Danny Klein, the editorial director for QSR and FSR magazines, shares his background and how he got involved in the restaurant industry. He discusses the challenges the industry is currently facing, such as inflation, labor costs, and access to capital. He also highlights the opportunities for innovation and managing the value equation. Examples in…

Juan Orrego, co-founder of Cuboh, shares his entrepreneurial journey and the story behind Cuboh's acquisition by ChowNow. Cuboh helps restaurants integrate their online orders into their point of sale system, while ChowNow is a direct online ordering platform. The acquisition allows ChowNow to offer both third-party integration and direct ordering …

Scott Porter, founder and CEO of San Diablo Artisan Churros, shares his unconventional career path and the origin story of his churro business. He discusses the importance of customer and brand experience in creating a thriving brand and marketing strategy. Scott talks about how he secured partnerships with stadiums and event centers by winning the…

Andrew Smith, the managing director and co-founder of Savory Fund, shares his journey in the restaurant industry and how he helps small local concepts scale and grow. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on the underbelly of a business, which includes leadership, systems, and people. Marketing should be inside-out, with a strong emphasis on exe…

Summary Andrew Nikash, co-founder and CEO of FIRST, discusses the challenges and opportunities of third-party delivery for restaurants. He highlights the importance of restaurants maintaining a direct relationship with their customers and offers strategies to reduce the cost of delivery while maximizing profits. Andrew emphasizes the need for resta…

Summary Eric Cacciatore, founder and host of the Restaurant Unstoppable Movement and podcast, shares his background and journey in the restaurant industry. He emphasizes the importance of four walls marketing and creating a great in-store experience. Eric also discusses the challenges and opportunities in the restaurant industry, including rising l…

Steve Smyth, the director of restaurant technology for Taco John's International, shares his experiences of implementing technology in the restaurant industry. Taco John's, a legacy brand known for its tacos and burritos, has been using technology to enhance the guest experience and improve communication. They have implemented mobile ordering, loya…

David Doty, owner of Lehigh Bakery, shares his journey in the restaurant industry and the growth of his bakery. He discusses his background in finance and law and how he transitioned into the food industry. David emphasizes the importance of customer experience and engagement in driving sales and growth. He shares strategies such as saying yes to c…

Sterling Douglass, co-founder and CEO of Chowley, shares insights and tactics for restaurant marketing. He discusses the importance of point-of-sale integration and the value of digital marketing tools for SMB restaurants. Douglass emphasizes the need to focus on both generating demand and creating repeat orders. He highlights the significance of m…

Jeff McFadden, founder of The Smoked Taco and Wallabies Smokehouse, shares his experiences in building successful restaurant brands. He emphasizes the importance of finding a unique niche and creating something that stands out from the competition. Jeff also discusses the challenges of scaling a business and the need to address operational issues a…

On this special episode of Restaurant Rocket Fuel Shane Murphy is a guest on Smart Pizza Marketing Podcast with Bruce Irving. Welcome to another episode of Smart Pizza Marketing! In this episode, our host Bruce sits down with special guest Shane, the founder of Boostly.com. Boostly offers a fast and efficient text marketing service that allows pizz…

Matt Doka, co-founder and CTO of Five Stars, shares the story of how Five Stars started and the importance of loyalty programs for small businesses. He discusses the shift from just having a loyalty program to creating a comprehensive life cycle communication platform that turns transactions into relationships. Matt emphasizes the effectiveness of …

Jerry Hancock, founder of SubZero Ice Cream, shares the story behind the unique ice cream concept and the process of using liquid nitrogen to create custom-made ice cream. He discusses the challenges of starting a franchise business and the impact of appearing on Shark Tank. Hancock emphasizes the importance of community involvement and grassroots …

Sean Walchef shares his journey as a restaurant owner and media creator, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and digital presence. He discusses the shift from 'if you build it, they will come' to the reality of needing to tell your own story. He highlights the significance of the 'orange tree story' and the power of repetition in storytellin…

Brett Linkletter, founder and CEO of DineLine, shares his expertise in restaurant marketing. He discusses the importance of tracking ROI and offers various methods for restaurants to track their success, such as using QR codes, store visits, and credit card swipes. Linkletter emphasizes the need for restaurants to focus on both customer acquisition…

Mike Norton, an expert in restaurant marketing, shares insights on the importance of data collection and utilization in the restaurant industry. He emphasizes the need for restaurants to have a cohesive system to collect customer data and highlights the value of tools like reviews and feedback solutions. Norton discusses the challenges faced by the…

Sean Huntington, former owner of Sweet Cakes Cafe, shares the story behind the bakery and cafe and how it developed over time. The business gained recognition after being featured on TLC's Best Food Ever TV series. Sean discusses the impact of the TV appearance on their sales and the challenges they faced in sustaining that momentum. He emphasizes …

Summary Bennett Maxwell, founder of Dirty Dough, shares his journey of building a successful gourmet cookie franchise. He discusses the importance of mental health and mindset in finding joy and fulfillment in life. Bennett highlights the key strategies that have contributed to the rapid growth of Dirty Dough, including leveraging word-of-mouth mar…

Andy Gartz, founder of Slab Pizza, shares the origin story of his successful pizzeria and the strategies he used to build a cult-like following. The key to Slab's success was focusing on high-quality pizza and letting the product speak for itself. They didn't rely on traditional marketing methods but instead relied on word-of-mouth and customer ref…

Our first episode and its a good one! Shane Murphy our host of Restaurant Rocket Fuel interviews Bruce Irving, founder of Smart Pizza Marketing, shares his expertise on marketing for SMB restaurants. He discusses his background in the pizza industry and how he started the Smart Pizza Marketing podcast. Bruce highlights the challenges he faced in ma…

Episode Overview: In this initial episode of the Restaurant Rocket Fuel podcast, host Shane Murphy, founder and CEO of Boostly, the leading SMS marketing provider for the restaurant industry, sets the stage for what listeners can expect from this valuable resource. Shane shares his vision for the podcast, which is to empower restaurant owners and o…