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All Episodes

QSR Uncut — 365 episodes

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Title
1

What’s Next for Potbelly After RaceTrac Sale, with Jennifer Durham

2

Revealing the Growth Potential of Secret Burger Kitchen, with CEO Paul Sandhu

3

The State of Restaurant Media, with Brian Lowe

4

The State of Digital in Fast Food and Fast Casual: Revisited (2026 Edition)

5

Staying a Step Above, with Velvet Taco's New CEO Chris Schultz

6

[BONUS] Two Announcements and Invites to Join Other Restaurant Leaders

7

The Marketing Genius Behind Dave’s Hot Chicken, with CMO Brandon Rhoten

8

The Remarkable Story of Konala, with Founder Trace Miller

9

The Future of Plant-Based Burger Chains, with Chris Treloar

10

The Unbridled Growth Story of CookUnity, with Morley Ivers

11

The Future of QSR Design, with Queenie Lo

12

Sweetfin at 10 Years: Expanding Beyond Poke, with Cofounder Seth Cohen

13

How FiiZ Drinks is Building a Soda Empire, with Scott Ball

14

Paris Baguette and the Road to 1,000 Restaurants, with CDO Nick Scaccio

15

[BONUS] CEO to CEO: A&W Restaurants' Betsy Schmandt and Kilwins' Brian Britton

16

Beverage Trends, Menu Moves, and the Research Powering Restaurants, with Tomás Gilbert

17

Inside the Rise of Fuku, and a Sandwich That Couldn’t Be Kept a Secret

18

Taco Cabana Gears Up for National Growth, with John Ramsay

19

Jollibee is Ready for its U.S. Growth Push, with Peter Wright

20

Getting Real on Restaurant Real Estate, with Joe Blanton

21

Inside the Growth Journey of Brasa Peruvian Kitchen, with CEO Michel Falcon

22

Staying Relevant and Fueling Growth, with Rita’s CDO Lawrence Brown

23

Will Starbucks’ Redesign Strategy Work?

24

[BONUS] CEO to CEO: Original ChopShop's Jason Morgan and Taziki's Dan Simpson

25

Becoming an Unmissable Brand, with Habit Burger & Grill CMO Jack Hinchliffe

26

Kona Ice and the Making of One of America's Top Restaurant Franchises

27

Why Nostalgia is Not a Strategy, and How to Future-Proof Your QSR Brand, with Mike Perry

28

[BONUS] CEO to CEO: Cheba Hut's Marc Torres and Toppers Pizza's Adam Oldenburg

29

Why Chicken and Beverages are Surging, and Other QSR Trends to Watch, with Datassential’s Huy Do

30

Building a Powerhouse Restaurant Platform, with Alex Macedo

31

AI, Tech Stacks, and the Future of QSR Operations, with Abhinav Kapur

32

Another Coffee Chain Hits the Growth Trail, with Beans & Brews CEO Doug Willmarth

33

[BONUS] CEO to CEO: Happy Joe's Tom Sacco and BRIX Holdings' Sherif Mityas

34

Unlocking Innovation and Concept Creation, with Aaron Noveshen and Michael Parlapiano

35

Into the World of QSR Consumer Insights, with Will Krieger and Erin Dougherty

36

The Making of a Fast Casual Pioneer, with INDAY Founder Basu Ratnam

37

Rewriting the Fast-Food Flavor Rulebook, with Taco John’s Brad Bergaus

38

How Sonic Reached the Digital Age, and Way More

39

Seed Oils vs. Tallow: Separating Fact from Fiction, and Real Applications

40

Getting Executive QSR Hires Right, and More on Labor, with Dan Rymer

41

Fanning the Flames of a Legacy Brand, with la Madeleine CEO John Dillon

42

Meet a Bold Fast Casual on the Rise

43

Why is Beverage Innovation So Hot in QSR? with Botrista’s Jason Valentine

44

Into Shake Shack’s Culinary Lab, with Nancy Combs

45

Restaurant Customers are on the Sidelines: What Now?

46

The Rise and Potential of 3Natives, with CEO Anthony Bambino

47

Growth is Brewing at Drive-Thru Coffee Chain Lola Beans

48

Inside White Castle’s Quest for Loyalty

49

A Full-Circle Perspective on Franchising, with Tim Koch

50

The Blueprint for Brand Evolution, with Jamba CBO Nathan Louer

51

Growing a Regional Icon, with Burgerville Chief Development Officer May Han

52

Reinventing Your Brand Identity, with Rusty Taco President Dan Smith

53

Lessons on Leadership, Life, and Growth, with Costa Vida President Wade Allen

54

Keeping Eggs On The Menu: What to Know and the Facts That Matter

55

From Survival to Sustained Growth, with Ziggi’s Coffee CEO Brandon Knudsen

56

Becoming the CEO of a Multi-Million-Dollar Family Business

57

[BONUS] CEO to CEO: The Drive-Thru Coffee Chain Edition

58

The State of Digital in Fast Food and Fast Casual: Revisited (Again)

59

The Legend of Layne’s Chicken Fingers, with CEO Garrett Reed

60

Drone Delivery: Myth or Magic Bullet for Restaurants?

61

How to Crush Grand Openings, with Brian Lowe

62

The Future of Drive-Thru Coffee, with Darren Spicer

63

The Tech Company Guaranteeing ROI for Restaurants

64

Inside the Growth of Bobby Flay's Fast Casual Burger Brand

65

[BONUS] CEO to CEO: Scott Taylor and Troy Hooper

66

The Magic of Biscuitville, with Charles Miller

67

The Entrepreneurial Journey of Biscuit Belly, with Chad Coulter

68

How to Master Your First Job, from a former Chick-fil-A Vet

69

Are Mass Closures Coming? And What's Ahead for Restaurants in 2025

70

[BONUS] CEO to CEO: Wow Bao's Geoff Alexander and Big Chicken's Josh Halpern

71

Creating a “SH*T YEAH!” Culture and Brand, with Chris Smith

72

Building the Next Big Pizza Franchise, with Carl Comeaux

73

The Meteoric Rise of Taylor Chip, with CEO Doug Taylor

74

Why Chick-fil-A Launched a ‘Play App,’ and How Mobile Will Change the CX Game

75

Little Caesars and the Journey of Growth

76

The Inside Scoop on Noodles & Company’s Menu Revolution

77

The Rise of Co-Branding and Digital Engagement, with Mason Wiederhorn

78

Lessons in Leadership and Restaurant Success, with Dr. Emily Williams Knight

79

Taking a Legacy Sandwich Chain to National Growth, with Healey Mendicino

80

The Enduring Legacy of Golden Krust, with VP of Marketing Steven Clarke

81

The Making and Evolution of a Multi-Brand Empire, with Brix Holdings CEO Sherif Mityas

82

The Rise of the Dumplings, with Brooklyn Dumpling Shop CEO Jeff Galletly

83

The State of Virtual Dining, with Robbie Earl

84

Bad Ass Coffee Brews Up Growth, with CEO Scott Snyder

85

The CEO Transforming Healthy Fast-Casual Dining

86

The Açaí Brand Driving 28 Percent Sales Growth in Three Years

87

How to Recruit, Retain, and Win the Labor Battle, with Alissa Partee

88

From Intern to President of a Sandwich Icon, with Lance Vaught

89

How Jack in the Box Stays Connected, with CMO Ryan Ostrom

90

Evolving with Your Audience, with Robeks’ VP of Marketing Mitch Baker

91

Getting Real on Restaurant Tech, with Matt Wampler

92

Jon Taffer is Back! And We Have a Lot to Discuss

93

What Went Wrong with Starbucks?

94

The State of Restaurant M&A and Investing, with Mike Esposito

95

What Your Restaurant Employees Actually Want, with Jordan Boesch

96

Portillo’s, from Pop Culture Icon to Public Growth, with CMO Nick Scarpino

97

Why Pepper Lunch Could be the Next Big Thing, with Paul Tran

98

The Dream and Determination of Big Dave's Cheesesteaks

99

Tropical Smoothie CEO Charles Watson Breaks it Down

100

Restaurant Equipment and Living on Mars, with Devon Zielinski

101

A Former Chick-fil-A Marketing Director on the Future of Comms

102

Welcome to the Kiosk Revolution

103

Potbelly’s Marketing Mastery, with CMO David Daniels

104

Tech and the Catering Explosion, with Lunchbox’s Nabeel Alamgir

105

Sambazon’s Next Chapter of Growth Arrives

106

The Making of a Better Chicken Joint, with Max Sheets

107

A Special Announcement (and Deal) from QSR Uncut

108

Cinnabon and Carvel Join Forces, with Kristen Hartman

109

The Halal Guys CEO Ahmed Abouelenein on Legacy Leadership and Lasting Growth

110

Why Every Restaurant Leader Needs Followers, with Jason Brooks

111

Should Your Restaurant Try Influencer Marketing?

112

Consistency Over Expansion, with Farmer Boys COO Joseph Oritz

113

Controlling the Kitchen Chaos, with Diana Geseking

114

Going Beyond Taco Tuesday, with Taco John’s CMO Barry Westrum

115

The Future of AI at the Drive-Thru

116

Winning in a $146 Billion Industry, with Sip Fresh Founder Sharon Arthofer

117

The State of Digital in Fast Food and Fast Casual: Revisited

118

Shark Tank’s Matt Higgins Goes Unfiltered

119

A Conversation with Ronald McDonald Himself

120

The Future of Restaurant Innovation, with Wow Bao’s Geoff Alexander

121

Sandwiches, Stories, and a Vision of Growth, with Penn Station’s Craig Dunaway

122

The U.S. Bubble Tea Boom, with Gong cha President Geoff Henry

123

Cicis and the Life of Leading a Legacy Pizza Brand

124

Lessons and Predictions from a Category Pioneer

125

Meet a Fast Casual to Watch in 2024

126

The Evolution of Honey Baked Ham, from the Holidays to the Every Day

127

Jersey Mike’s and the Secret to Operational Excellence

128

Nate Hybl’s Unique Entrepreneurial Journey

129

What's Really ‘Sustainable’ These Days?

130

Dynamic Pricing: Myth or Magic Bullet?

131

A Multi-Brand Franchise’s Unique Strategy for Growth

132

The Heiress of Miller Coors is Growing Multiple Fast Casuals

133

The Reinvention of Veggie Grill

134

Restaurant Marketing in a Changing World, with Brandon Rhoten

135

The Female Culinary Powerhouses Out to Revolutionize Plant-Based Cuisine

136

Drew Brees Scores Again with Smalls Sliders

137

The Breakout Journey of Bango Bowls

138

The Evolution of Digital Marketing, with El Pollo Loco’s Gabe Alonso

139

Restaurant Investments, Opportunity, and the Future of Growth, with Jim Balis

140

Mighty Quinn’s and the Making of a BBQ Empire

141

Salad Station's Journey from Farm to Franchise

142

Is Catering Making a Comeback?

143

The Purpose-Driven Mission of Tacos 4 Life

144

The State of Insurance for Restaurants

145

Why Crisp & Green is Ready to Explode

146

Jon Taffer Returns with a $20,000 Offer

147

Pizza Hut President David Graves on a Transformation for the Ages

148

The Sweet Legacy of Handel's Homemade Ice Cream, with CEO Rich Matherne

149

The Enduring and Evolving Story of Donatos, with CEO Tom Krouse

150

Smoothie King Has Big News, with CMO Marianne Radley

151

Olo CEO Noah Glass Reveals the Restaurant of the Future

152

From Surfer to Superfruit Empire: How Abby Taylor Grew Playa Bowls

153

Where is the Restaurant Consumer Really Going?

154

The Future of the Soda Fountain Takes Shape

155

Jon Taffer on Changing the Restaurant Game as We Know It

156

Pizza Factory Finds its Stride

157

How The Melt Made Guests ‘Love it Here’ Again

158

Finding Real Solutions for Delivery

159

Damon Dunn’s Remarkable Journey from Poverty to NFL to Dunkin’ Franchisee

160

What Awaits Restaurants in 2023

161

The Improbable Story of Dillas Quesadillas

162

Norman Wu Builds the Next Great Poké Brand

163

One of TIME’s Best Inventions Disrupts the Restaurant Industry

164

The State of Digital in Fast Food and Fast Casual

165

Fat Boy’s Goes Beyond The World’s Biggest Slice

166

Chicago’s Original Italian Beef Maker Readies for Growth

167

[NextGen] Huckleberry CEO Greg Graber and The Magic of Differentiation

168

The Future of Guest Engagement

169

There’s a New Smoothie Competitor on the Block

170

Pioneering Froyo’s Next Wave, with Yogurtland President Sam Yoon

171

The World's First Cupcake Bakery is Going Global

172

Is Restaurant Training Broken?

173

Krystal’s Mission to Win Back Customer Loyalty

174

What Consumers Really Want from Food Delivery

175

Evolution at the World’s Largest Hot Dog Chain

176

Location-Based Tech is Disrupting the Restaurant Industry

177

Main Squeeze CEO Thomas Nieto on Building the Next Big Juice Brand

178

NFTs, Web3, and the Restaurant Industry: Should We Invest?

179

[NextGen] Condado Tacos Rewrites the Rulebook

180

The Making of a Food Truck Empire, with Marcus Crawford

181

The Unsung Hero of the Takeout and Delivery Boom

182

Noodles & Company CMO Stacey Pool on Culture and 'Uncommon Goodness'

183

Shipley Do-Nuts CEO Clifton Rutledge and the Rebirth of a Legacy Brand

184

The Way America Wants to Eat, with Native Foods CEO Carin Stutz

185

The State of the Restaurant Industry

186

Can We Fix Food Delivery Management?

187

The Chicken Chain with a Million TikTok Followers

188

Lunchbox CEO Nabeel Alamgir Takes the Gloves Off

189

Sparking Major Franchise Growth: Mici Italian Part 2

190

[BONUS] Del Taco Makes a Big Move

191

The Right Way to Rebrand: Mici Italian Part 1

192

Growth During the Supply Chain Crisis: Velvet Taco Vol. 2

193

Into the Innovation Lab with Velvet Taco's Venecia Willis

194

How to Win the Mobile App Revolution

195

Rush Bowls CEO Andrew Pudalov on Blazing the Trail

196

The Restaurant-preneur Teaching World-Class Company Culture

197

A Vision Into the Future of Fast Food

198

From Restaurant Owner to CEO: Pizza Factory’s Mary Jane Riva

199

El Pollo Loco CMO Andy Rebhun on the Future of Restaurant Innovation

200

The Tech Trends Changing Fast Food After COVID

201

Lessons from an Entrepreneur: PITA Mediterranean Street Food CEO Nour Rabai

202

Pokeworks CEO Steve Heeley on Turning an Idea Into an Empire

203

Sweetfin President Seth Cohen on Leading the Poke Craze

204

Steele Smiley is Out to Reinvent Fast Food

205

Lessons from an Entrepreneur: Beyond Juicery + Eatery Co-Founder Mijo Alanis

206

The Meteoric Rise of Clean Juice

207

Smoothie King CMO Rebecca Miller on Redefining an Iconic Brand

208

Your Pie CEO Dave McDougall on Emerging Stronger than Ever

209

The Man Behind Noodles & Company’s Growth Surge

210

Franchising in the Booming Better-for-You Segment

211

Del Taco CMO Tim Hackbardt on Hitting Inflation Head On

212

Togo's on 50 Years of Sandwich Dominance

213

The Bakery Chain Racing Toward 1,000 Locations

214

Buy or Sell? The Real Deal with Restaurant Real Estate

215

Trends Shaping The Coffee Shop of the Future

216

Another Restaurant Tech Company on the Rise

217

Meet America's 40 Hottest Fast Casuals: Part 2

218

Vitality Bowls and the Rise of the Superfood Movement

219

Meet America's 40 Hottest Fast Casuals: Part 1

220

Introducing NextGen Casual and Finney's Crafthouse

221

Talking Bourbon with Spirits Guru Fred Minnick

222

How to Survive the Great Supply Chain Crisis

223

Diversity from The Top Down, with Dr. James Pogue

224

FAT Brands CEO Andy Wiederhorn on a Buying Spree for the Record Books

225

How to Create a Restaurant Concept from Scratch

226

Meet the Next Big Mediterranean Chain

227

Smashburger's Secret to Better-Burger Success

228

Finding the Post-COVID Restaurant Consumer: Tips from a Tech CEO

229

Ghost Kitchens, Virtual Brands, and the Power of Wiz Khalifa

230

A&W CEO on Surviving the Labor Shortage, Root Beer, and a Comeback of Epic Proportions

231

A Digital Pioneer on the Future of Restaurant Tech

232

Is The Virtual Restaurant Bubble About to Burst?

233

The Magic of Chick-fil-A's Drive-Thru

234

Whataburger's leaders on getting through crises like a family

235

Raising Cane's founder and co-CEO on building a pandemic-proof culture

236

Crisp & Green's founder on the health food concept's big pandemic success

237

Tacos 4 Life's cofounder on upholding its mission during the pandemic

238

Fields Good Chicken founder on reinventing an urban fast casual restaurant

239

McAlister's Deli president on its digital service evolution

240

Hopdoddy's CEO on its huge off-premises gains

241

GLEAM's founder on the power of restaurant industry mentorship

242

Smashburger's president on the better-burger chain's digital transformation

243

Franchising expert Scott Greenberg on restaurant franchisee success

244

Church's CMO on restaurant marketing's COVID evolution

245

SkinnyFats CEO on using a food hall as an R&D factory

246

Sam Fox on the keys to hospitality post-COVID

247

The 40/40 List: FieldTrip

248

The 40/40 List: Everytable

249

The 40/40 List: Sweet Paris Crȇperie & Café

250

The 40/40 List: Wings Over

251

The 40/40 List: RASA

252

How quick service and full service can coexist in one brand

253

This casual chain is switching to fast casual

254

What happens to nontraditional foodservice after this?

255

MOD Pizza's CEO on how they've maintained culture through crisis

256

How Voodoo Doughnut balances its icon status with the realities of COVID-19

257

BurgerFi reinvents the better-burger model for our post-pandemic world

258

Wingstop Week: CEO Charlie Morrison on becoming a top 10 global brand

259

Wingstop Week: CTO Stacy Peterson on designing an industry-leading tech stack

260

Wingstop Week: President of international Nicolas Boudet on how to grow globally

261

Wingstop Week: SVP of people Donnie Upshaw on the power of culture to lead you through crisis

262

Wingstop Week: CMO Christina Clarke on shaping the brand's persona

263

A big-chain mindset for a startup plant-based fast casual

264

How a startup ice cream franchise has re-created its experience during COVID

265

Restaurantology Ep 5: An investor’s perspective on the opportunity for restaurants

266

Restaurantology Ep 4: The benefits of thinking like an investor

267

Restaurantology Ep 3: How two brands landed post-pandemic investment deals

268

Restaurantology Ep 2: It’s time to focus on growth again—here’s how

269

Restaurantology Ep 1: Why hospitality is still critical to restaurant success

270

What pivoting looks like to a full-serve breakfast chain

271

Why menu innovation still matters, according to Velvet Taco's CEO

272

A look inside this year's QSR Drive Thru Study

273

Mendocino Farms is finding its way in an off-premises world

274

How FOCUS is creating a brand experience through digital ordering

275

Evolving the service style at this emerging fast-casual taco player

276

The marketing efforts keeping this beloved 97-year-old burger chain afloat

277

Inside the mind of a leading investor during the COVID-19 crisis

278

A fast-casual pizza CEO's recipe for success moving forward

279

Why food trucks could have a resurgence post-pandemic

280

Turning parking lots into a restaurant goldmine

281

Imagining the restaurant of the future

282

Yum Brands! CEO David Gibbs on navigating the world's largest restaurant company through a crisis

283

NFL player turned BBQ CEO on how the future can include full and counter service

284

Why labor is this pizza chain's biggest issue during the pandemic

285

Launching a franchise program in the middle of the pandemic

286

The business model that's pandemic and recession proof

287

The role of health and juicing in a post-pandemic industry

288

How a "growth juggernaut" set franchisees up for success during COVID-19

289

The making of Atlanta's cult-favorite burger joint—and how it's survived the pandemic

290

How DoorDash is trying to improve the 3rd-party delivery partnership

291

Insights from the only chain to have lived through the last global pandemic

292

Slutty Vegan's Pinky Cole on being the change you want to see for the world

293

A fast-casual exec re-evaluates operations in pandemic

294

An emerging franchise revs up growth despite pandemic

295

A salad fast casual's approach to ensuring safety

296

Starbird's CEO on how the definition of a restaurant is changing

297

A fast casual CEO on pandemic reality: "Adapt or die"

298

Portillo's CEO on mastering the off-premises business

299

How a national pizza chain is evolving—even with sales up 20%

300

28 - Jersey Mike's Peter Cancro

301

How Jack in the Box changed its marketing message

302

Fast casual entrepreneur doubles down on innovation post-pandemic

303

Chicken Salad Chick's CEO on collaborating with franchisees, innovating with off premises

304

A Texas operator offers a glimpse at reopening

305

Introducing #QSRserves + a chat with Culver's CEO Joe Koss

306

27 - Wow Bao's Geoff Alexander

307

&pizza's Michael Lastoria on doing well by doing good

308

Inside a sports bar's successful pivot

309

Raising Cane's Todd Graves on changes that will be permanent

310

Your voice in QSR + a chat with Slim Chickens CEO Tom Gordon

311

Sweetgreen's efforts to feed medical professionals

312

What guests want to hear from you in this time of crisis

313

Comparing notes with "Restaurant Unstoppable" host Eric Cacciatore

314

An exciting franchise wrestles with new realities

315

Why transparency is key to Dickey's coronavirus efforts

316

An FSR operator weighs in on coronavirus challenges

317

Could virtual brands help sales during coronavirus?

318

How one fast casual feeds community members in need

319

Tips for emerging brands to get through coronavirus

320

What happens to food halls?

321

Cousins Subs' CEO on communicating through crisis

322

Behind the scenes of "The Great American Takeout"

323

Staying positive in the effort to #SaveRestaurants

324

Preparing for life after coronavirus

325

What to know about supply chain during coronavirus

326

Tips for keeping the lights on from Fazoli's CEO

327

Adjusting your business model on the fly

328

What consumers think about restaurants during coronavirus

329

Committing to your employees in midst of crisis

330

How a franchise CEO navigates coronavirus

331

Surviving coronavirus by becoming a grocer

332

26 - Clean Juice's Kat & Landon Eckles

333

25 - Naf Naf Grill's Paul Damico

334

24 - Duck Donuts' Russ DiGilio

335

[Feature] Sweetgreen's next big investment

336

23 - Chi'Lantro BBQ's Jae Kim

337

22 - P. Terry's Patrick Terry

338

[Freeze Frame] Golden Chick's Mark Parmerlee & Jim Stevens

339

21 - Eatzi's Adam Romo

340

20 - Liberty Burger's Mariel & Marco Street

341

19 - Honeygrow's Justin Rosenberg

342

18 - Wing Zone's Matt Friedman

343

17 - Salt & Straw's Kim Malek

344

16 - Melt Shop's Spencer Rubin

345

15 - Brown Bag Seafood Co.'s Donna Lee & Zach Flanzman

346

14 - SAJJ Mediterranean's Zaid Ayoub

347

13 - Fast casual pioneer Greg Dollarhyde

348

12 - Souvla's Charles Bililies

349

[Freeze Frame] Freddy's Scott Redler

350

11 - Your Pie's Drew French

351

[Freeze Frame] Cousins Subs' Justin McCoy

352

[Freeze Frame] Teriyaki Madness's Michael Haith

353

10 - Marination's Roz Edison

354

9 - MOD Pizza's Ally & Scott Svenson

355

8 - Torchy's Tacos' Mike Rypka

356

[Freeze Frame] Firehouse Subs' Don Fox

357

[Freeze Frame] Tropical Smoothie Cafe's Charles Watson

358

[Freeze Frame] Corner Bakery's Frank Paci

359

7 - Nekter's Steve Schulze

360

6 - Chipotle's Brian Niccol

361

5 - &pizza's Michael Lastoria

362

4 - CAVA's Brett Schulman

363

3 - Farm Burger's George Frangos

364

2 - Dog Haus's Quasim Riaz, Hagop Giragossian, & Andre Vener

365

1 - Blaze Pizza's Rick & Elise Wetzel