Fast Casual Nation

Fast Casual Nation

Join the longest-running and most influential podcast in the fast-casual restaurant industry. Hosted by Paul Barron, the founder of fastcasual.com, the Top 100, and the Fast Casual Executive Summit. Joining him as Co-Host is Cherryh Cansler, Sr. Editor of Fastcasual.com. This team has reunited after over a decade to deliver unparalleled insights into the trends and future direction of the fast-casual sector. Each week, they will share their deep knowledge gained from over two decades as a leading voices in this dynamic segment of the restaurant business. Paul literally wrote the book on fast casual, "The Chipotle Effect" " along with the documentary Fast Casual Nation, and Cherryh has been a driving force for the growth of Fastcasual.com over the past decade.

Episodes

September 25, 2025 50 mins
Tony Lamb, CEO and founder of Kona Ice, reveals how he built the world's largest mobile food empire with 2,200 franchise trucks across three brands: Kona Ice, Traveling Tom's, and Beverly Ann's. In this Fast Casual Nation episode, Lamb breaks down his unconventional flat-fee royalty model ($3,000/year vs. percentage-based), vertical integration strategy that includes in-house truck manufacturing, proprietary technology platform, an...
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Discover how Chicken Salad Chick CEO Scott Deviney transformed a 32-location startup into a 309-unit fast-casual empire in under a decade. In this Fast Casual Nation episode, Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler dive deep into the brand's franchise growth strategies, operational advantages, and expansion secrets. Learn about their "category of one" positioning, market adaptability across demographics, and future growth plans targeting 1...
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Lime Fresh Mexican Grill CEO Patrick Fore joins Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler to discuss the brand's dramatic transformation, including a 30% menu overhaul, innovative partnerships with artisanal brands like Tabanero hot sauce, and ambitious franchise expansion plans targeting 50 units over two years. Fore reveals how the 21-year-old concept is winning Gen Z customers through strategic scarcity, reintrodu...
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Kansas City's Longboards Wraps and Bowls joins Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler to share their incredible growth story from startup to 8 locations and 130 employees. Founder Gilbert Macapagal discusses his Filipino-inspired menu, innovative Shaka Pop beverage line, and authentic brand approach that's resonating with suburban markets. The team reveals their franchise expansion plans, digital strategy generati...
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Cory Hibbard, President of Graze Craze, reveals how his charcuterie-focused fast-casual brand achieved 14 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth while QSR giants struggle. Operating from small 500-1,000 sq ft locations, Graze Craze has scaled to nearly 100 units in under 5 years by focusing on corporate catering and premium boards that solve dining challenges for businesses and consumers seeking elevated food experiences w...
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This episode is brought to you by KRAFT Philadelphia Cream Cheese
Visit https://bit.ly/Kraft-FCN

Join Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler as they sit down with Joey Cioffi, founder and CEO of The Salad House, to explore his inspiring journey from working in his family's pizzeria to building one of the industry's most promising health-focused franchise concepts. Recently named to Fast Casual's 2025 Top 100 Movers ...
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August 13, 2025 36 mins
This episode is brought to you by KRAFT Philadelphia Cream Cheese
Visit https://bit.ly/Kraft-FCN

La Madeleine French Bakery & Café CEO John Dillon joins Fast Casual Nation to discuss the 43-year-old brand's strategic renaissance, including their game-changing $8.99 Pick Three value offering, expansion beyond Texas into 11 states, and how they're doubling down on French authenticity to stand out in a crowded fast-casual market gro...
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Why are tacos taking over America's fast-casual scene? From corner food trucks to billion-dollar chains, the taco industry is exploding—and there's no sign of slowing down.
In this episode, we sit down with Brooke Perry, VP of Marketing at Velvet Taco, one of the hottest names in the fast-casual taco space. Brooke breaks down exactly what's fueling this incredible growth and why consumers can't get enough of elevated taco experience...
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DIG's CMO Jessica Serrano reveals how the chef-driven fast-casual chain rebuilt its brand identity, scaled from Manhattan to suburban markets, and leveraged AI for better customer insights. Learn about their hyper-local marketing strategy, loyalty program transformation, and unique chef-operator model that maintains scratch-cooking quality across 33+ locations while expanding beyond urban cores.

This episode brought to you by: INFI ...
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The self-service kiosk industry is exploding from $12 billion to $21 billion by 2027, and Don McCoole from Infi USA reveals how restaurants are seeing 40% sales increases through AI-powered upselling. From food trucks to major chains, kiosks are solving labor shortages, boosting average tickets by 20-30%, and delivering ROI in just 4-5 days. Discover why Gen Z prefers kiosks, how one location doubled tips from 8% to 14%, and the ga...
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Derrick Hayes, CEO of Big Dave's Cheesesteaks, shares his incredible journey from a postal worker to building a fast-casual empire in this inspiring Fast Casual Nation episode. Named after his late father, Big Dave's has grown from a single location with a broken grill to 7 stores and 15 franchise locations, ranking #6 on Fast Casual Magazine's emerging brands list. Hayes discusses his strategic approach to franchising, innovative ...
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Join Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler as they interview Lorena Cantarovici, founder and CEO of Maria Empanada, who transformed $300 into a thriving multi-unit fast-casual empire. From her challenging beginnings as an Argentine immigrant working in Denver restaurants to building a scalable empanada concept that employs over 60 people, Cantarovici's story showcases the power of authentic ethnic cuisine in the ...
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July 2, 2025 46 mins
Join Fast Casual Nation host Paul Barron as he interviews Craig Avera, founder and CEO of Cali Coffee, a Florida-based drive-thru coffee chain that's doubled from 13 to 20+ locations by focusing on exceptional customer service and operational excellence. Discover how Cali Coffee competes with Starbucks and Dunkin' through strategic real estate positioning, achieving an impressive 85% drive-thru sales mix and 90% loyalty program par...
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June 25, 2025 62 mins
Join Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler as they interview Amanda Kahalehoe, COO of Vicious Biscuit, who shares how her Marine Corps background shaped the rapid growth of this unique breakfast concept from 2 to 10 locations. Discover how they've cracked the code on bringing full-service hospitality to fast-casual with their signature biscuit menu, innovative "five table touches" service model, and military-prec...
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In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Preet Paul Singh, partner of Houston-based bōl, to explore his fascinating journey from fine dining to fast casual. Singh shares how his team leveraged their culinary expertise from acclaimed restaurant Amrina to create two interconnected fast-casual concepts—bōl (Indian-inspired rice bowls and salads) and Pakpok Poe (elevated fried chicken)—...
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Bonchon CEO Suzie Tsai reveals how Korean fried chicken is taking over Middle America, with explosive growth from 150 to 500 planned U.S. locations. Discover the tech stack secrets driving higher sales through kiosks, why Gen Z customers are obsessed with authentic Korean flavors, and how this female CEO is revolutionizing the fast-casual space with bold expansion into unexpected markets like Arkansas and Utah. Plus, get insider in...
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Join Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler as they dive deep into the $243 billion functional beverage market with Noah Burgess, Research & Development Scientist at Juice It Up! Discover how science-driven menu innovation is revolutionizing the fast-casual industry, from plant-based smoothies under 200 calories to profitable boost add-ons that 35-45% of customers choose. Learn the secrets behind developing In...
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Slim Chickens CEO Tom Gordon reveals how Gen Z's snacking behavior is revolutionizing the fast-casual industry and why his 300+ store chicken chain is betting big on AI drive-thru technology. In this explosive Fast Casual Nation episode, Gordon breaks down the shift from traditional dining to all-day snacking, shares insider secrets about achieving $3,000+ hour volumes with hand-battered chicken, and explains why burger brands are ...
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Join Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler as they explore fast casual's global expansion with brands like Teriyaki Madness and Mason's Famous Lobster making international debuts. Discover how beverage innovation—from craft mocktails to full bars—is reshaping the segment while fast casual continues to outperform both QSR and casual dining in same-store sales. The hosts analyze Chili's strategic positioning against QSR, discuss the $20+ h...
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In this engaging Fast Casual Nation episode, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler interview Josh Spiegelman of Roam Artisan Burgers about transforming the better burger segment. Discover how this six-location Bay Area concept balances premium sourcing (100% grass-fed beef, free-range turkey) with accessible pricing while innovating through Web3 loyalty, thoughtful store design, and sustainability initiatives. Spiegelman reveals ho...
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