Running Restaurants

Hosted by RunningRestaurants.com

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Episodes

272

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Running a restaurant is one of the most exhilarating yet challenging ventures out there. Every day, passionate restaurateurs pour their hearts into delivering dining experiences that both excite customers & simultaneously drive profits to the bottom line. But how can restaurants do both even better? Welcome to Running Restaurants, the podcast exploring actionable tips, valuable resources, and interesting insights every restaurant owner can easily implement in their own businesses. Whether you want your food venture to be more profitable, renowned, or enticing to many, we discuss every single strategy that could make your goals a reality. Tune in to insightful discussions with restaurant industry experts, business gurus, and food professionals about what it takes to bring your venture to the next level. Whether you are running a casual dining, quick service, table service, fine dining, or food bar, this podcast offers everything you need to hone the way you run your restaurant. Find out how to better market your place, increase your audience reach, and eventually turn your brand into a go-to or household name. Understand how to leverage the immense power of social media for your promotional campaigns in today’s ever-increasing digital world. Learn the best customer service strategies to keep everyone satisfied and longing for more. Discover how to develop your menu, keep it fresh and interesting, and make it suitable for a wide range of diets and food preferences. This podcast also explores the complex business aspects behind the scenes that require your utmost attention. Learn how to hire and maintain the most talented individuals, decrease food waste, eliminate internal theft, and comply with all legal matters to keep your restaurant up and running. Become more knowledgeable about finances and accounting, going in-depth about keeping restaurants highly profitable. Understand how to strike the perfect balance between good food and good revenue. This show provides solutions to the biggest and most common problems encountered by many in the restaurant industry. This is your chance to finally address low-profit margins, high food costs, and labor challenges. This is your opportunity to improve your business management tactics, staff training methods, and overall workplace culture. And of course, this is the best place to answer your technology and marketing questions, giving you a better edge in navigating the competition in this digital age. Hosting the podcast is Jaime Oikle, owner of the restaurant content provider Running Restaurants. Through this online website and its sister platforms, he is able to deliver valuable resources and the latest news to help restaurant owners constantly deliver outstanding local dining experiences for more than 25 years. His website contains more than 1200 articles and 75 hours of seminar or webinar sessions. Jaime’s reason for being is to help restaurant owners succeed and thrive. He is deeply passionate about providing as many resources as possible to guide them toward business success. Jaime leads every podcast episode with the goal of extracting the most helpful information and tips that prove useful in building and maintaining a well-rounded and efficient food venture. Whatever kind of restaurant you are running, equip yourself with the right knowledge to keep it up and running, as well as ensure its straight path towards success. Discover the latest, dive deep into the complexities, and win big in this difficult yet rewarding industry. And if some obstacles and hurdles hinder you from achieving the restaurant of your dreams, let Jaime reveal what you must do to get rid of the problems along your path. The biz is fun, yet far from easy, and this is the podcast to support and help you out! Listen to Running Restaurants at www.runningrestaurants.com .

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 2, 2026Episode 27126 min

Scrappy, Smart and Data-Driven: Inside the Growth of Teriyaki Madness With CMO Jodi Boyce

In this episode of the Running Restaurants podcast, host Jaime Oikle interviews Jodi Boyce, CMO of Teriyaki Madness. Jodi shares her unique career journey, from driving the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile to leading marketing at major restaurant brands. She discusses Teriyaki Madness's rapid growth to 215 locations across 41 states, their data-driven marketing approach, and loyalty program of 1.2 million members. The conversation also covers AI integration, franchisee partnerships, digital ordering (64% of orders), social media strategies, and app-based employee training, offering valuable insights for restaurant operators and marketers alike. Links: https://teriyakimadness.com/ - https://www.runningrestaurants.com/ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodiboyce/ ** Timestamps Jodi Boyce's First Job (00:00:48) Jodi discusses her unique first job out of college, driving the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile around the country for a year. Previous Restaurant Experience (00:01:50) Jodi shares her background with major restaurant brands like Quiznos during its rapid growth, Einstein Bros Bagels, and Smash Burger. The Teriyaki Madness Concept (00:02:21) An overview of the brand's menu, focusing on customizable, made-to-order teriyaki bowls with high-quality ingredients and fresh vegetables. Marketing the Healthy Options (00:03:55) Discussion on how fresh, daily-chopped vegetables and plant-based options like spicy tofu are a key differentiator for the brand. Brand Growth and Expansion (00:05:26) Jodi details the brand's rapid growth to over 215 locations in 41 states, with plans for continued expansion. Finding the Right Franchisees (00:06:25) The process of vetting and selecting franchisee partners who can follow a system, ensuring brand consistency across all locations. Scrappy, Data-Driven Marketing (00:08:20) How the brand uses a data-driven, scrappy mindset to make smart marketing decisions without large investor-backed budgets. Leveraging AI for Actionable Insights (00:09:44) Teriyaki Madness is using AI to analyze data and provide franchisees with actionable insights to improve profitability and operations. The AI-Generated Ad (00:13:04) Jodi explains the decision to create a fun, cost-effective, and intentionally unrealistic commercial using AI, fitting their brand's personality. Loyalty Program Strategy (00:14:30) How the brand grew its loyalty database to 1.2 million members, focusing on rewarding customers to earn their own rewards. Customer Communication Frequency (00:16:30) The strategy for contacting loyalty members, aiming for 4-6 targeted messages per month while monitoring unsubscribe rates. Modernizing Employee Training (00:17:23) The shift to short, app-based training modules to accommodate the shorter attention spans of younger employees and improve effectiveness. Social Media and Digital Ads (00:18:52) The brand's focus on Meta and TikTok for edgy, fun content and targeted social ads to track sales conversions. Managing Franchisee Social Media (00:20:11) Using a platform to provide guardrails and approve franchisee posts, ensuring a consistent brand voice across all location pages. The Rise of Digital Ordering (00:21:27) A discussion on how 64% of all orders originate digitally, with about 80% of food being for takeout. Personal Life Lessons (00:24:08) Jodi shares her personal philosophy of taking food seriously but not life, and the advice to not waste time on regrets. Sponsor Link: https://www.RestaurantFormula.com https://restaurant.mysamcart.com/products/

August 26, 2026Episode 27053 min

From Failure to Eight Restaurants: What Dan Simons Learned Building Founding Farmers

Dan Simons, co-founder of Founding Farmers, a farmer-owned restaurant group generating $100 million in annual sales across eight locations, joins Jaime Oikle, show host and RunningRestaurants.com founder. Dan candidly shares his journey from early failures, bankruptcy, and mental health struggles to building a thriving, values-driven business. He discusses Founding Farmers' unique farmer-equity model, strategic growth plans, and product innovations. The conversation also covers profitability challenges, AI tools transforming restaurant operations, mental health investment as good business practice, and Dan's commitment to mentoring underrepresented entrepreneurs. Learn more at https://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com and https://www.runningrestaurants.com Timestamps Introduction to Dan Simons and Founding Farmers (00:00:00) Dan introduces himself, his family, and the scale of his restaurant business, which includes 1500 employees and multiple concepts. Early Career Struggles and Personal Challenges (00:01:11) Dan discusses his first restaurant's failure, bankruptcy, living in a basement, and personal struggles with mental health and an eating disorder. The Farmer-Owned Business Model (00:05:10) Dan explains how Founding Farmers is majority-owned by American family farmers, which influences their long-term, quality-focused business strategy. Growth Strategy and Future Plans (00:08:28) Discussion on the company's growth, focusing on regional density, maintaining quality over scale, and expanding into direct-to-consumer products like chocolate. Navigating Restaurant Profitability (00:13:20) Dan addresses the increasing difficulty of profitability in the full-service restaurant industry and the need for innovation to adapt. Advice for New Restaurant Entrepreneurs (00:18:49) Dan encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to be brave but also to plan meticulously and be ready to adapt their initial playbook. Utilizing Technology and AI in Operations (00:21:46) Dan shares his positive experiences with native AI companies like Hermetic and Slang AI for improving sales and operational analytics. The Importance of People and Mental Health (00:27:47) Dan explains his philosophy on prioritizing employee mental health as a core business strategy to improve performance and ROI. Practical Steps for Supporting Employee Mental Health (00:32:01) Dan offers free, culture-based advice for leaders to support their teams, such as being open and human during shift meetings. Book Recommendations for Operators (00:36:15) Dan recommends several books, including "Smart Brevity" for communication and others focused on psychology's role in business and hospitality. Teaching Entrepreneurship at George Washington University (00:37:44) Dan talks about his experience as an adjunct professor, what he teaches, and what he learns from the younger generation. Mentoring Female and Minority Entrepreneurs (00:39:30) Dan discusses his passion for giving back by mentoring entrepreneurs who face greater challenges in the industry. The "Founding D.C." Podcast (00:42:28) Dan describes his podcast, where he interviews founders from the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area to uncover their real stories. "Our Last Straw" Non-Profit Initiative (00:43:50) Dan explains his pre-COVID non-profit work focused on creating practical, affordable, and sustainable alternatives to plastic straws for restaurants. Sponsor Link: https://servicewithstyle.com/runningrestaurants https://restaurant.mysamcart.com/products/

August 19, 2026Episode 26936 min

Why Restaurant Employees Stay - and Why They Leave: With Rushi Patel

Rushi Patel, co-founder of Homebase joins Running Restaurants founder & show host, Jaime Oikle, to talk about managing restaurant staff effectively. Drawing from a workplace survey of over 3.5 million hourly workers, Rushi reveals that while pay attracts employees, community, culture, and strong management drive retention. He highlights how AI is increasingly helping operators streamline scheduling and payroll, freeing managers to focus on human connection. Rushi also debunks the myth that employees only care about wages and emphasizes investing in relationships, especially during an employee's first 30 days, as key to reducing costly turnover. Highlights include... - Challenges in managing restaurant staff - Insights from Homebase's workplace report on employee retention and turnover - Importance of pay, community, culture, and management in employee satisfaction - The role of AI technology in restaurant operations - Differences in AI adoption between restaurant operators and hourly employees - The impact of managerial relationships on employee retention - Metrics for effective labor management in restaurants - The significance of scheduling practices for employee satisfaction - Recommendations for books related to hospitality and local business management - Encouragement for restaurant operators to utilize technology tools for business improvement Links: - https://www.joinhomebase.com/ - https://www.joinhomebase.com/blog/local-workplace-pulse - https://www.runningrestaurants.com/ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rushipatel-gsd/ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimeoikle/ Sponsor Link: https://www.theleasecoach.com Sponsor Link: https://servicewithstyle.com/runningrestaurants

August 13, 2026Episode 26840 min

Lessons on Leadership, Growth and the Exit: Darren Spicer of 110 Ventures

RunningRestaurants.com founder and podcast host Jaime Oikle interviews Darren Spicer, founder of Clutch Coffee Bar and 110 Ventures. Darren shares his journey from working at Dutch Bros at 18 to building and selling Clutch Coffee Bar back to Dutch Bros. Through seven impactful quotes from Kobe Bryant, Mark Cuban, Simon Sinek, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Ray Lewis, Darren discusses leadership, work ethic, servant leadership, and entrepreneurship. He also covers scaling a drive-through coffee brand, capturing customer data, developing young leaders, and his current ventures, including an energy drink, a BBQ rub, and a remote staffing agency. Introduction (00:00:00) Darren Spicer, founder of Clutch Coffee Bar, and previews the episode's leadership topics. Darren's Journey with Clutch Coffee Bar (01:26) Darren discusses Clutch Coffee Bar's acquisition by Dutch Bros, where he worked in his youth, and his current consulting work. The Meaning Behind 110 Ventures (03:25) Darren explains the name of his company, 110 Ventures, representing the extra 10% effort they bring to clients. Quote 1: Kobe Bryant on Sacrifice (04:08) Darren discusses a Kobe Bryant quote about the sacrifices necessary to achieve greatness and the importance of a relentless work ethic. Quote 2: Kobe Bryant on Laziness (06:20) A second Kobe Bryant quote is shared about not relating to lazy people and being allergic to doing the bare minimum. Growth Challenges: From One to Many Locations (07:18) Darren talks about the challenges of expanding Clutch Coffee Bar, especially entering new markets and building brand awareness from scratch. The Importance of Customer Experience (09:03) The conversation covers the obsession with customer service, guerrilla marketing, and creating a memorable experience to drive repeat business. Capturing Customer Data (10:35) Darren explains his strategy for capturing customer data during grand openings to build loyalty and enable targeted marketing efforts. Quote 3: Mark Cuban on Failure (13:19) A Mark Cuban quote is discussed, emphasizing that you only have to be right once, no matter how many times you fail. Lessons from Selling the Business (15:08) Darren shares insights from the process of selling Clutch Coffee Bar, highlighting the critical importance of real estate in acquisitions. Quote 4: Simon Sinek on Servant Leadership (17:42) Darren introduces a Simon Sinek quote about leadership being about taking care of those in your charge, not being in charge. Developing Young Leaders (19:21) The discussion shifts to the responsibility of teaching life skills and building confidence in young employees, illustrated with a success story. Darren's Current Business Ventures (22:05) Darren details his current projects, including an energy drink, a coffee-infused BBQ rub, and a remote staffing agency. How to Manage Multiple Projects (24:20) Darren shares his methods for staying organized and managing multiple businesses, emphasizing delegation and the help of a remote assistant. Quote 5: Simon Sinek on Leaders Eating Last (25:26) Another Simon Sinek quote is shared, reinforcing the concept of servant leadership by taking care of your team first. Quote 6: Gary Vaynerchuk on Winning (26:30) Darren discusses a Gary Vaynerchuk quote about surrounding yourself with people who are driven and want to win. Mentoring Student Athletes (29:27) Darren talks about his volunteer work mentoring student athletes at the University of Oregon, helping them navigate life and careers. Quote 7: Ray Lewis on Attitude and Effort (32:03) The final quote from Ray Lewis highlights that attitude and effort are the two things you can always control in life. Final Advice for Entrepreneurs (33:57) Darren encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to act now, have a plan, and not be afraid to fail, viewing setbacks as learning opportunities. Book Recommendation: Positively Outrageous Service (36:16) https://www.110-ventures.com. Sponsor Link: https://servicewithstyle.com/runningrestaurants Sponsor Link: https://www.RestaurantFormula.com

August 6, 2026Episode 26729 min

What Restaurant Employees Really Want in 2026 - With Jordan Boesch

We welcome back Jordan Boesch, CEO of 7Shifts, to discuss their 2026 report "What Restaurant Employees Want". Key findings reveal that understaffing remains the top employee stressor, great coworkers matter more than pay, and offered benefits often mismatch what employees actually value. Jordan emphasizes the power of manager recognition and strong team culture in driving retention. The conversation also touches on AI in restaurant operations, stressing the importance of solving real problems rather than adopting technology for its own sake. Key highlights Included... - Overview of the 2026 report "What Restaurant Employees Want" by 7Shifts. - Key factors affecting restaurant employee satisfaction, including staffing and team dynamics. - Importance of offering relevant benefits that align with employee preferences. - The role of manager recognition in boosting employee morale and retention. - Discussion on the impact of understaffing as a major stressor for employees. - Insights on how positive workplace culture can enhance employee engagement. - Exploration of the use of AI in restaurant operations and product development. - Emphasis on solving real customer problems with AI rather than using it for its own sake. - Examples of creative benefits tailored to different employee demographics. - The significance of open communication and feedback mechanisms in understanding employee needs. Be sure to visit... - https://www.7shifts.com/ - https://www.7shifts.com/what-restaurant-employees-want/ - https://www.runningrestaurants.com/ - https://www.facebook.com/RunningRestaurants - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimeoikle - https://www.twitter.com/jaimeoikle - https://www.instagram.com/jaimeoikle/ Sponsor Link: https://servicewithstyle.com/runningrestaurants Sponsor Link: https://www.theleasecoach.com

July 23, 2026Episode 26636 min

Strategies to Strengthen Your Restaurant Leadership Team

In this episode of the Running Restaurants podcast, host Jaime Oikle sits down with Alison Anne (Restaurant Revolution) and Darren Denington (Service with Style), co-presenters of the Restaurant Management 201 and 301 workshop series. Together, they share practical strategies for strengthening restaurant leadership teams, including building clear org charts, defining roles and responsibilities, establishing consistent communication systems, and conducting meaningful one-on-one check-ins. They also discuss recruiting, leadership development, and mentoring future managers. The episode wraps up with details about their hands-on workshops, available at major restaurant industry trade shows across California, Florida, and New York. Highlights included: - Assessing and organizing restaurant leadership teams using an organizational chart. - Clarifying roles and responsibilities within the leadership team. - Establishing effective communication methods among team members. - Importance of regular meetings to align on expectations and standards. - Conducting brief one-on-one check-ins with staff to build relationships. - Strategies for recruiting and hiring effective leadership team members. - Developing leaders within the restaurant through mentorship and structured practices. - Importance of consistent management practices and accountability. - Overview of workshop series "Restaurant Management 201" and "Restaurant Management 301." - Focus on actionable steps for improving restaurant operations and leadership effectiveness. Find out more at: - https://restaurantmanagement201.com - https://servicewithstyle.com - https://www.restaurantrevolution.me - https://www.runningrestaurants.com https://restaurant.mysamcart.com/products/

July 14, 2026Episode 2651 hr 3 min

The New Era of Restaurant Marketing Is Built on Hospitality, AI, and Guest Data

Guest Brett Linkletter, CEO of Dishio speaks with RunningRestaurants.com founder Jaime Oikle about how AI and data-driven marketing are transforming the restaurant industry. Brett explains how restaurants can prove marketing ROI using Google and Meta advertising, collect first-party customer data through QR codes, and leverage automation for personalized outreach. He also discusses Dishio's upcoming reservation platform, hyper-personalization through AI, and future innovations like dynamic pricing and AR menus. Brett emphasizes that despite technological advances, genuine hospitality must remain at the core of the restaurant experience. Episode Highlights include: - Challenges in demonstrating return on investment (ROI) from restaurant marketing spend. - Comparison of advertising platforms: Google vs. Meta (Facebook/Instagram) for customer acquisition and retention. - Importance of collecting first-party customer data through digital tools. - Effective marketing tactics for tracking ROI in restaurants. - Use of AI for personalized ad campaigns based on customer behavior. - Strategies for capturing customer information during in-person visits. - The role of automation in marketing and customer engagement. - Future trends in restaurant technology, including hyper-personalization and dynamic pricing. - Insights on the importance of hospitality in the restaurant industry. - Advice for independent restaurants on starting marketing efforts with limited budgets. For more: https://get.dish.io/ and https://www.runningrestaurants.com/ https://restaurant.mysamcart.com/products/ Sponsor Link: https://www.theleasecoach.com

June 29, 2026Episode 26445 min

How a Mutiny Transformed My Leadership With Geoffrey Toffetti

RR host Jaime Oikle sits down with Geoffrey Toffetti, CEO of Frontline Performance Group, to explore seven impactful quotes shaping his leadership philosophy. Jeffrey shares insights from his career in hospitality, discussing themes of loyalty, commitment, trust, and long-term thinking. He reflects on early career struggles, including a team mutiny that transformed his leadership approach. The conversation also highlights how AI is revolutionizing hospitality through personalized staff coaching and data-driven insights. Geoffrey emphasizes people-first leadership, goal setting, and building trust as cornerstones of effective management in a global, fast-evolving industry. Learn more at https://frontlinepg.com/ and https://www.runningrestaurants.com/ Key highlights include: - The importance of loyalty and team cohesion in leadership. - Goal setting and its role in achieving success and direction. - Integration of technology and AI in enhancing service and sales in hospitality. - The significance of trust and relationship-building in leadership. - The impact of personal experiences and early career challenges on leadership development. - The role of empathy and self-reflection in effective leadership. - Long-term thinking versus short-term gains in business decisions. - Strategies for attracting and retaining talent in the hospitality industry. - And more... - https://frontlinepg.com/ - https://www.runningrestaurants.com/ https://restaurant.mysamcart.com/products/ Sponsor Link: https://www.RestaurantFormula.com

June 11, 2026Episode 26326 min

AI, Ordering, and Customer Relationships: Tips for Restaurant Operators

Running Restaurants Founder Jaime Oikle speaks with Stephen Klein, co-founder and CEO of Saivory, about how AI is transforming the restaurant industry. Stephen explains how Saivory helps restaurants reduce reliance on costly third-party platforms like DoorDash by improving first-party ordering experiences through natural language AI prompts. The conversation covers the importance of owning customer data, personalized marketing, AI-driven smart landing pages, and an agent AI platform that delivers real-time marketing recommendations. Stephen also discusses the shifting customer discovery landscape and the need for restaurants to future-proof their digital presence. They hit on... - The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the restaurant industry. - Challenges faced by restaurants with third-party ordering platforms. - The significance of first-party data for customer loyalty and marketing. - Simplifying the ordering process through AI and natural language prompts. - The evolution of customer discovery and search behavior influenced by AI. - Strategies for restaurants to optimize their digital presence and marketing. - The importance of personalized marketing based on customer data. - The role of smart landing pages in improving conversion rates. - Opportunities for integrated marketing platforms in the restaurant tech space. - The future of AI in enhancing restaurant operations and customer experiences. Find out more at https://saivory.com/ and https://www.runningrestaurants.com/ https://restaurant.mysamcart.com/products/ Sponsor Link: https://servicewithstyle.com/runningrestaurants

April 22, 2026Episode 26253 min

Roger Beaudoin: Seven Leadership & Life Lessons

Jaime interviews Roger Beaudoin, a veteran hospitality entrepreneur and host of the podcast Restaurant Rockstars. The conversation explores Roger's journey from aspiring pilot to restaurant leader, focusing on seven quotes that shaped his life and leadership. Roger shares personal stories about overcoming setbacks, embracing risk, empowering teams, and balancing work with family and passions. The episode offers practical leadership advice, insights on lifelong learning, and reflections on supporting others' growth - both in business and at home - while emphasizing the importance of living fully and evolving at any age. Roger offers actionable insights for anyone seeking to lead, grow, and live with purpose. Whether you're a business owner, aspiring leader, or simply looking to live more intentionally, these insights will help you chart your own path to success and fulfillment. Check out Jaime & Roger's new Mastermind Program for Independent Restaurant Operators at https://www.runningrestaurants.com/mastermind/