How does a 106-year-old brand keep customers coming back? By tapping into nostalgia.This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast A Deeper Dive features A&W CEO Betsy Schmandt. This is the latest in our series of podcasts recorded during the National Restaurant show.This is a great conversation. We wanted to get to know Betsy, who was named chief executive of the chain earlier this year.A&W was founded in 1919, making it one of the oldest restaurant chains in the country. Betsy talks about that history and we talk about some of the memories we’ve had visiting the concept growing up. Schmandt discusses why that works for the brand and how the company plans to tap into consumer nostalgia. We also talk extensively about hospitality and why consumers today expect a lot more from their restaurants—and what A&W is doing about it. We also talk about the chain’s history of drive-ins and we talk about ways the company is adding technology into its restaurants. Betsy reveals a few things in that part of the conversation. We’re talking A&W on A Deeper Dive so please check it out.
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The story behind the fast-growing restaurant chain Mo'Bettahs
What’s the story behind the growth chain Mo’Bettahs?This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast A Deeper Dive features Rob Ertmann, the CEO of the fast-growing Hawaiian-style chain Mo’Bettahs.This is the latest in our series of podcast episodes recorded at the National Restaurant Show in May. We wanted to talk with Ertmann to get the story behind Mo’Bettahs, which is one of the industry’s more fascinating growth concepts. The company grew system sales 30% last year, according to Technomic.We talked about the chain’s history and how it’s been able to fund its growth. We talk about growth plans and what kind of barriers are standing in the way of that growth. We also touch on a variety of other topics, including tariffs, traffic, portion sizes and what’s popular today.It’s a wide-ranging episode on the podcast this week so check it out.
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How Heather Neary is bringing Taco John's into the future
How do you take a 56-year-old brand into the future?This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast A Deeper Dive features Heather Neary, the CEO of the fast-food Mexican chain Taco John’s.This is our latest in a series of podcast episodes recorded from the National Restaurant Show in May.Neary took over as CEO of Taco John’s last year. We speak with her about what she’s done over the past year-plus on the job.We were particularly interested in the company’s technology initiatives, including its voice-activated drive-thru AI test. We talk with Neary about how well it works, how it benefits Taco John’s and what the company does with the labor that no longer has to take orders.Neary discusses the company’s franchising strategy and its expansion plans. She also talks about the chain’s menu development efforts.We’re talking tacos on A Deeper Dive so please check it out.
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How the owner of Krystal and Logan's Roadhouse makes it work
What’s the next step for the owner of Krystal?This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast A Deeper Dive features Josh Kern, the CEO of the multi-brand restaurant operator SPB Hospitality, which owns several different chains.This is the latest in a series of podcast episodes that we recorded during the National Restaurant Association Show last month. SPB Hospitality owns and operates a wide range of restaurants, including the fast-food concept Krystal, the casual-dining brand Logan’s Roadhouse and the upscale casual brand J. Alexander’s. Kern talks about the brands and how they’re doing. He also talks about operating a multi-brand company and how it can run both full-service and limited-service concepts. He also talks about the company’s future strategy, and whether it plans to keep all these brands or whether it plans to put one or two of them on the market.
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How Velvet Taco's unique menu gives it permission to go where others can't
How does Velvet Taco come up with its recipes?This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast A Deeper Dive features Clay Dover, CEO of the fast-casual taco chain.This is the latest in a series of podcasts we recorded at the National Restaurant Show. Velvet Taco is a rapidly growing chain of taco shops. It finished 2024 with 49 locations and grew sales nearly 22%, according to data from Restaurant Business sister company Technomic.The chain’s menu is more unique than a simple taco shop. You might go to one of the restaurants and be greeted with a Bacon Smashburger Taco or a Paneer Taco. And there are the WTF tacos, or weekly taco feature. We wanted to know how the brand develops these tacos and why that has helped the brand do things that perhaps other concepts cannot do.We also talk about other issues, including the chain’s growth and its plans for international development and what Dover sees as the biggest barriers to growth right now.We’re talking tacos on A Deeper Dive so please check it out.
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