Take-Away with Sam Oches

May 16 2024
Take-Away with Sam Oches Podcast artwork

Hosted by Nation’s Restaurant News’ editor in chief, Take-Away with Sam Oches features interviews with CEOs and founders of restaurant companies big and small, sharing their stories and ideas for the future but also real, tangible insights for how to innovate in our foodservice future. Each episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches provides key take-aways from Oches’ interviews, with on-the-go observations about how each leader’s strategy fits within the broader foodservice context and what actionable insights you should be applying to your own business.

RSS feed Share
Copy RSS


Subscribe on Podcast Addict


L&L Hawaiian BBQ, Blaze Pizza CEOs share strategies for striking while the iron is hot

May 16 2024 34 mins  
In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam first talks with Elisia Flores, CEO of L&L Hawaiian BBQ, and then Beto Guajardo, CEO of Blaze Pizza, in person at the Restaurant Leadership Conference in Phoenix. These two CEOs get to the heart of what it takes to be the leader of a restaurant brand at a time when the challenges are many and the change is frequent

Two marketing experts teach us how to build an influencer campaign

May 09 2024 39 mins  
In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Dan Bejmuk, CEO and cofounder of the marketing firm Dreambox, and Lena Katz, principal creative with Variable Content. Dan and Lena each work closely with social media influencers, and Dan shares some thoughts on why restaurants should consider influencer marketing, plus some do’s and don’ts in building a cam

Why you should attend the biggest restaurant event in the U.S.

May 06 2024 15 mins  
In this special episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, NRN’s editor-in-chief talks with Tom Cindric, president of the National Restaurant Association Show. This year’s Show is held at Chicago’s McCormick Place this May 18-21, and Tom shares more about why restaurant leaders should attend this annual event, what’s new at the Show this year, how attendees can optimize their tim

Jack in the Box and the secret to marketing magic

May 02 2024 35 mins  
In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Ryan Ostrom, CMO for Jack in the Box. Recently named to NRN’s Power List of marketers and influencers, Ryan has been the driving force behind Jack in the Box’s CRAVED strategy, in which the brand focuses on being cultural, relevant, authentic, visible, easy, and distinctive to the guest. He joined the po

How social media influencers can help your restaurant

Apr 26 2024 43 mins  
In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Kate Finley, founder and CEO of Belle Communication, a PR and social media firm that is particularly focused on influencer campaigns. Kate joined the podcast to talk about influencer marketing and how restaurants can properly tap into this creative community in an authentic and profitable way.In this conversation, you

Why this 154-year-old family ice cream business still makes its product by hand

Apr 18 2024 39 mins  
In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Chip Graeter, head of retail operations for Graeter’s Ice Cream, a 154-year-old creamery out of Cincinnati that has 56 shops in five states. Alongside his brother and cousin, Chip is part of the Graeter family’s fourth generation to lead this iconic brand, and he joined the podcast to share some of the secrets to

How Yum Brands is working toward gender parity

Apr 11 2024 23 mins  
In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam turns the reins over to NRN executive editor Alicia Kelso, who spoke in-person with Yum Brands’ Chief Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Officer, James Fripp. Alicia was in Dallas for the annual Women’s Foodservice Forum Leadership Conference and had a chance to connect in person with James to discuss Yum’s diversity, equit

How chef Sean Brock + fast casual = success at scale

Apr 04 2024 50 mins  
In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Nick Pihakis, founder and CEO of Pihakis Restaurant Group, a Birmingham, Ala.-based portfolio with six distinct concepts. That includes Rodney Scott’s BBQ, with the renowned pitmaster out of Charleston, S.C., and most recently Joyland, a fast casual concept in partnership with James Beard Aw

Meet Lauren Fernandez, the investor supporting small businesses

Mar 28 2024 56 mins  
In this encore episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam reshares a conversation with Lauren Fernandez, founder and CEO of the investment firm Full Course. Lauren joined Sam in person last summer to share her tips for emerging brands looking to secure capital and her thoughts on how to get more women and minorities involved in foodservice leadershi

&pizza gets back to its roots as founder Michael Lastoria passes the reins to new CEO Mike Burns

Mar 21 2024 23 mins  
Washington, D.C.-based company &pizza is known for being an unconventional brand, from its oblong pies with quirky toppings, to its texting-only “Pizza Plug” hotline and political messaging. Although the emerging brand was once a significant part of the foodservice cultural zeitgeist (cofounder Michael Lastoria was named to NRN’s 2021 Power List), the company has been fai