chain to a high-quality eatery, doubling its average unit sales, and, in 2019, took over Saladworks, navigating it through the challenges of COVID-19. We discuss everything from that journey in leadership to ghost kitchens to America’s food system to how you scale a health-halo brand in today’s market.

    31 October 2024, 2:00 pm
  • 31 minutes 30 seconds
    The Açaí Brand Driving 28 Percent Sales Growth in Three Years

    Bruno Cardinali, global head of marketing at açaí brand OAKBERRY, joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to discuss the fast casual’s rise, which closed out 2023 with 35 stores in North America and is on track to double that by the end of 2024, and again by the end of 2025. Cardinali was also previously the marketing chief at Popeyes and shares some stories about the so-called “Chicken Sandwich Wars.” 

    24 October 2024, 3:00 pm
  • 38 minutes 54 seconds
    How to Recruit, Retain, and Win the Labor Battle, with Alissa Partee

    Alissa Partee, the Chief People Officer at Restaurant Technologies, which was recently recognized with three national workplace awards, joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to discuss how you can win with culture in today’s hiring landscape. Can you build workplace culture from the top down and get franchisees onboard? In what ways can operators recruit/attract, and retain the best talent? We get into that and a whole lot more. This episode was sponsored by Restaurant Technologies.

    18 October 2024, 5:00 pm
  • 41 minutes 35 seconds
    From Intern to President of a Sandwich Icon, with Lance Vaught

    Starting as an intern in 2003, Lance Vaught has held every position within the operations and training departments at Penn Station East Coast Subs, culminating in his appointment as president in January 2022. His experience and understanding of day-to-day tasks shaped his leadership style, which focuses on getting back into restaurants and helping operators stay disciplined as they navigate the challenges today. Vaught joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein to discuss the state and direction of the industry, as well as why Penn Station is primed for growth.

    10 October 2024, 2:00 pm
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