Best Improving Restaurant Operations Podcasts (2025)

1
440. Improving Restaurant Operations: A General Manager's Guide - Andrew Roy 30:00

1d ago30:00

30:00

Andrew shares what it takes to be a remarkable General Manager and his journey in the restaurant industry, offering valuable lessons for anyone looking to enhance their establishment's operations and culture. His experiences and insights offer valuable lessons for restaurant professionals aiming to refine their operations and build a robust company…

1
Why Micro Fulfillment Centers (MFCs) Still Matter With Dematic & Tesco's Transcend Retail Solutions 35:28

10h ago35:28

35:28

Is microfulfillment still a viable strategy? In this new Omni Talk Spotlight, Chris and Anne sit down with Oliver Vogt, CEO of Tesco’s Transcend Retail Solutions and Danielle Dakin, Dematic's Market Development Director, to unpack everything happening with MFCs. Danielle explains how pandemic-driven hype distorted expectations (6:00), while Oliver …

1
Ep. 029 Hospitality Security Customer Service 29:16

13h ago29:16

29:16

In this episode of the Nightlife Security Podcast, host Manny Marquez and Dr. Richard Bistline discuss the critical role of customer service in security operations. They explore how security personnel can enhance guest experiences by shifting from a traditional "command and control" approach to a more welcoming, proactive strategy. The conversation…

1
FSMA & The Future Of Food Safety Explained With Angela Fernandez Of GS1 US | Spotlight Series 27:52

19h ago27:52

27:52

Chris and Anne sit down with Angela Fernandez, SVP at GS1 US, to dive deep into the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and the massive shifts underway in food traceability. Angela explains:(6:27) The history of FSMA and how new regulations are reshaping the food industry(8:40) The crucial role of digital traceability(13:12) Why compliance is esse…

1
Episode 5: The New Landscape of Restaurant Real Estate 29:42

22h ago29:42

29:42

The fires have dramatically altered LA’s real estate market, creating both challenges and opportunities for restaurant owners. Real estate expert Dan Fagan shares insider knowledge on where the best opportunities are now, how to negotiate stronger lease terms, and how consumer behavior is reshaping restaurant site selection. Whether you're looking …

1
The Power of Menu Engineering 28:59

1d ago28:59

28:59

#441 - The Power of Menu Engineering ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: TORK TORK understands that expectations for food service, sustainability, and guest experience are higher than ever. That’s why they provide products and services that help restaurants meet those demands. VISIT: https://www.torkusa.com/your-business/solutions/overv…

1
AI Manners, Sperm Races, Papal Name Hypotheticals & Pasta Debates | Lightning Round Gets Wild 4:59

4d ago4:59

4:59

It’s lightning round time! Chris and Anne open with OpenAI’s surprising energy usage linked to polite prompts (00:03), then reveal whether they use manners with their own bots (00:22). Things escalate with papal name hypotheticals (01:15), a very serious pasta shape debate (02:00), and finally, the sperm race startup that no one saw coming (03:08).…

1
Walmart To Test Beauty Bars In 40 Stores 5:41

4d ago5:41

5:41

Walmart is testing a new beauty bar concept at 40 stores as part of its spring sale event, and Chris and Anne dive deep into what it means for the retailer's future (00:04). Chris highlights how this test differs from Target’s Ulta partnership and lets Walmart fully own its beauty experience (01:45), while Anne shares insights from her past at Targ…

1
Trove Acquires Reverse.Supply to Drive Global Resale Expansion & Circular Retail Strategy 4:52

4d ago4:52

4:52

In this episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne break down Trove’s acquisition of reverse.supply and why it’s a game-changer for global resale (00:02). Anne highlights the upside for brands and customers alike, from lower costs due to tariff avoidance (01:45) to…

1
Target Launches “Good Little Garden” Floral Brand | Retail Strategy Hit or Miss? 9:01

4d ago9:01

9:01

Target’s new floral brand Good Little Garden has entered the chat — and Chris and Anne are divided (00:03). While the brand offers fresh flowers and plants starting at $6 (00:28), Chris argues the category is operationally complex and unlikely to become a billion-dollar brand (01:00). Anne sees parallels with Trader Joe’s floral success (03:10), an…

1
Quorso and Circle K Partner to Improve Store Operations Across Europe 4:49

4d ago4:49

4:49

In this episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne dive into Quorso’s new partnership with Circle K (00:02), highlighting how this technology will scale across 5,000 stores in 12 countries and 11 languages (00:16). They discuss the significance of bringing task man…

1
Buy Or Sell: Gas Stations Fueling Walmart’s Growth? 5:08

4d ago5:08

5:08

In this episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne analyze Walmart’s bold move to grow its gas station footprint, aiming to add 40–45 new locations this year as part of a five-year expansion plan (00:03). They discuss how Walmart is using fuel as a strategic lever …

1
"Training for Success: Building a Rockstar Restaurant Team from Day One" 15:58

4d ago15:58

15:58

In this episode of Restaurant Talk, we dive deep into one of the most overlooked — yet critical — elements of a successful restaurant: employee training. We’ll discuss how to create an onboarding process that sets clear expectations, instills your restaurant’s culture, and empowers staff to deliver outstanding service. Whether you’re launching a ne…

1
Culture Is Your Competitive Edge: Lisa Schultz on Eliminating Drama and Creating High-Performing Teams 37:21

4d ago37:21

37:21

Most restaurants accept drama and dysfunction as part of the business—but what if eliminating them was the key to higher profits and better retention? Lisa Schultz, Managing Partner of Zingerman’s Roadhouse, has spent the last 20 years proving that culture is the real secret to success. By implementing no-drama leadership, open-book finance, and em…

1
Office Hours: The 3 Keys to Escaping Day to Day Operations 8:33

5d ago8:33

8:33

I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I’ve spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter…

1
This is How to CRUSH Street Fairs This Summer 15:27

5d ago15:27

15:27

#440 - This is How to CRUSH Street Fairs This Summer ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: INKIND To the over 1,800 U.S. r…

1
S2 Ep8: Welbilt and Bringing New Young Talent Into the Industry 1:04:05

6d ago1:04:05

1:04:05

Kitchen Curiosity is a podcast for the foodservice market presented by Radford Chancellor of Macintosh Foodservice Solutions, a management and design consultancy for the hospitality sector. In this episode, Radford is joined by David McKown MBE (Director of University Hospitality Seminars Ltd) and James Benger (Head of Culinary at Welbilt UK) to di…

1
Walmart Gas, Circle K & Why Target’s Floral Brand May Not Come Up Smelling Like Roses | Fast Five 41:58

6d ago41:58

41:58

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five news roundup, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne discussed:- Walmart’s gas station expansion strategy - Quorso’s intelligent store management platform rollout with Circle K Europe - Target’s new floral owned brand - Trove’s …

1
The Principles of Profitability : David Scott Peters on The Art of Delegation 43:30

7d ago43:30

43:30

Most restaurants don’t make money. The ones that do, typically make very little. This is our reality and many of us have embraced it. But what about the group no one talks about: the restaurants that are making a killing, quietly and consistently. They all seem to be following the same formula and today we sit down with restaurant expert, David Sco…

1
439. Maximizing Menu Profit Through Effective Design and Strategy - Roger Beaudoin 32:29

7d ago32:29

32:29

In this episode, we dive deep into one of the most powerful — yet often overlooked — tools in your restaurant’s success: the menu. More than just a list of dishes, your menu is a marketing asset and a key part of your brand identity.Restaurant Profit Maximizer Mini-Masterclass: Learn how just a few tweaks in the way you run your business can hugely…

1
Episode 4: Designing the Future of Restaurants 25:43

8d ago25:43

25:43

With the fires wiping out entire restaurant districts, what does the future of restaurant design in LA look like? Renowned architect John Hamilton shares with Josh Kopel and Michael Benson what restaurant operators should be thinking about when rebuilding—from fire-resistant materials to more flexible layouts, outdoor dining strategies, and cost-ef…

1
Two Brilliant Things My Mentor Taught Me 14:38

8d ago14:38

14:38

#439 - Two Brilliant Things My Mentor Taught Me ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: TORK TORK understands that expectations for food service, sustainability, and guest experience are higher than ever. That’s why they provide products and services that help restaurants meet those demands. VISIT: https://www.torkusa.com/your-business/solu…

1
Bezos Faceplants, Festivals & Crosswalks | Omni Talk Lightning Round Gets Wild 🎤 4:20

11d ago4:20

4:20

This week’s lightning round, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, is packed with laughs and unexpected questions. Chris and Anne start by debating what the official Omni Talk uniform would be, inspired by Starbucks’ new black-on-green dress code (0:01).Then they reminisce about epic…

1
Hy-Vee Shuts Down In-Store Bars | Is Experiential Retail Dying? 8:52

11d ago8:52

8:52

In this Omni Talk Retail Fast Five discussion, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne explore Hy-Vee’s decision to shutter most in-store bars and eliminate full-service dining in favor of counter-only service (0:02). Chris critiques the overuse of “experiential retail” …

1
DoorDash Empowers Restaurants with AI Tools | Better Photos, Menus & Visibility 5:49

11d ago5:49

5:49

In this Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne dig into DoorDash’s latest AI feature rollout for restaurant partners (0:02). The tools include an AI-powered camera for high-quality food photos, an item description generator, and insta…

1
Is Sam’s Club Being Too Optimistic About Its Growth Potential? 5:21

11d ago5:21

5:21

In this Omni Talk Retail Fast Five episode, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne dive into Sam’s Club’s bold plan to open 15 clubs annually and remodel all 600 existing locations in the U.S. (0:02). Backed by strong performance and growing online sales, Sam’s Club hop…

1
Walmart’s AI Fashion Tool | Trend to Product Speeds Up Design by 18 Weeks 6:39

11d ago6:39

6:39

In this episode of Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne dive into Walmart’s latest AI-powered innovation: the Trend-to-Product tool (0:03). The duo explains how the tool uses generative AI to produce trend-driven mood boards, shorten design…

1
Why In The World Would Ulta Pause Its Target Expansion? 8:36

11d ago8:36

8:36

In this episode of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, brought to you by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand,Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga break down Ulta's surprising decision to pause its shop-in-shop rollout with Target. Despite Target touting strong beauty performance, Ulta CEO Kecia Steelman—a…

1
Building Unbreakable Restaurants: Justin Cucci on Culture, Ownership, and the Future of Hospitality 37:23

11d ago37:23

37:23

Most restaurateurs build concepts around a menu or a chef. Justin Cucci built Edible Beats around a philosophy—one that’s challenged conventional wisdom and redefined what restaurant success looks like. From turning historic spaces into thriving concepts to pioneering an employee-owned business model, Justin has proven that restaurants can be both …

1
Office Hours: This is the one hack to scale word of mouth advertising 12:47

12d ago12:47

12:47

I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I’ve spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter…

1
Walmart’s Trend-to-Product AI, Sam’s Club’s Expansion & Ulta’s Pregnant Pause At Target | Fast Five 45:50

12d ago45:50

45:50

In this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five news roundup, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Chris and Anne discussed:- Ulta Beauty’s decision to pause its Target shop-in-shop expansionWalmart’s new Trend-to-Product AI tool to speed up product development- Sam’s Club’s expansion pla…

1
Adopting the Luxury Mindset (Las Vegas - March, 2025) 55:35

12d ago55:35

55:35

#438 - Adopting the Luxury Mindset (Bar & Brestaurant Expo 2025) ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: CHOWLY The Chowly Platform unites powerful tools to transform your restaurant’s digital presence and grow profits ouside four walls. From Online Ordering and Third-Party Marketplace POS Integration to Smart Pricing and Digital Marketing,…

1
What A True Omnichannel Returns Process Looks Like With TGW’s Stipe Galic | Ask An Expert 26:16

13d ago26:16

26:16

In this episode of Omni Talk’s Ask an Expert series, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga talk with Stipe Galic, VP of Business Development & Marketing at TGW, to demystify the complexities of returns in today’s omnichannel retail world. From cost savings to faster reshelving, Stipe walks us through how automation, flexible software, and a unified DC set…

1
Purpose Over Profit: Kim Malek’s Mission-Driven Path with Salt & Straw 38:45

14d ago38:45

38:45

Kim Malek, founder of Salt and Straw, discussing her journey from working at Starbucks to creating a unique ice cream brand that emphasizes community, culture, and innovative marketing strategies. Kim explores the importance of guest experience, building a strong company culture, navigating challenges during the pandemic, and the significance of pa…

1
Episode 3: Fast-Tracking A Restaurant Opening 22:39

15d ago22:39

22:39

In a crisis, every day your restaurant stays closed means lost revenue. Permitting and governmental expert Eddie Navarette reveals the fastest, most effective ways to cut through LA’s permitting maze, accelerate approvals, and avoid costly mistakes that slow down restaurant openings. This episode provides actionable insights for operators in any ci…

1
Managing Portions, Theft, and Waste 26:06

15d ago26:06

26:06

#437 - Managing Portions, Theft, and Waste ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: TIME FORGE TIME FORGE provides labor management for efficient teams. Recruit, retain, and manage your talent with a powerful piece of software. VISIT: timeforge.com/RestaurantStrategy ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaur…

1
438. Brilliant Restaurant Branding Strategies - Elizabeth Brasch 39:06

16d ago39:06

39:06

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, we're diving into the art and science of restaurant branding with Elizabeth Brasch, a marketing and branding powerhouse at Mellow Mushroom. Tune in for a masterclass in restaurant branding from one of the pros behind a truly iconic name in the industry.Restaurant Profit Maximizer Mini-Masterclass…

1
Lightning Round | Burritos, "Best Of" White Lotus Awards, and Tariff Product Hoarding 6:21

18d ago6:21

6:21

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios, ClearDemand, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: A Lightning Round of Burritos, "Best Of" White Lotus Awards, and Tariff Product HoardingFor the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/xZ2R3c0ZxsU…

1
Fast Five Shorts | Pro Or Con: Amazon AI Shopping Agents? 8:15

18d ago8:15

8:15

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios, ClearDemand, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: The Pros & Cons of Amazon AI Shopping AgentsFor the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/xZ2R3c0ZxsU…

1
Fast Five Shorts | San Diego Bans Digital-Only Coupons 4:17

18d ago4:17

4:17

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios, ClearDemand, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: San Diego Banning Digital-Only CouponsFor the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/xZ2R3c0ZxsUBy Omni Talk Retail

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Fast Five Shorts | Instacart Debuts New “Will Call” Delivery Service 4:44

18d ago4:44

4:44

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios, ClearDemand, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Instacart Debuting A New “Will Call” Delivery ServiceFor the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/xZ2R3c0ZxsU…

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