Why Restaurant CEOs Need to Think Like CTOs. Interview w/ Troy Hooper, CEO of Pepper Lunch

What happens when restaurant leadership, technology, and growth strategy all collide in one conversation? Troy Hooper, CEO of Pepper Lunch joins Jim Balis and Shawn Walchef for the debut episode of the Enterprise CTO Podcast. They discuss what today’s restaurant leaders need to understand about tech stacks, AI, vendor selection, and scaling systems across hundreds of locations. The conversation covers franchisee adoption, global expansion, and how strong operators use technology to create a real competitive edge.  What You’ll Learn:  • Why CEOs can no longer afford to ignore technology decisions  • How enterprise brands evaluate software vendors before signing contracts  • Why adoption matters more than buying the newest tool  • How franchise systems balance innovation with operator ROI  • Where AI is already creating real value inside restaurants  Episode Links  • Troy Hooper LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtroyhooper/  • Pepper Lunch Restaurants: https://www.pepperlunchrestaurants.com/  • Jim Balis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-balis-5879a34/  • Shawn Walchef LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef/  Checkmate’s Digital Menu Boards help restaurants increase average check size by surfacing the right add-ons and offers at the right moment. In a recent 30-day test with a national QSR brand, average check size increased by nearly $1 per order, about a 6% lift, with no extra labor and no slower lines. Learn more at https://www.itsacheckmate.com/blog/how-restaurants-can-finally-treat-digital-menu-boards-like-a-performance-channel