Episodes

  • 93. Jim Taylor talks about Bold Operations, Hospitality and Helping People Love the Restaurant Industry

    93. Jim Taylor talks about Bold Operations, Hospitality and Helping People Love the Restaurant Industry
    Dec 27 2024
    For more than 20 years, Jim Taylor has both helped to fuel the growth of a leading national restaurant brand, as well as consulted with hundreds of other restaurants to navigate the ever changing restaurant industry.
    Jim recently launched his first book, “Bold Operations - Building the Foundation of Strategic Excellence in Restaurants.” He is also Founder and CEO of Benchmark Sixty Restaurant Services, and has worked alongside small, medium and large restaurant companies in North America and the UK in order to help them better understand their business model, help them to optimize productivity in their business, and to turn data in to profit. Jim is working to change the way that restaurants look at and measure things like employee workload and productivity in order to improve the hospitality industry, it’s margins and retention rates. His encouragement for leaders to “see things differently” has been instrumental in the strategy and execution of several successful businesses.

    Everything comes back to people for Jim, and he believes that our industry needs to stick together in order to survive. Through his work with strategic partners, as well as a growing team of consultants his goal is to make the restaurant industry a strongly desired place for people to continue to find both their first job, and their dream job.

    Jim is confident that there is a new way forward for the industry, and is on a mission to improve the career experience for the next generation of hospitality professionals. He believes that there are more simple ways to look at the business model, and that by looking through a new lens, industry leaders will be able to more easily attract and retain people, while also making the financial side of the business less stressful.
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    53 mins
  • 93. Jim Taylor talks about Bold Operations, Hospitality and Helping People Love the Restaurant Industry

    93. Jim Taylor talks about Bold Operations, Hospitality and Helping People Love the Restaurant Industry
    Dec 27 2024
    For more than 20 years, Jim Taylor has both helped to fuel the growth of a leading national restaurant brand, as well as consulted with hundreds of other restaurants to navigate the ever changing restaurant industry.

    Jim recently launched his first book, “Bold Operations - Building the Foundation of Strategic Excellence in Restaurants.” He is also Founder and CEO of Benchmark Sixty Restaurant Services, and has worked alongside small, medium and large restaurant companies in North America and the UK in order to help them better understand their business model, help them to optimize productivity in their business, and to turn data in to profit. Jim is working to change the way that restaurants look at and measure things like employee workload and productivity in order to improve the hospitality industry, it’s margins and retention rates. His encouragement for leaders to “see things differently” has been instrumental in the strategy and execution of several successful businesses.

    Everything comes back to people for Jim, and he believes that our industry needs to stick together in order to survive. Through his work with strategic partners, as well as a growing team of consultants his goal is to make the restaurant industry a strongly desired place for people to continue to find both their first job, and their dream job.

    Jim is confident that there is a new way forward for the industry, and is on a mission to improve the career experience for the next generation of hospitality professionals. He believes that there are more simple ways to look at the business model, and that by looking through a new lens, industry leaders will be able to more easily attract and retain people, while also making the financial side of the business less stressful.
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    53 mins
  • 92. Entrepreneur Bennett Maxwell shares his thoughts on Entrepreneurship through the lens of Wellness

    92. Entrepreneur Bennett Maxwell shares his thoughts on Entrepreneurship through the lens of Wellness
    Oct 24 2024
    Bennett Maxwell is a multifaceted entrepreneur renowned for his innovative approach to business and commitment to enhancing the entrepreneurial landscape. He is currently the driving force behind Dirty Dough Cookies, a fast-growing national cookie brand with over 80 stores open and dozens more set to launch this year. Maxwell’s career spans diverse industries, from real estate in Utah to co-founding and successfully selling Switch to Solar. In addition to his entrepreneurial ventures, he is a sought-after speaker who regularly shares insights with the media. Bennett also hosts the Deeper Than Dough podcast, launched in 2023, where he explores finding joy and fulfillment in life through entrepreneurship and beyond.
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    52 mins
  • 91. Entrepreneur and Franchise Advisor Paul Tran joins us for a conversation on all things Franchising

    91. Entrepreneur and Franchise Advisor Paul Tran joins us for a conversation on all things Franchising
    Oct 13 2024
    Welcome to The Cutting Onions Podcast. On today’s episode Myles and I welcome Paul Tran back to the podcast for another great conversation around franchising in the restaurant industry. Paul is a great friend to the podcast and we are excited to host him once again.
    Paul is a serial entrepreneur and has quite a list of accomplishments he has achieved over the years including:
    1. Co-founded his first restaurant in 2005, and was acquired in 2008.
    2. Became the largest franchisee of The Halal Guys (with 9 stores in Southern California and $15 million in annual revenue), and was acquired in 2023.
    3. Sold over 1,000 franchises
    4. Jumpstarted the franchise program for a brand that ended up going public
    5. Scaled restaurants in over 15 countries
    6. Helped a one-unit mom-and-pop business get acquired by a public company; and
    7. Enabled companies become more profitable and enjoyable
    ‍ Today, he:
    1. Consults emerging restaurant chains on growth;
    2. Invests in construction, data, business services, and other food startups.
    3. Hosts a YouTube and podcast channel called the Unfocused Show
    4. Posts memes (and sometimes helpful insights) on LinkedIn and 𝕏 (formerly Twitter)

    Paul is currently helping Pepper Lunch grow across the country, and am a multiunit franchisee himself - and building stores in Southern California.
    Pepper Lunch is the original DIY Teppanyaki restaurant and aspires to turn ordinary meals into extraordinary experiences by empowering their guests to experience the joy of crafting their unique culinary journeys.
    Through a blend of tradition and innovation, Pepper Lunch aims to offer a dining escapade that's as delightful to the senses as it is to the soul, while fostering a community united by the love of flavors.
    Enjoy this conversation with Paul Tran! #cuttingonions #pepperlunch #culture #mylesgift #paultran #leadership #franchising #bobbyshaw
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • 90. Marketing Expert Jessica Harrison joins us to talk about the power of Local Store Marketing

    90. Marketing Expert Jessica Harrison joins us to talk about the power of Local Store Marketing
    Sep 8 2024
    Today on The Cutting Onions Podcast we are honored to feature our conversation with Certified Coach and Marketing Expert Jessica Harrison. Jessica is a certified Executive Coach (ICF-ACC) and consultant focusing on coaching others to find greater balance, navigate transitions and leverage their unique talents. She studied leadership coaching at Brown University's School of Professional Studies. She is also one of my favorite humans on the planet! Before coaching and consulting, she spent over 12 years in marketing leadership roles with Chipotle (where she and I met) in field marketing, promotions and roll-outs where she was part of the journey with the brand from unknown start-up to household name. Previous brands supported include Red Bull, New Line Cinema, Old Navy and De Beers. Jessica started Ivy & Scout in 2017, and offers executive, career and college exploration coaching along with strategic marketing consulting for start-ups, consumer product companies, hospitality companies and individuals. Past and current clients supported include Randy’s Donuts, Equip, Steel Series, Yogurtland, LEAP, Noodles & Company, Blaze Pizza, Time Timer, and McCormick & Schmick’s. We know you are going to love this conversation! Enjoy it wherever you consume your podcast content! #jessicaharrison #ivyandscout #chipotle #localstoremarketing #lsm #marketing #grassroots #burritos #stpatricksdayparade #california #kansascity
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • 90. Marketing Expert Jessica Harrison joins us to talk about the power of Local Store Marketing

    90. Marketing Expert Jessica Harrison joins us to talk about the power of Local Store Marketing
    Sep 8 2024
    Today on The Cutting Onions Podcast we are honored to feature our conversation with Certified Coach and Marketing Expert Jessica Harrison.

    Jessica is a certified Executive Coach (ICF-ACC) and consultant focusing on coaching others to find greater balance, navigate transitions and leverage their unique talents. She studied leadership coaching at Brown University's School of Professional Studies. She is also one of my favorite humans on the planet!

    Before coaching and consulting, she spent over 12 years in marketing leadership roles with Chipotle (where she and I met) in field marketing, promotions and roll-outs where she was part of the journey with the brand from unknown start-up to household name. Previous brands supported include Red Bull, New Line Cinema, Old Navy and De Beers.

    Jessica started Ivy & Scout in 2017, and offers executive, career and college exploration coaching along with strategic marketing consulting for start-ups, consumer product companies, hospitality companies and individuals. Past and current clients supported include Randy’s Donuts, Equip, Steel Series, Yogurtland, LEAP, Noodles & Company, Blaze Pizza, Time Timer, and McCormick & Schmick’s.

    We know you are going to love this conversation! Enjoy it wherever you consume your podcast content! #jessicaharrison #ivyandscout #chipotle #localstoremarketing #lsm #marketing #grassroots #burritos #stpatricksdayparade #california #kansascity


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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • 89. Christine Schindler, CEO of Pathspot Technologies Talks Food Safety and Serving Others

    89. Christine Schindler, CEO of Pathspot Technologies Talks Food Safety and Serving Others
    Aug 29 2024
    On this episode of The Cutting Onions Podcast, we dive into a captivating conversation with Christine Schindler, CEO and Co-Founder of PathSpot. A Duke-alum and Biomedical Engineer, Christine's innovative approach has revolutionized health and safety in the restaurant industry through PathSpot’s HandScanner technology, protecting 1.7 million meals last year alone and boosting handwashing frequency by up to 80% in partner locations.
    Under Christine's guidance, PathSpot has forged partnerships globally, ensuring employee and customer safety while enhancing profitability. Beyond her impactful work at PathSpot, she mentors young entrepreneurs with the Clinton Global Initiative and advocates for female empowerment through initiatives like Aunt Flow and Girls Engineering Change.
    Christine's contributions have not gone unnoticed, earning her accolades such as Forbes 30 Under 30 and Time Magazine Top Inventions. Her commitment to advancing STEAM fields and creating a safer, more efficient industry exemplifies her dedication to making a difference. Congratulations to Christine on being named a Rising Star in Hospitality Technology Magazine's 2023 Top Women in Restaurant Technology Awards. #WomenInTech #Innovation #Leadership #CuttingOnions #ChristineSchindler #Pathspot #Culture #BobbyShaw #MylesGift
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    45 mins
  • 88. Founder/CEO Kevin Cochran talks to us about his amazing vegan concept, Jackie Mays Burger.

    88. Founder/CEO Kevin Cochran talks to us about his amazing vegan concept, Jackie Mays Burger.
    Aug 19 2024
    On today's episode of The Cutting Onions Podcast, we talk to entrepreneur and founder, Kevin Cochran for an inspiring conversation on the restaurant industry, technology in restaurants, and his new concept, Jackie Mays Burger.
    After ten years of working in restaurants at the beginning of his career, and as the first GM and on the startup team of Freebirds World Burrito, Kevin then gave up the food business over two decades ago for the high-tech world, and worked most recently in clean technology.
    Kevin made his return to the restaurant industry in 2020 as founder of Jackie Mays Burger, a 100% plant-based, fast-food franchise concept for consumers desiring healthier and sustainable choices on the go.
    In his previous role as Chief Operations Officer for an emerging energy management company, Kevin led programs to track energy and carbon footprints for organizations like HP, Tesla, and the City of Sacramento. Trained in the US and Europe with an MBA and a certification in Sustainability, Kevin also served as a Director on the Board of the Sustainability Management Association for four years until 2021.
    You can follow Kevin on his BLOG at www.SustainabilityX.com and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevincochran
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    1 hr and 3 mins