From Dishwashing to a Burger Empire: The Success Story of Matthew Rollo

In this episode, Phillip Di Bella sits down with Matthew Rollo, the founder of Hashtag Burgers and Waffles, to explore his inspiring journey in the hospitality industry. Starting as a dishwasher at 14, Matthew’s career grew from washing dishes to managing his own multi-location burger business. The conversation covers the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, his strategic approach to growing the business, and his insights on leadership, work ethic, and creating a customer-driven brand.

Key Topics and Themes:

• The Long Road to Success: Matthew shares his start in hospitality, beginning with dishwashing at 14 and working through various roles before launching Hashtag Burgers and Waffles.
• Strategic Growth: Matthew explains the importance of learning the business inside-out before expanding, and how he carefully scaled from one store to four, with a focus on systems and technology.
• Resilience in the Face of Challenges: The discussion highlights the challenges of opening his first store just before the COVID-19 pandemic and how he turned this obstacle into an opportunity.
• Customer and Employee Engagement: Matthew talks about building a menu that sparks memories for customers and fostering a positive, involved work culture.
• The Power of Planning: Emphasising the importance of planning, Matthew offers advice for young entrepreneurs on the necessity of patience, strategy, and resilience in building a successful business.

About Our Guest: Matthew Rollo is the founder of Hashtag Burgers and Waffles, a Brisbane-based burger chain known for its creative menu and strong connection with customers. Starting his career as a dishwasher at 14, Matthew worked his way through the hospitality industry, gaining a wealth of experience before launching his own business. Today, Hashtag Burgers and Waffles operates four locations, with plans for further expansion through franchising.

Key Takeaways:

• Success is built over time: Matthew stresses that success doesn’t happen overnight. His story is a testament to patience, learning, and persistence.
• Focus on systems: Developing strong systems and embracing technology has been crucial to scaling his business.
• Embrace failure: Matthew encourages entrepreneurs to learn from their mistakes and use them to grow.
• Customer connection: Building a menu with nostalgic touches and actively engaging with customers can create strong emotional ties to a brand.
• Support and mentorship: Having the right mentors and seeking guidance can significantly aid business growth.

Links and Resources:

• Hashtag Burgers and Waffles
• The Coffee Commune
• Restoke

Time-Stamped Key Points:

• [00:00:00] – Introduction to the episode and the new "Success Stories" series.
• [00:01:00] – Phillip introduces Matthew and shares the vision behind the series.
• [00:02:00] – Matthew begins by discussing his start in hospitality at 14, dishwashing, and working in various roles to learn the industry.
• [00:05:00] – Key takeaway: "Not an overnight success"—the importance of learning and growing from the ground up.
• [00:07:00] – Matthew shares how he started Hashtag Burgers with just $2,000 and strategic thinking.
• [00:09:00] – Lessons from failures and how to adapt and pivot in business.
• [00:12:00] – Creating a customer-centred menu with nostalgic elements like the Milo shake.
• [00:16:00] – Opening the first store just before COVID-19 and using his experience with delivery platforms to survive the lockdown.
• [00:19:00] – The importance of systems and technology in scaling up to four stores.
• [00:22:00] – Matthew’s future plans: Expanding Hashtag B