Titans of Foodservice

This week on the Titans of Food Service podcast, Nick Portillo speaks with Joe Prewett, CEO of Oregon Fruit Products. Nick and Joe explore the innovative strategies driving success in the food service industry today. With a robust background in marketing, Joe discusses his journey from the Bay Area to leading a renowned fruit brand, highlighting lessons learned from his time at Til

This week on the Titans of Food Service podcast, Nick Portillo speaks with Tom Boucher, CEO of Great New Hampshire Restaurants. Nick and Tom discuss the importance of employee recognition and engagement within the food service industry. With over 40 years of experience, Tom emphasizes how a robust reward system has transformed his business, allowing employees to recognize each othe

This week on the Titans of Food Service podcast, Nick Portillo speaks with celebrity baker Dana Herbert. With a background in both savory and pastry arts, Dana has made a name for himself not only in Delaware but also nationally, thanks to his appearances on shows like TLC's Cake Boss. Nick and Dana discuss the importance of mentorship and the unique challenges of running a bakery

This week on the Titans of Food Service podcast, Nick Portillo speaks with Michel Nischan, a four-time James Beard Award Winner and chef. Michel shares his journey from working on his grandfather's farm to becoming a celebrated chef and influential advocate for food equity and sustainability. Michel talks about co-founding Wholesome Wave and Wholesome Crave, and working with the la

This week on the Titans of Food Service podcast, Nick Portillo speaks with Mike Pilkington, CEO of KEY Sparkling Water, to discuss his diverse career journey from corporate management at Sysco Foods to entrepreneurship with Death Wish Coffee and now, KEY Sparkling Water. Mike shares insights on leadership, and resisting unionization, and underlines the importance of “beginning wi

This week on the Titans of Food Service podcast, Nick Portillo speaks with Richard Byers, President of Cash-Wa Distributing. Richard’s unique journey from working in an Italian restaurant in Philly to leading a major food distributor highlights his resilience and dedication to continuous learning. He talks about the ups and downs of his career, the challenges of closing facilitie

This week on the Titans of Food Service podcast, Nick Portillo speaks with John Miller, President and COO of Legacy Food Group. John Miller dives into the dynamics of the food service industry, discussing how he transitioned from banking into food distribution and the valuable lessons learned along the way. Nick and John discuss the significance of leveraging strong relationships,

This week on the Titans of Food Service podcast, Nick Portillo speaks with Sean Lyons, Managing Partner of Up Hospitality Partners. Sean shares his enriching journey from a finance graduate at Purdue University to becoming a prominent name in the Tennessee restaurant scene. Sean and Nick explore the practical aspects of finding investors, structuring deals, and the significance of

This week on the Titans of Food Service podcast, Nick Portillo speaks with Mike Bausch, Award-Winning Restaurateur & Certified Master Pizzaiolo. Mike shares his journey from law school dropout to owning twelve restaurants across seven brands. Nick and Mike discuss effective restaurant management, building a strong brand, and creating a thriving staff culture. Whether you’re a

This week on the Titans of Food Service podcast, Nick Portillo continues interviewing food service titans in his "Across America in 50 Weeks” series. Nick speaks with Chris Munz, Vice President of Growth at Voosh, a company offering data-driven tools aimed at optimizing profitability for restaurant owners. Nick and Chris explore the dynamic food scene in Maine and discuss Voosh's