Dive into the complete episode list for The Pre-Shift. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Pub. Date
Title
Duration
01 Oct 2020
Simple Restaurant Marketing Plan for 2023 (Blog Audio Series #1)
00:18:36
In this episode of 7shifts Audio Series we explore how restaurants can create a new, upgraded marketing plan and gain a competitive edge in 2021. As we all know, 2020 has been a difficult year for everyone — especially those in the restaurant industry — but a strong marketing plan will help you get back on track.
Download the marketing plan in PDF format - bit.ly/33A4jdp
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
A restaurant interview can take many forms – a group interview, an open interview, or a scheduled one-on-one interview, to name a few. No matter the setting, having poise, being authentic, exuding confidence, and articulating knowledge will help you stand out from other candidates.
Dew Smith, the Brand Strategist at 7shifts, shares 12 restaurant interview questions you might be asked to answer, as well as some guidelines on how to answer them to help you prepare for your interview.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
29 Apr 2021
Episode #04: Jensen Cummings, Founder of Best Served Creative
00:30:07
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
Welcome to the 7shifts Restaurant Growth Podcast, where sit down with the best minds in the restaurant industry to inspire you with new ways to improve your business. On this episode, Jensen Cummings, chef, and creator of Best Served Creative, chats about the labor shortage and what red flags to look for when looking for jobs in the restaurant industry.
The 7shifts Restaurant Growth Podcast is hosted by Dominick "D.J." Costantino, 7shifts' Content Writer.
About Jensen Cummings Jensen Cummings is a fifth-generation Chef & Certified Cicerone, based in Denver, CO.. His brands Best Served Creative and Best Served Podcast are working tirelessly in the pursuit of valuing and focusing on Why and Who before what and how for the Hospitality Industry. Their mission is to advance acknowledgment of our purpose and our people through storytelling, marketing and evolving the business model of restaurants and F&B hospitality.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
17 Sep 2021
Carl Orsbourn and Meredith Sandland, authors of Delivering the Digital Restaurant | S1E9
00:29:19
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
For our tenth episode, we welcome the authors of Delivering the Digital Restaurant, Carl Osbourn and Meredith Sandland. Delivering The Digital Restaurant explores the world of off premise food and the massive disruption facing American restaurants through first-hand accounts of restaurateurs, food industry veterans, and start up entrepreneurs. We chat about how the book came about, who it's for, and how technology can help restaurant during the labor crisis.
The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts, and hosted by Dominick "DJ" Costantino.
About Meredith Sandland
Spent two decades in consulting, corporate strategy, and restaurant development. After building 1000+ restaurants as the Chief Development Officer at Yum! Brands’ Taco Bell, Meredith observed that the on-demand economy was starting to affect restaurants. Meredith joined ghost kitchen start-up Kitchen United as employee #4 to create their business model, raise initial capital, and serve as the public face of the GV (Google Ventures) backed disruptor. Meredith lives in Orange County, California with her three favorite guys: husband, Scott; son, Lincoln; and dog, Kobe.
About Carl Osbourn
Carl led BP-owned ampm and its billion-dollar grab-and go food and beverage offering across the brand’s 1000+ convenience retail locations. At BP, Carl obsessed over consumer convenience, and transformed ampm’s fresh food offerings to deliver record growth. In 2018, Carl joined
Kitchen United to lead Operations, working with restaurant brands to reinvent an operating system that capitalized on the rapidly changing face of
food delivery. Carl, his wife Elicia, and their two cats, Positano and Ravello, live in Orange County, California.
About 7shifts
7shifts is a team management platform designed for restaurants. We help managers and operators spend less time and effort scheduling their staff, reduce their monthly labor costs and streamline team communication. The result is simplified labor management, one shift at a time.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
01 Feb 2021
How to Conduct a Restaurant Feasibility Study (Blog Audio #5)
00:15:27
In this episode, we’ll define a feasibility study, outline the sections restaurant feasibility should have, and identify the best practices you should follow when conducting one.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
15 Jul 2021
Episode #07: Danny Meyer, Founder of Union Square Hospitality Group
01:04:09
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
We have a very special episode to share with you all, featuring the one and only Danny Meyer. We had the pleasure of hosting Danny (virtually) in our offices for a fireside chat with our CEO, Jordan Boesch. Danny went over his career, philosophy on hiring for his teams, the state of the restaurant industry, the early days of restaurant technology, and answered some questions from our team. It's an episode that you don't want to miss. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
About Danny Meyer Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Danny Meyer grew up in a family that relished great food and hospitality. Thanks to his father’s travel business, which designed custom European trips, Danny spent much of his childhood eating, visiting near and far-off places, and sowing the seeds for his future passion. In 1985, at the age of 27, Danny opened his first restaurant, Union Square Cafe, launching what would become a lifelong career in hospitality.
Thirty years later, Danny’s Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG) comprises some of New York’s most beloved and acclaimed restaurants, including Gramercy Tavern, The Modern, Maialino, and more. Danny and USHG founded Shake Shack, the modern-day “roadside” burger restaurant, which became a public company in 2015. USHG also offers large-scale event services, foodservice solutions for public and private institutions, industry consulting, and educational programming.
Under Danny’s leadership, USHG is renowned not only for its acclaimed restaurants but also for its distinctive and celebrated culture of Enlightened Hospitality. This guiding principle of prioritizing employees first and foremost has driven and shaped USHG’s ongoing evolution from a small group of restaurants into a multi-faceted hospitality organization.
Danny and USHG’s diverse ventures have added to the hospitality dialogue in many contexts including dining options in museums, sports arenas, and cultural institutions, as well as prescient investments in burgeoning neighborhoods.
Danny’s groundbreaking business book, Setting the Table (HarperCollins, 2006), a New York Times Bestseller, articulates a set of signature business and life principles that translate to a wide range of industries. A celebrated speaker and educator, Danny has set industry standards in areas such as hiring practices, innovative leadership, and corporate responsibility and addresses a wide range of audiences on such topics around the country.
Danny has been generously recognized for his leadership, business achi
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
23 Oct 2020
How to Create a Restaurant Staff Training Manual (Blog Audio #2)
00:17:02
In this episode of 7shifts Audio Series we are going to explore how to create a comprehensive restaurant staff training manual. It will be everyone’s guide for instructions, processes and all the answers to common questions, while being a great reference point to ensure staff feel engaged and supported.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
28 Jun 2021
Restaurant Task Management: How to Communicate Tasks to Staff (Blog Audio #8)
00:11:48
Now that guests are coming back into your restaurant, it means there are more tables to clean, more guests to attend to, and more side work to complete.
The problem of restaurant task management is not a new one. Restaurateurs named employee engagement their third-biggest challenge going into 2020, meaning that figuring out how to keep your staff productive and motivated has been (and continues to be) a top priority in the restaurant industry.
In this episode, we’ll help you answer that question. Keep listening for our tips on making your staff more efficient and ensuring no task is left incomplete when you go home for the day.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
06 Aug 2021
Rachael Nemeth, Co-founder and CEO of Opus | S1E8
00:26:51
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
How do you train a deskless workforce with modern technology? Through our great uniter—the text message. We welcome Rachael Nemeth, Co-founder and CEO of Opus Training on the show to discuss Opus' text message-based learning platform for frontline workers, onboarding and training the deskless workforce, and how a great training program can help keep employees around.
The 7shifts Restaurant Growth Podcast is hosted by Dominick "D.J." Costantino, 7shifts' Content Writer.
About Rachael Nemeth Rachael Nemeth is the CEO and Cofounder of Opus, a platform that helps employers design and deliver text message-based courses to their "deskless" workforce. Her background combines decades of experience in the service industry, instructional design, and second language acquisition. Before Opus, she worked in Operations and HR for Danny Meyer's, Union Square Hospitality Group, Baked, and Hot Bread Kitchen, an NGO that teaches baking production skills to underrepresented women. Her first company, ESL Works brought industry-relevant English training to New York City kitchens. Rachael is an alum of The New School and is from Kansas City (the Kansas side, if you're wondering).
About 7shifts 7shifts is a team management platform designed for restaurants. We help managers and operators spend less time and effort scheduling their staff, reduce their monthly labor costs and streamline team communication. The result is simplified labor management, one shift at a time.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
04 Jun 2021
Episode #05: Ken McGarrie, Author of The Surprise Restaurant Manager
00:19:30
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
Welcome to the 7shifts Restaurant Growth Podcast, where sit down with the best minds in the restaurant industry to inspire you with new ways to improve your business. On this episode, we dive into how to deal with negativity in the restaurant industry, coming both from guests as well as your own team. Ken also leaves with some advice for restaurant employees who are still unsure about going back to work.
The 7shifts Restaurant Growth Podcast is hosted by Dominick "D.J." Costantino, 7shifts' Content Writer.
About Ken McGarrie Ken McGarrie is the cofounder of Korgen Hospitality, a nationwide consulting firm dedicated to helping restauranteurs reach their absolute potential with effective leadership and maximum profitability. For the past two decades, he has helmed many successful restaurants, bars, and entertainment-based venues with a relentless focus on anticipatory service, staff empowerment, and attentive hospitality. He has helped launch new concepts and train hospitality leaders throughout the U.S. and Canada. After failing to start an exceptional college band with only average talent, Ken worked as a server/bartender while writing for magazines and newspapers. He started in management the same way that many people do – by surprise. When his GM asked if he would take a set of keys and open the restaurant on occasion, he was suddenly promoted to manager with no training or preparation, like so many others in the industry.
Ken went on to open and manage numerous successful restaurants and entertainment venues. With Korgen Hospitality, he has an exceptional client list, including helping open over a dozen restaurants with celebrity chef Fabio Viviani nationwide. An amateur guitarist, avid podcast enthusiast, and stand-up comedy devotee, Ken is currently based in Chicago, Illinois. Learn more at www.korgenhospitality.com.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
15 Dec 2021
Dan Simpson, CEO of Taziki's | S1E12
00:26:32
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
How do you beat the restaurant industry labor shortage? By focusing on the people already working for you. In this employment landscape, team member retention is more important than ever before.
We chat with Dan Simpson, CEO of Taziki's, which with nearly 100 locations and 3000 employees, manage to retain staff at a rate higher than the industry average. How? By developing a keen understanding of who works for them and what they can do to provide them with a career that is reflective of that.
The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts and hosted by Dominick "D.J." Costantino
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
10 Mar 2021
How to Schedule Employees Effectively (Blog Audio #6)
00:10:07
Not sure how to schedule employees effectively? We got you covered.
Effective employee scheduling is simple in theory: Create optimal work schedules, so you’re never over or understaffed. But in practice, it’s anything but.
With the many types of shifts to choose from like rotating, fixed, and on-call shifts, and over 500 shift patterns, creating a schedule that’s right for your business can be a huge challenge. And even once you’ve created a schedule, there’s no guarantee it'll remain optimal as you have to contend with last-minute shift changes and requests for time off.
Thankfully, there’s good news. In this episode, you’ll learn what the keys to effective scheduling are and how to schedule employees effectively in 8 simple steps. View the keys to effective scheduling as the building blocks for creating a schedule.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
Opening a restaurant is a big challenge that requires a huge investment of time and money. But the challenges don’t stop there—once open you have to focus on improving processes, managing labor schedules, and controlling restaurant costs.
Whether it’s food cost increases due to inflation or a labor cost rise due to rising minimum wage, cost increases, like taxes, are pretty much a guarantee in the restaurant industry.
This episode answers these questions and more. You’ll learn almost everything you need to know about restaurant costs so that you can remain profitable.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
17 Feb 2022
Restaurant Growth Podcast Trailer
00:00:38
The Restaurant Growth Podcast by 7shifts brings together restaurant leaders from all corners of our industry: full-service, quick-service, tech, and everyone who helps push hospitality forward. In short, 15- to 20-minute episodes, you’ll come away with practical tips, new insight, and tactics to help your restaurant grow.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
23 Feb 2022
Andy Hooper, President &pizza | S1E13
00:26:36
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
What helps set your restaurant apart as an employer? Is it wages, benefits, or how you treat your team? At &pizza, it’s all of it, and they’re growing at a rapid pace despite what many are calling a labor shortage. Learn from &pizza’s President, Andy Hooper about how they’ve been able to lead the charge when it comes to employee experience, how to offer creative benefits and why they haven’t had much trouble hiring these past two years.
The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts and hosted by Dominick “D.J.” Costantino.
About Andy Hooper
Andy Hooper is a restaurant industry veteran with over 15 years of people, operations, brand and technology leadership experience. He has led diverse multi-unit teams for both domestic and international brands, responsible for shaping culture, product and culinary innovation, talent development and guest satisfaction and engagement.
Andy currently serves as President for &pizza, having previously served as Chief People Officer and Chief Operating Officer, since joining the brand in 2018. Prior to &pizza, Andy served as the Chief Innovation Officer and Chief People Officer for Cafe Rio Mexican Grill. In his early career, Andy held a variety of leadership roles in human resources for Burger King Corporation, both domestically and internationally. Andy earned a degree in marketing and human resources from the University of Miami Business School. He and his family live on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
07 Mar 2022
Charles Wright, VP of Operations at ClusterTruck | S1E14
00:27:27
Note: 7shifts currently employs Charles Wright as Director of Customer Success. At the time of recording, Charles was still at ClusterTruck.
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
ClusterTruck is not your average restaurant. They have no front of house staff, no dining rooms, and a menu with 80+ items, delivered within 10 minutes of being boxed up. How do they do it? With a combination of cutting-edge software, savvy menu engineering, and a commitment to great hospitality. We chat with Charles Wright, ClusterTruck’s VP of Operations, about staffing a delivery-only restaurant, the logistics of huge menus, and more on this episode of the Restaurant Growth Podcast.
The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts and hosted by Dominick “D.J.” Costantino.
About Charles Wright Charles has spent a majority of their professional career working in the restaurant industry in operations. His time was split between Panera Bread, YUM! Brands, and most recently Chipotle. In 2020, Charles made the leap and began working for startup companies in Indianapolis, and he currently serve as the Vice President Of Operations at ClusterTruck.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
14 Mar 2022
Lauren Fernandez, Founder of Full Course | S1E15
00:41:31
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
Restaurant growth is the sum of getting a lot of things right: company culture, real estate, SOPs, and more. Lauren Fernandez has done it as a franchisee at Chicken Salad Chick, and now at Full Course, where she and her team invest in and help single-unit restaurateurs grow their brands at scale.
In this episode, we chat about:
making the right real estate decisions
systematizing as you scale your brand
offering the right benefits in a changing labor market
The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts and hosted by Dominick “D.J.” Costantino.
About Lauren Fernandez Lauren Fernandez is the CEO and founder of Full Course, a non-traditional restaurant investment and development firm created for operators by operators that is changing the way new businesses grow their brands. The company partners with restaurants in the early stages of development to optimize existing operations, develop strategies for sustainable growth and bring the right investors or franchise partners to the table. Fernandez is a restaurant industry veteran with two decades of experience. She previously served as General Counsel and Head of Franchise Administration for FOCUS Brands and was Co-Founder, President and Operating Partner for multi-unit franchise developer Origin Development Group, acting as a strategic growth partner for brands such as Chicken Salad Chick.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
28 Mar 2022
Jim Taylor, Founder of BenchmarkSixty | S1E16
00:28:28
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
The conventional methods of measuring restaurant labor cost—as a percentage of sales—are no longer enough to ensure success. One way to find success is to start measuring labor productivity—the number of customers your team can serve. We chat with Jim Taylor, founder of BenchmarkSixty, about why restaurants should be tracking labor productivity, the data you need how to do that and the huge impact it can have on your restaurant success.
The Restaurant Growth Podcast is hosted by Dominick, “DJ” Costantino
About Jim Taylor Before going into business for himself, Jim had a long and successful career with Cactus Club Cafe restaurants. Operating in multiple roles and several markets, Jim took a lead role in both the growth and financial strategies that helped make Cactus restaurants a household name in Canada.
Jim is the creator of Benchmark Sixty - A one-of-a-kind restaurant financial optimization strategy designed for restaurateurs to dramatically increase their profit margins by understanding data, implementing benchmarks, and using metrics to improve productivity. This signature platform has helped hundreds of restaurants start on the right foot, land on their feet, or position for solid growth moving forward. It has also been battle-tested during the challenging Covid-19 restrictions.
Using a proprietary strategy, Jim and his team work with restaurant operators to navigate the new normal of the restaurant industry where everything from wage structure to menu pricing and cost management have changed.
Jim's business goals are focused primarily on doing what he can to improve the overall state of the restaurant industry. Having grown up in it and witnessing firsthand the challenges it and the people working in its face, he aspires to make it better for the next generation of restaurateurs.
Ultimately Jim aims to "Change the way the entire restaurant industry looks at labor costs in order to protect profit AND employee experience."
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
05 Apr 2022
David Scott Peters, Founder of Restaurant Prosperity | S1E17
00:31:42
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
This episode of the Restaurant Growth Podcast features David Scott Peters. He's a restaurant coach and speaker who teaches restaurant operators how to cut costs and increase profits with his restaurant prosperity formula. We break down what a prosperous restaurant does. How to find and train managers that compliment you and go through new ways to tackle a few familiar labor cost scenarios.
The Restaurant Growth Podcast is hosted by Dominick, “DJ” Costantino About 7shifts Since 2014, 7shifts has helped restaurant managers schedule, evaluate, and communicate with their workforce. Our team is comprised of people who live and breathe restaurant culture and strive to help our customers simplify team management, every single day.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
19 Apr 2022
Monte Silva, Founder of #HastagRestaurateur | S1E18
00:37:07
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
The hospitality industry doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to work-life balance. Monte Silva wants to change that. After a successful run as GM from Wolfgang Puck led to burnout, Silva is determined to figure out how to run profitable restaurants without sacrificing himself. Now, he teaches what he learned to restaurant owners through his coaching business, #Restauranteur. Monte joined us on the podcast to tell us his story and offer listeners tips on how to work “on” their business, not “in” their business.
The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts and hosted by DJ Costantino.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
03 May 2022
Brandon Poole, Founder of BrandGabs | S1E19
00:33:39
Brandon Poole spent his career building national restaurant brands at restaurants like Pita Pit, and now he’s using what he’s learned to help businesses do this same with his new venture, BrandGabs. In this episode, Brandon and DJ chat about the value in creating a brand that drives decisions, how to use it to create competitive advantage, and how to foster what Brandon calls “grounded certainty” in your business.
The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts and hosted by DJ Costantino.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
10 May 2022
Danny Klein, Editor at Food News Media | S1E20
00:50:41
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast. As editor at Food News Media, Danny Klein has a 30,000-foot view of everything that's going on in our industry. So from curbside pickup to QR codes, to the labor shortage to loyalty, Danny has a ton of thoughts to share. It's an episode that's just packed with breakdowns, some hot takes, and knowledge bombs that you can take back to your teams.
In this episode, we cover:
The different challenges facing both major brands and independents after the pandemic
What advantages that independents have right now
Emerging trends like the “next-gen casual” restaurant
Pandemic trends that will last—and what won’t (hint: QR codes)
The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts and hosted by DJ Costantino.
Meet Danny Klein
Danny Klein is the Editorial Director at Food News Media, publisher of QSR and FSR magazines. A graduate of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, Danny spent more than a decade covering high school, college, and professional sports throughout Florida before joining Food News Media as the associate editor of FSR magazine in 2015.
Big Ideas
There is a ton of opportunity for independent diners to leverage loyalty programs
“How can you create a community of loyal diners, who you're giving them a reason to come back. And for independents, that opportunity is as big, or if not greater than it is for quick service, because you tend to have really loyal, guests, you have people who I've talked to, people who go to the same local place three or four times a week and have been doing it for years. It's generational and they've passed it down.
Maybe it's a texting program, maybe it's an email program, but just what are ways that you can offer that person something to join where you're constantly communicating with them, letting them know what's happening, giving them options to support you. And so I think there's a there's a lot of white space there.”
“Next-gen Casual” restaurants are an emerging trend
“So what this essentially is, is a combination of those two worlds, because you have a section of chains, basically in the full service space.
They operate in and live the world of being an independent restaurant and how they look inside the type of f
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
24 May 2022
Mijo Alanis, Founder of Beyond Juicery + Eatery | S1E21
00:36:49
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
How do you stay on the pulse of what customers want? By paying close attention.
Mijo Alanis has found success in his career by staying ahead of the curve—opening a juice and smoothie shop long before they were as ubiquitous as they are now. Mijo tells the story of Beyond Juicery from the way beginning of his career, how they’ve grown through franchising, and the “bus tub” moments that have helped him give the people what they want.
In this episode, we cover:
The moment that Mijo Alanis and his wife, Pam Vivio, decided to start a juice bar
Beyond Juciery + Eatery’s early days
Expansion through franchising
How to step away from the day to day as you grow
The “bus tub” moments that give you customer insights
The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts and hosted by DJ Costantino.
About 7shifts
Since 2014, 7shifts has helped restaurant managers schedule, evaluate, and communicate with their workforce. Our team is comprised of people who live and breathe restaurant culture and strive to help our customers simplify team management, every single day.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
06 Jun 2022
Phil Crawford, Chief Technology Officer of CKE Restaurant | S1E22
00:38:50
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
Customer loyalty has come a long way from the paper punch card. Now it seems like every restaurant has their own app, their own loyalty programs, and their own way to reward customers and keep them coming back.
We’re joined on this episode by Phil Crawford, the chief technology officer of CKE brands, better known as the parent of Carl's Jr. & Hardees. And we’re talking all things customer loyalty tech. We get into:
Why digital loyalty programs are so essential right now
What type of rewards programs are driving guest satisfaction
How to use tech to enhance the customer experience—without replacing the human element
The tech that will be common for restaurants in 2032
The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts and hosted by DJ Costantino.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
05 Jul 2022
Matt Plapp, CEO of America’s Best Restaurants | S1E25
00:52:04
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
Matt Plapp and his team have been to more restaurants than anyone. Since 2021, they’ve taken cross country to visit and document America’s best independent restaurants. And they’ve learned what separates successful restaurants from struggling ones.
Matt joins us on the Restaurant Growth Podcast to chat about:
His career in radio advertising to restaurant marketing
What 90 to 95% or restaurant are not doing—but should be
A ton of creative ways to collect customer data
The importance of storytelling
Whether or not Matt has taken his van to Hawaii
And more!
The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts and hosted by DJ Costantino.
Meet Matt Plapp First, I’m a husband to Christy for the past 20 years, then a father to Paige & Cole. Next I’m an AVID marketer, CrossFitter, Author, Speaker, Consultant & Business Coach. I’ve owned my marketing firm since 2008 and since then we’ve helped hundreds of companies market with a purpose, that purpose is ROI! Since 2016 our main focus has been to help independent restaurants and today we help restaurants all over the country.
I commonly get asked, “Matt what do you do”?
#1 I’m the CEO of America’s Best Restaurants. We help independent restaurants tell their stories, acquire customers and build sales momentum.
#2 I’ve written 3 books on restaurant marketing and my 4th is coming out late 2023
#3 I’ve personally traveled to over 1,000 restaurants to understand what works and what doesn’t, when it comes to restaurant marketing. CLICK HERE to see what I learned on that path.
#4 I’m the host of two podcasts. MPTV is my podcast talking to restaurant owners and fellow entrepreneurs. Restaurant Expert Roundup is the 2nd podcast where I interview authors and influencers in the restaurant business.
At the end of the day, I exist to help independent restaurant owners WIN! And this didn’t start yesterday. It started in 1999 when I first started helping restaurants working for WGRR 103.5 with radio advertising. By 2008 I had become an accidental expert in digital marketing and turned my attention to consulting. Fast forward to 2015 and I’d created an online marketing strategy that helped restaurants FINALLY see results with their marketing and build their customer database like never before.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
20 Jul 2022
Amelie Kang, Owner of MáLà Project NYC | S1E26
00:26:30
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
On the latest episode of the show, we are joined by Amelie Kang, the owner of MáLà Project in New York City.
Amelie opened the first location of her restaurant at the young age of 23—and has learned a lot of lessons along the way. Amelie takes us through:
How her role (and team!) has changed as they've expanded to three locations
Her team’s people-first approach to employee management
Hopes for the future of the restaurant business
What to order in your Szechuan dry pot
And more!
The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts and hosted by DJ Costantino.
About 7shifts Since 2014, 7shifts has helped restaurant managers schedule, evaluate, and communicate with their workforce. Our team is comprised of people who live and breathe restaurant culture and strive to help our customers simplify team management, every single day.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
02 Aug 2022
Chris Smith, CEO at Zunzi's + Zunzibar | S1E27
00:39:20
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
Zunzi’s has one promise: to make everyone walk away saying “Shit Yeah!” Chris Smith, alongside his role as CEO, is the protector of that promise.
In this episode, we chat with Chris about the culture at Zunzi’s and Zunzibar: the why behind it, how they maintain it, and what they hope it will do for their guests, community, and most importantly, their team.
The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts and hosted by DJ Costantino.
About 7shifts Since 2014, 7shifts has helped restaurant managers schedule, evaluate, and communicate with their workforce. Our team is comprised of people who live and breathe restaurant culture and strive to help our customers simplify team management, every single day.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
16 Aug 2022
Adam Lamb, Founder of Chef Life Radio | S1E28
00:46:03
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
The restaurant business is notorious for being a tough one to work in. And for decades, it has been. But we’re at an inflection point—and restaurant leaders are rethinking what it means to be a part of this industry right now. A better work environment is here, and for guys like Adam Lamb, it’s a long time coming.
Adam and I sat down to discuss his career as a chef, when he realized that things needed to change, and how he’s begun to do just that from his position as a leader. We also chat about what the new kitchen culture looks like, and how we can achieve it.
The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts and hosted by DJ Costantino.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
30 Aug 2022
Danny Meyer and Jordan Boesch | S1E29
00:56:25
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
How do you create a restaurant culture that attracts staff and retains them?
We asked someone who’s done it—the one and only Danny Meyer.
Danny joined 7shifts CEO, Jordan Boesch, for a talk hosted by Danny Klein of Food News Media. From what culture is, to how it’s built, and how to use servant leadership, a lot of ground was covered.
The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts and hosted by DJ Costantino.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
25 Jan 2023
Anthony Valletta, President of bartaco | S2E1
00:20:58
The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses. Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way.
On this episode, we’re joined by Anthony Valletta, President of bartaco. Here are some of the highlights:
How the restaurant industry has changed over Anthony’s decade-long career
Bartaco’s heavy lean-in on technology
The unique approach to training and career development
Bartaco’s radical wage structure
And how all of those practices have bartaco poised for growth in 2023
About Anthony Valletta
Anthony Valletta is a restaurant and hospitality industry veteran with over 20 years of experience and deep knowledge in growing brands both big and small. Throughout his career, Valletta has opened two dozen restaurants with varying concepts. He currently serves as the President of bartaco, the upscale street food restaurant brand with a coastal vibe in a relaxed environment, and was previously the Company’s SVP of Operations. As President, Anthony is focused on helping bartaco grow while deepening its ties to local communities by creating jobs with growth opportunities. Prior to joining the bartaco team, Valletta served as Chief Operating Officer at restaurant tech concept, Birdcall. Other previous roles include Chief Operating Officer at fine dining concept Michael Mina in San Francisco, as well as Director of Operations at Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, where he oversaw locations in Chicago, Denver, New York City, Washington D.C., and Boston.
Anthony is passionate about humanitarianism and has been named Humanitarian of the Year twice, once in 2014 by the Greg Hill Foundation and again in 2018 by March of Dimes. He received his Bachelor of Hospitality Administration and Hospitality Administration/Management from Boston University.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
08 Feb 2023
Kelly Phillips, Founder of Destination Unknown Restaurants
00:16:34
The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses. Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way.
On this episode, we’re joined by Kelly Phillips, Founder of Destination Unknown Restaurants. Here are some of the highlights:
How Kelly started her businesses
The decision to put many of her staff on a salary
The impact that salaries have had on the team dynamic
Why salaried roles in restaurants aren’t all that radical
And how you can explore new comp strategies at your restaurant
Guest Bio Kelly is Founder and Partner in Destination Unknown Restaurants, which is known across DC for Ghostburger (2020, 2022), Taqueria Las Gemelas (2021), and Destino (2021). Recent career accomplishments for Kelly include welcoming President Biden into Taqueria Las Gemelas for Cinco de Mayo shortly after the concept's opening, being part of the 2021 RAMMY winning team for the restaurant group's nomination in multiple categories, and landing on Washington Business Journal's 40 Under 40 2022 list and FSR's 2022 "Rising Stars" list. Kelly was also an integral part of the leadership team that transformed Las Gemelas Cocina Mexicana into Destino in December 2021. It reopened to glowing feedback from guests for their ambitious rustic Mexican fare. Shortly thereafter, Destino landed on Washingtonian Magazine's competitive list of the top 25 Best New Restaurants that opened during the pandemic alongside sister restaurant, Las Gemelas. In late summer 2022, Kelly also transitioned her first restaurant, Espita, into Ghostburger's first standalone concept in a full circle moment for the award-winning pandemic pop-up that began in Espita's Mexican kitchen. Across all of these concepts, Kelly has implemented a living wage at all of her restaurants and eliminated tipping, which she hopes will show other restaurateurs that reevaluating your wage structure is possible, and may even make your restaurant more successful.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
24 Feb 2023
Newton Hoang, Director of Marketing & IT at 7 Leaves Cafe | S2 E3
00:23:18
The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts (formerly The Restaurant Growth Podcast)breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses. Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way.
On this episode, we’re joined by Newton Hoang, Director of Marketing & IT at 7 Leaves Cafe. Here are some of the highlights:
How your customers and employees are a reflection of one another
7 Leaves’ foray into mobile ordering
Building a Culture of Care that keep employees engaged and boosts retention
How technology can help make all of the above easier
Guest Bio Newton Hoang is a: Marketing and IT unicorn. 25+ year food and beverage industry purist. Straight shooter with a side of empathy. Servant leader. Girl dad first, everything else second.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
10 Mar 2023
Eric Scheffer, Founder and CEO of Scheffer Group | S2 E4
00:12:12
The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses. Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way.
On this episode, we’re joined by Eric Scheffer, Founder and CEO of Scheffer Group.
Here are some of the highlights:
How to treat your team like family and do it with sincerity
How Scheffer has kept staff around for years
What goes into the group's $1620 average annual spend on health and mental wellness benefits per staff member
Why Eric's restaurants have a 3% kitchen appreciation fee
Leading with relentless generosity
Guest Bio
Eric Scheffer has been a pioneer and key member of the Asheville food scene for over 20 years.
Originally from Brooklyn and raised on Long Island, Mr. Scheffer left behind a successful television and advertising career in L.A. to chase his true passions: food, wine, and people. After completely revamping The Savoy in 2000 to become one of the country’s preeminent fine dining restaurants—as well as put Asheville on the map as a restaurant destination—he went on to co-found AIR, the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association.
Among Mr. Scheffer’s numerous hospitality ventures are the creation of Dining Innovations, Asheville’s premiere catering & corporate events company, Bodega Gratia, a boutique Argentinian winery, and Victus World Imports, where he imported wines from Argentina, Spain, and France. He currently owns Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian (voted best Italian restaurant in Asheville for 10 years in a row) and Jettie Rae’s Oyster House, which sit at number 2 and 3 on TripAdvisor’s best Asheville restaurants, respectively. With a slew of other concepts in the works, Mr. Scheffer is only just getting started.
With the Scheffer Group, he’s proud to showcase the culmination of his hospitality experience. “Relentless generosity brings us closer together,” he often says, and the spirit of that sentiment is easy to see in every project he tackles.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
29 Mar 2023
Katie Button, CEO / Co-Founder of Katie Button Restaurants | S2E5
00:24:13
The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses. Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way.
On this episode, we’re joined by Katie Button, CEO / Co-Founder of Katie Button Restaurants: Cúrate, La Bodega by Cúrate, Cúrate Trips, curateathome.com
Guest Bio Asheville, North Carolina's beloved Cúrate, a collection of restaurants, online marketplace, wine club and culinary journeys designed to create exceptional and experiential access to Spanish culture. A Southern chef with a scientific mind, Button honed her craft in the kitchens of some of the world's best chefs, most notably Ferran Adrià and José Andrés, before venturing out to open Cúrate Bar de Tapas with husband Felix Meana and her family. Since, they have grown the Cúrate brand to include Cúrate Trips, Cúrate Spanish Wine Club, Cúrate at Home and most recently, La Bodega by Cúrate. Cúrate is part of the Katie Button Restaurants family, which includes Katie Button Media and Magnolia Network’s From The Source, a series exploring the origins and stories behind different ingredients.
Among her many accolades, chef Katie Button was featured as one of Food & Wine's 2015 Best New Chefs. Cúrate was named as one of the "40 Most Important Restaurants of the Past 40 Years" by Food & Wine and one of the "Most Important Restaurants of the Decade" by Esquire. In 2016, Button released her first cookbook, Cúrate: Authentic Spanish Food from an American Kitchen.
In 2022, the James Beard Foundation nominated Katie for a 2022 Best Chefs in America: Southeast award and Cúrate Bar de Tapas won the Outstanding Hospitality award. Throughout it all, Katie continues to challenge the industry standard, steadily building comprehensive benefits to create a sustainable work environment for her living wage-certified restaurant group. She also is an active participant in the James Beard Foundation's Impact programs and is currently serving on the Independent Restaurant Coalition's leadership team.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
12 Apr 2023
Eric Huang, Chef/Owner of Pecking House
00:19:08
The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses. Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way.
On this episode, we’re joined by Eric Huang, Owner of Pecking House
Guest Bio Eric Huang grew up in a Chinese-American restaurant in New York, a very common tale in the Chinese diaspora. He is an amateur cellist turned subpar college student turned chef. Despite investing many years and taking on crushing student debt to become a college-educated professional, he would return to work in restaurants because that’s where he felt most at home. He has been cooking in New York City for the last decade, honing his craft at Michelin-starred institutions such as Cafe Boulud, Gramercy Tavern and most recently as a sous chef at Eleven Madison Park. His dream was to open his own restaurant that would challenge the Western world’s prejudices against Chinese cuisine, but he encountered a minor obstacle in the spring of 2020. With his family’s restaurant, Peking House, shuttered due to the pandemic, he stepped in to do what he could and started frying chicken and delivering it to New Yorkers trapped in their apartments. This became wildly more successful than anyone planned on it being and thus Pecking House was born. He is now a fried chicken dealer in a restaurant landscape figuring out its direction in the wake of the pandemic. He has fully embraced the fast-casual restaurant life because it's fun, it’s tasty and you can put food on disposable plates.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
27 Apr 2023
Ron Hsu, Owner of Lazy Betty, Humble Pie, and Juniper Cafe
00:24:57
The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses. Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way.
On this episode, we’re joined by Ron Hsu, Owner of Lazy Betty, Humble Pie, and Juniper Cafe
Guest Bio
Champion of fair wages, equality and great food. James Beard nominated Atlanta restaurateur Ron Hsu envisions an industry where the workforce doesn't rely on the goodwill of customers and strives for changes to the way things have always been done.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
10 May 2023
Michel Falcon, Founder & CEO of Brasa Peruvian Kitchen
00:38:05
The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses. Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way.
On this episode, we’re joined by Michel Falcon, Founder & CEO of Brasa Peruvian Kitchen
Guest Bio Michel Falcon is a restaurant entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and best selling author. His expertises are company culture, employee performance, and customer experience strategies. As the CEO & Founder of Brasa Peruvian Kitchen, he oversees all people and growth initiatives. Since August 2021, Brasa has succesfully opened three corporate-owned locations in Toronto, The company's next growth market in New York City in 2023.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
24 May 2023
Joe Kahn and Chris Artinian of Condado Tacos
00:25:55
The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses. Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way.
On this episode, we’re joined by Joe Kahn, Founder and CIO of Condado Tacos and Chris Artinian, CEO of Condado Tacos
Guest Bio Joe Kahn is the Founder & Chief Innovation Officer at Condado Tacos. His passion for hospitality started at just 15 years old working at Sizzler and then Pizza Hut. Along the way, he learned to bartend and earned his first management position at The Outpost, a local Chicago venue. After decades of working in all aspects of the restaurant industry, Joe took the plunge to open his own restaurant—which failed. But instead of turning in his apron, he learned from his mistakes, borrowed money from his wife’s 401k, and founded Condado Tacos with several business partners. His focus on creating clean and craveable tacos in an environment that encourages creativity and community was a hit. By 2026, there will be 100 Condado Tacos restaurants! What’s Joe’s secret to success? Treating people well and really great tacos.
Chris Artinian serves as President & CEO at Condado Tacos. He has over 30 years of restaurant and retail experience with private and public companies and extensive experience in restaurant and consumer services. He first encountered Condado Tacos while working at The Beekman Group and loved the concept so much that he joined the company to help chart the brand’s meteoric growth because he has the chops. Chris previously held CEO titles at TooJay’s Gourmet Deli, Bakery & Restaurant, Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill, and Morton’s. He’s recognized by industry peers for his deep operational experience in developing winning strategies and exceptional teams. he also serves on the Board of Directors of Another Broken Egg, Ted’s Cafe Escondido, and Condado Tacos.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
14 Jun 2023
Kwini Reed, Co-owner of Poppy + Rose, Poppy & Seed, and Root of All Foods
00:32:18
The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses. Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way.
On this episode, we’re joined by Kwini Reed, Co-owner of Poppy + Rose, Poppy & Seed, and Root of All Foods
Guest Bio
Kwini Reed is a Southern California native, wife, mother, and entrepreneur. She is the co-owner of brunch restaurant, Poppy + Rose in Downtown Los Angeles, Orange County dining destination, Poppy & Seed, and upscale catering company, Root of All Foods with husband and chef of these concepts, Michael Reed.
She and her husband Michael Reed have received numerous accolades for these concepts, including Orange Coast Magazine's “Best New Restaurant” (Poppy & Seed); and CBS Los Angeles’ “Best All-Day Breakfast Restaurants in LA” (Poppy + Rose) - among others.
She pioneers Poppy + Rose and Poppy & Seed's giving back initiatives as well, coordinating meal donations to organizations across LA, supporting first responders, social justice causes, youth development programs, and more. Kwini is active with local nonprofits, such as Brown Bag Lady, which provides meals to people experiencing homelessness in LA.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
30 Jun 2023
Jason Hammel, Chef and Owner of Lula Cafe
00:18:57
The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses. Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way.
On this episode, we’re joined by Jason Hammel, Chef and Owner of Lula Cafe
Guest Bio Chef and owner Jason Hammel grew up in New Haven, CT and is the product of a tight Italian family. He studied writing at Brown University and then traveled in Italy where an accidental stay in an apartment above a produce market left a lasting impact and presaged his career as a chef. Upon returning to the U.S., he received his M.A. in English and moved to Chicago where he met his wife, musician and Lula co-founder, Amalea Tshilds. They live in Logan Square with their two children, Ismene and Cass.
Hammel’s writing has appeared in Bon Appetit and Lucky Peach/MAD feed. He is currently working on a cookbook to be released by Phaidon.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
11 Oct 2023
Ji Hye Kim, Chef/Owner at Miss Kim | S2E12
00:25:15
The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts is a deep dive into what it takes to run great restaurant teams.
Host D.J. Costantino covers the restaurant industry with conversations featuring industry leaders and innovators sharing their business growth insights, backgrounds, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams.
On this episode, we’re joined by Ji Hye Kim, Chef/Owner of Miss Kim in Ann Arbor.
Ji Hye was awarded one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs in 2021 and a multi-time James Beard Award semifinalist. She also advocates for fair wages in the hospitality industry, working with organizations like One Fair Wage to enact change. We get into how staff are paid above the industry average at Miss Kim, the tools Kim uses to get her teams engaged, and more.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
31 Oct 2023
Episode #41: Irene Shiang Li, Cofounder of Prepshift & Mei Mei Dumplings
00:24:04
The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts is a deep dive into what it takes to run great restaurant teams.
Host DJ Costantino covers the restaurant industry with conversations featuring industry leaders and innovators sharing their business growth insights, backgrounds, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams.
On this episode, we’re joined by Irene Shiang Li, Cofounder of Prepshift & Mei Mei Dumplings in Boston, Mass.
Irene Shiang Li co-founded Mei Mei in Boston in 2013 and built the brand around ethical, sustainable sourcing and fair and transparent employment practices, including open book management. Mei Mei is now a dumpling company and Irene is now building Prepshift, a tech-enabled coaching and workforce training firm. Prepshift focuses on aligning food business teams around their common goals and empowering them with education and transparency. Irene believes that in restaurants, everyone can win. She is a Zagat and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, six-time James Beard Foundation Rising Star Chef nominee, and 2022 James Beard Foundation Leadership Award winner. In 2023, Irene and her sister co-authored Perfectly Good Food: a totally achievable zero-waste approach to home cooking with W.W. Norton.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
05 Dec 2023
Episode #42: Chad Mackay, CEO of Fire and Vine Hospitality
00:24:02
The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts is a deep dive into what it takes to run great restaurant teams.
Host DJ Costantino covers the restaurant industry with conversations featuring industry leaders and innovators sharing their business growth insights, backgrounds, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams.
On this episode, we’re joined by Chad Mackay, CEO of Fire & Vine Hospitality in Seattle, WA.
Chad Mackay, CEO of Fire & Vine Hospitality, leads a multi-concept operator of full-service restaurants and oversees the successful Revelers Club loyalty program, boasting 80K members and contributing 30% to the company’s revenue since its 2011 inception. El Gaucho, the flagship concept founded in 1996, spans five locations, while Fire & Vine owns AQUA by El Gaucho, Aerlume, and the Witness Tree lounge. The Revelers Club extends to independently owned properties like Walla Walla Steak Co., Crossbuck Brewing, and Yellowhawk Resort in Walla Walla, WA. Drawing from two decades of hospitality expertise, Chad founded Brigado, a consulting and technology firm. He actively serves on Oracle's Customer Advisory Board for the Global Food and Beverage Industry Group and has held leadership roles in associations like the Washington Hospitality Association and Visit Seattle. Chad is a sought-after speaker on adapting compensation models for full-service restaurants in response to the $15 minimum wage.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
04 Apr 2024
Episode #43: Stella Dennig, Co-Owner/GM of Daytrip
00:31:44
In this episode of the Pre-Shift podcast, host DJ dives deep into the intricacies of managing successful restaurant teams with Stella Denig, co-owner and GM of Daytrip Restaurant in Oakland, California. Stella shares insights on building a restaurant prioritizing pay equity, equitable compensation, and a strong internal culture. She discusses their unique business model, the challenges of introducing equitable systems, and the importance of legislative change in the industry. Stella also touches on the role of collective thinking in their operations and the exciting personal and professional changes coming up for her and Daytrip. This episode is a must-listen for anyone eager to learn about innovative practices in the hospitality industry.
00:00 Introduction to the Pre-Shift Podcast
00:12 Meet Stella Denig from Daytrip Restaurant
01:02 The Journey to Opening Daytrip
02:20 Innovative Business Model and Pay Equity
04:14 Service Charge and Employee Compensation
09:51 Open Pay and Hiring Practices
14:08 Collective Thinking and Team Culture
25:19 Advice for Aspiring Restaurateurs
29:19 Exciting Future Plans for Daytrip
30:52 Conclusion and Contact Information
Guest Bio Stella Dennig (she/her) is the Co-Owner/GM of Daytrip, a fermentation-driven party of a restaurant in Oakland, CA. Core to Daytrip’s mission is to push toward a more equitable future for this industry and at the center of that, its workforce. Daytrip has been written up for its employment practices by publications like Bon Appetit, The New York Times, and the SF Chronicle. Daytrip was a Bon Appetit top 10 Best New Restaurant in America in 2023 and Co-Owner/Chef Finn Stern was a James Beard Semifinalist in 2024.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
24 Apr 2024
Episode #44: Chris Britt, COO of Epic Restaurants
00:42:36
The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts is a deep dive into what it takes to run great restaurant teams.
Host DJ Costantino covers the restaurant industry with conversations featuring industry leaders and innovators sharing their business growth insights, backgrounds, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams.
In this episode, Chris Britt, Chief Operating Officer of Epic Restaurants, joins us.
For nearly five years, Chris has served in a leadership capacity at Agave & Rye, one of the fastest-growing restaurant concepts in the U.S. He has accumulated a diverse array of experiences since joining the Agave & Rye team in 2018, and through his expertise, Chris has helped continually grow the company into a now multi-brand restaurant group, touting such revered concepts as Agave & Rye, S.O.B. Steakhouse, Shindig Park—and the soon-to-be-unveiled, Trashy Dawg. Chris started as the GM of the original location in Covington, Kentucky, before taking the same position at Agave & Rye’s flagship location in Liberty Township, Ohio. Soon after, he was promoted to Regional Director, followed by a promotion to the Director of Operations role. Chris has been in his Chief Operating Officer role for more than a year, right in time for expansion plans in 2023.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
21 May 2024
Episode #45: Hassel Aviles, Director of Not 9 to 5
00:30:25
The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts is a deep dive into what it takes to run great restaurant teams.
Host DJ Costantino covers the restaurant industry with conversations featuring industry leaders and innovators sharing their business growth insights, backgrounds, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams.
On this episode, we’re joined by Hassel Aviles, Founder and Director of Not 9 to 5.
Hassel Aviles has built a career in the hospitality and foodservice industry for over two decades working primarily in restaurants, event production and entrepreneurship. In 2018, after years of struggling with mental illness and trauma, Hassel was inspired to co-found Not 9 to 5, a non-profit that empowers foodservice service workers like herself. Hassel’s strategic planning abilities helped grow Not 9 to 5 from a series of workshops, panels and webinars into a global vehicle for change. Her work has contributed to a worldwide hospitality revolution to create work environments that are inclusive and proactive, rather than top-down and reactive. Hassel has used her experience, her social capital and intelligence to speak up for those without the power to make change. She is a visionary and deeply dedicated to revolutionizing the industry for the better.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
11 Jun 2024
Episode 46: Pike Howard of Felipe's Taqueria
00:43:04
Great teams make great restaurants. On The Pre-Shift, restaurant operators and industry experts dive into what it takes to build great restaurant teams. We explore their stories, the strategies they use, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams. Hosted by D. J. Costantino. Presented by 7shifts.
In this episode, Pike Howard, co-owner and finance and development director of Felipe's Taqueria, shares the history of the restaurant chain founded in 2006, inspired by Felipe Herrera. Pike emphasizes the significance of having a strong foundational playbook for growth, the importance of transparency and profit-sharing with leadership teams, and the role of consistent execution in a high inflationary environment. He cites influences like Danny Meyer’s book, Setting the Table, and Chick-fil-A’s operational focus. Howard stresses the need for non-defensiveness regarding feedback and aims to exceed profitability expectations.
Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Pike Howard and Felipe's Taqueria
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
26 Jun 2024
Reinventing Restaurant Compensation with Zach Feinstein | Episode 47
00:28:28
Great teams make great restaurants. On The Pre-Shift, restaurant operators and industry experts dive into what it takes to build great restaurant teams. We explore their stories, the strategies they use, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams. Hosted by D. J. Costantino. Presented by 7shifts.
In this episode of the Pre Shift Podcast, host D.J. Costantino chats with Zach Feinstein, CEO and co-owner of the Feinstein Group, about an innovative commission-based compensation model that combines a 20% service charge for servers. Zach explains the strategy behind this model, its implementation, and its impact on employee retention, guest experience, and front and back-of-house relationships. Zach also discusses his experience in the restaurant industry, the journey of the Feinstein Group, and the future vision for this compensation approach. This episode is packed with actionable insights for restaurant owners and managers aiming to build high-performing teams.
Chapters 00:00 Welcome to the Pre Shift Podcast 00:13 Meet Zach Feinstein: CEO and Co-Owner of the Feinstein Group 01:29 The Feinstein Group's Journey and Growth 03:08 Innovative Compensation Model: Commission-Based Pay 05:12 Rolling Out the New Compensation Model 07:52 Impact on Staff and Guest Experience 17:22 Front and Back of House Dynamics 21:01 Future of the Restaurant Industry 23:54 Lightning Round: Quick Questions with Zach Feinstein 27:47 Closing Remarks and How to Learn More
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
10 Jul 2024
Fostering Community and Belonging in the Restaurant Industry with Ellen Yin | Episode 48
00:30:36
Great teams make great restaurants. On The Pre-Shift, restaurant operators and industry experts dive into building great restaurant teams. We explore their stories, their strategies, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams. Hosted by D.J. Costantino. Presented by 7shifts.
In this episode of the Pre-Shift Podcast, host DJ Costantino talks with Ellen Yin, founder and co-owner of High Street Hospitality Group. Ellen shares her journey from a high school summer job to running celebrated dining establishments. The discussion focuses on the importance of building a strong sense of community and belonging within her restaurants. Ellen emphasizes the significance of respecting and empowering employees and effective recruitment, training, and career development strategies. She also highlights the challenges and successes in maintaining a consistent and supportive team culture across multiple restaurant concepts.
00:00 Introduction to the Pre-Shift Podcast
00:14 Meet Ellen Yin: Founder of High Street Hospitality
01:14 Ellen's Journey into the Restaurant Industry
04:43 The Success and Longevity of Fork
06:55 Building a Strong Team Culture
14:00 Recruitment and Career Development Strategies
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
31 Jul 2024
Building Chicago's Thattu with Chef Margaret Pak | Episode 49
00:38:54
Great teams make great restaurants. On The Pre-Shift, restaurant operators and industry experts dive into building great restaurant teams. We explore their stories, their strategies, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams. Hosted by D.J. Costantino. Presented by 7shifts.
In the latest episode of the Preshift Podcast, host D.J. Costantino chats with Margaret Pak, chef and co-owner of Thattu in Chicago. Pak shares her inspiring transition from corporate life to culinary arts, detailing her journey from selling spicy ketchup to opening a successful food stall and finally establishing an award-winning restaurant. The episode delves into her passion for Kerala cuisine, her experience with food pop-ups, and her innovative no-tip service model. Pak also discusses the significance of transparent menu pricing, equitable staff wages, and her future plans, including participating in prestigious culinary events and creating retail condiments.
00:00 Welcome to the Preshift Podcast
00:17 Meet Margaret Pak: Chef and Co-Owner of Thattu
01:13 From Corporate to Culinary: Margaret's Journey
02:38 Falling in Love with Kerala Cuisine
03:41 From Prep Cook to Pop-Up Success
07:23 The Birth of Thattu: From Food Stall to Restaurant
10:41 Navigating the Pandemic and Reassessing Plans
11:59 Reopening and Expanding Through Pop-Ups
17:15 Innovative Business Model: No Tips, No Service Charge
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
15 Aug 2024
Mastering the Art of Pizza & Business with Mike Bausch | Episode #50
00:33:02
Great teams make great restaurants. On The Pre-Shift, restaurant operators and industry experts dive into building great restaurant teams. We explore their stories, their strategies, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams. Hosted by D.J. Costantino. Presented by 7shifts.
Mike Bausch, a certified master pizzaiolo and the brains behind Andolini's Worldwide joins DJ Costantino on the Pre Shift Podcast.
In this episode, Mike shares his journey from aspiring Marine Corps officer to leading a 12-restaurant empire in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Recognized nationwide for their exceptional pizza, Andolini's success is attributed to a commitment to quality and a no-half-measures philosophy. Mike outlines his leadership and staff training techniques, explaining why he avoids the term 'family' in favor of a more professional 'team' dynamic. He also discusses his transition into becoming a mentor and educator for the restaurant industry through his Unsliced Restaurant System. Mike offers insights on cross-training staff, maintaining low attrition rates, and the importance of structured employee evaluations. The episode is packed with practical advice and actionable takeaways for building and sustaining a high-performing restaurant team.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Pre-Shift Podcast
00:23 Meet Mike Bausch: The Pizza Mastermind
01:19 Mike's Journey: From Marine Corps to Pizza Empire
03:04 The Turning Point: Mentorship and Mastery
06:39 Expanding the Brand: Beyond Pizza
09:42 Building a High-Performing Team
15:55 Balancing Structure and Flexibility in Training
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
28 Aug 2024
The Small Town Soul of Pizza Ranch | Episode 51
00:22:43
Great teams make great restaurants. On The Pre-Shift, restaurant operators and industry experts dive into building great restaurant teams. We explore their stories, their strategies, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams. Hosted by D.J. Costantino. Presented by 7shifts.
In this episode of the Pre Shift Podcast, host D.J. Costantino welcomes Ross Groeneweg, Chief People and Strategy Officer at Pizza Ranch. They discuss the history of the family-owned business, which started in 1981 and grew into a 218-location franchise. Ross explains the company's successful franchise model and the relationship between franchisees and corporate, ensuring a consistent employee experience. He shares his personal journey within Pizza Ranch, starting from high school, advancing through various positions, and eventually becoming a leader. Ross emphasizes Pizza Ranch's core values, vision, mission, and benefits of collaborative franchisee relationships and shared learnings. The episode concludes with a sneak peek at upcoming company initiatives, including a new wing night promotion.
00:00 Introduction to the Pre-Shift Podcast 00:18 Meet Ross Groenweg, Chief People and Strategy Officer at Pizza Ranch 01:13 The Origin Story of Pizza Ranch 02:55 Franchise Model and Corporate Partnership 04:06 Ross's Journey Through Pizza Ranch 07:15 Core Values and Vision of Pizza Ranch 09:10 Challenges and Strategies in Employee Retention 13:41 Collaborative Nature of Pizza Ranch Franchisees 15:14 Career Growth and Opportunities at Pizza Ranch 21:12 Future Plans and Exciting Initiatives 22:09 Conclusion and Farewell
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
25 Sep 2024
Building an operating system for kitchens with Josh Sharkey of meez | Episode 52
00:40:38
Great teams make great restaurants. On The Pre-Shift, restaurant operators and industry experts dive into building great restaurant teams. We explore their stories, their strategies, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams. Hosted by D.J. Costantino. Presented by 7shifts.
This episode of the Pre Shift Podcast focuses on Josh Sharkey, the founder and CEO of meez, an innovative recipe tool and culinary operating system. Josh shares his journey from a Michelin-starred chef to a tech entrepreneur. He discusses the motivation behind creating meez, driven by the loss of his recipe notebook and the need for a specialized tool for culinary professionals. Throughout the conversation, Josh elaborates on the challenges faced in transitioning to tech, the features of meez that enhance operational efficiency, and how it serves chefs and restaurant operators in maintaining consistency and profitability. Sharkey also highlights the importance of empowering teams with the right tools and maintaining a clear vision in business. Tune in for practical advice, real stories, and valuable insights into bridging creativity and profitability in the restaurant industry.
00:00 Introduction and Insight 00:29 Meet Josh Sharkey 01:21 The Birth of meez 03:03 Challenges and Solutions 05:42 Building the Company 08:30 Data and Recipe Management 22:47 Team Empowerment and Retention 27:12 Leadership and Vision 38:36 Exciting Developments 40:10 Conclusion and Farewell
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
17 Oct 2024
Insights for Serving Up Excellence with Square | Episode 53
00:57:02
Great teams make great restaurants. On The Pre-Shift, restaurant operators and industry experts dive into building great restaurant teams. We explore their stories, strategies, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams. Hosted by D.J. Costantino. Presented by 7shifts.
In this episode, 'Restaurant Unstoppable' host Eric Cacciatorre teams up with industry experts James Schonzeit from Square and D.J. Costantino from 7shifts to tackle the pressing challenges of staffing and technology in the restaurant world.
Through a series of insightful discussions, they cover key topics such as hiring and retaining staff, leveraging technology for better operations, and balancing tech with genuine hospitality. The conversation offers practical advice, highlighting how flexible scheduling, proper training, and effective management practices can improve staff retention and satisfaction. They explore the use of kiosks and other tech tools to streamline processes and enhance customer interactions without losing the essence of hospitality. Additionally, the episode underscores the value of actionable strategies, like gradual tech integration, to boost profitability and team engagement. Real-life examples and survey insights provide a roadmap for restaurant owners and managers to navigate modern challenges and thrive in an evolving industry.
00:00 Introduction and Housekeeping 00:57 Meet the Hosts 01:53 Technical Difficulties and Introductions 04:47 Discussion on Restaurant Technology 05:49 Staffing Challenges in the Restaurant Industry 06:31 Survey Insights on Employee Retention 12:59 The Role of Technology in Employee Management 14:26 Customer Experience and Technology 28:08 Discussing Final Trends 28:40 Employee Training and Technology 30:08 Empowering Staff Through Continuous Training 30:49 Leveraging Technology for Efficiency 31:36 Balancing Technology and Human Interaction 37:58 Addressing Staff Engagement and Retention 38:09 Q&A Session 38:47 Strategies for Improving Margins 48:27 Innovative Solutions for Staff Engagement 58:38 Closing Remarks
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
29 Nov 2021
Chip Klose, Founder of Restaurant Strategy | E1E11
00:42:39
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
Restaurant Marketing doesn’t begin and end—it’s ever moving. We sit down with Chip Klose, founder of Restaurant Strategy to chat though the restaurant marketing flywheel of attract, retain, evangelize, with strategies for how to win at each. The best part? The marketing flywheel applies both to customers and your own team.
The 7shifts' Restaurant Growth Podcast is hosted by Dominick "D.J." Costantino
About 7shifts
7shifts is a team management platform designed for restaurants. We help managers and operators spend less time and effort scheduling their staff, reduce their monthly labor costs and streamline team communication. The result is simplified labor management, one shift at a time.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
24 Feb 2021
Episode #02: Eric Cacciatore, Host of Restaurant Unstoppable
00:23:49
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
Welcome to the 7shifts Restaurant Growth Podcast, where we sit down with the best minds in the restaurant industry to inspire you with new ways to improve your business.
The 7shifts Restaurant Growth Podcast is hosted by Dominick "D.J." Costantino, 7shifts' Content Writer.
About Eric Cacciatorre Eric Cacciatore is the host of Restaurant Unstoppable, the number one restaurant industry podcast. Since 2013, Eric has been sharing the stories, ideas, knowledge, values, energy, recommendations, and mentorship from proven successful restaurateurs.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
25 Oct 2021
Josh Kopel, Host of Full Comp and Founder of FLO Hospitality Solutions | S1E10
00:29:50
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
Are you meeting the demand of local diners? Are you leveraging social media properly? Are you leaving money on the table? These are all questions that you should ask as you lay the foundations for a $10 million dollar restaurant. Josh Kopel, restautauateur and content creator, lays the blueprint for reaching profitability and then some in this tactic-packed episode.
The Restaurant Growth Podcast is brought to you by 7shifts and hosted by Dominick “D.J.” Costantino
About Josh Kopel
Josh Kopel is a restaurateur, tech pioneer and environmental advocate. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the spawn of bootleggers and retail giants, he was bred for the hospitality industry. Throughout Kopel’s 20+ year career in hospitality he has managed venues ranging from the Alligator Bayou Bar, located on Alligator Bayou Road, seated on Alligator Bayou (it was exactly how you’re picturing it in your mind) to the hottest Hollywood nightclubs, bars, and ultra-lounges (far less glamorous than you’re picturing it in your mind).
Kopel went independent in 2010, opening his first concept Five0Four, a New Orleans-inspired bar, on the Walk of Fame in the heart of Hollywood. In subsequent years, he would open the Michelin-rated fine dining concept, Preux & Proper as well as South City Fried Chicken, voted the best fried chicken in Los Angeles by LA Weekly. Despite his success, he saw foundational issues within the industry and set out to fix them himself.
In 2018, Kopel founded FLO Hospitality Solutions, a company solely focused on leveraging tech to bring more humanity to the customer service experience, not less. His first product, FLO, launched in 2019 offering an all-in-one communication solution for restaurants, saving restaurateurs 1,500 labor hours per year while increasing their profits, on average, 5-15%. .
In 2020, the pandemic offered another opportunity for Kopel to serve the industry. In response to the devastation he saw, Josh created FULL COMP, a podcast, blog and video series dedicated to seeking out thought leaders from within and outside of the hospitality industry, using their wisdom to help the restaurateurs survive the present and thrive in the future.
Kopel’s varied interests and talents have landed him several positions of influence including board seats on the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council and the California Restaurant Association. He is also a co-founder of the Friends of Runyon Canyon, a non-profit focused on the protection of local Los Angeles Park areas.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
11 Feb 2021
Episode #01: Preston Junger, 7shifts former VP of Sales
00:16:52
Welcome to the 7shifts Restaurant Growth Podcast, where we sit down with the best minds in the restaurant industry to inspire you with new ways to improve your business.
The 7shifts Restaurant Growth Podcast, is hosted by Dominick "D.J." Costantino, 7shifts' Content Writer.
About Preston Junger
Preston is an optimistic entrepreneurial-minded sales leader, advisor & board member with international chops. Raises the bar for success with a unique perspective and commitment to building & growing with execution from the ground up. Excels in coaching & inspiring others to rally around a common mission to get things done utilizing the resources you have.
A lifelong builder & believer in creating impact-based solutions and working with great people to grow businesses, Preston is currently Vice President of Sales & Head of U.S. Operations for 7shifts, the leader in simplifying labor management and improving performance for restaurants, freeing up time for managers to focus on serving their customers.
Prior to 7shifts, Preston provided experience from Apple, Yahoo! & IAC (Evite, Citysearch, Ticketmaster, Match.com, Expedia, and others) to build and scale Yelp's business from $2MM to $700MM in annual revenue, and 80 to 4,000 employees from 2008 through 2016.
Preston also formerly co-founded Mile Square Labs as a startup consulting company and is currently a board member for the company, which consists of 30+ expert advisors providing hands-on business consulting, sales and customer success guidance for early-stage to scale-up companies in Europe, Scandinavia, South America & North America. Through his work, Preston has advised, mentored, coached or worked directly with 200+ company founders, investors and accelerators helping them grow their businesses and expand into new markets and segments.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
09 Jul 2021
Episode #06: Kelly McCutcheon, former VP of People at Hopdoddy Burger Bar
00:21:49
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
What are your restaurant's core values? If you're not sure, this episode of the podcast will help you figure that out. We sit down with Kelly McCutcheon, VP of People at Hopdoddy Burger Bar to chat about how Kelly and her team sat down and whittled down a list of 50 characteristics into four core values that drive the 32 location machine that is Hopdoddy Burger Bar.
The 7shifts Restaurant Growth Podcast is hosted by Dominick "D.J." Costantino, 7shifts' Content Writer.
About Kelly McCutcheon In her hospitality career spanning 20 years, Kelly’s skill for training has grown into a passion for leading and developing others. She’s had the pleasure of leading the creation of a TM to GM career development program, where over 100 Team Members have turned their passion into purpose by advancing their career into a position of leadership. Through experience opening over 60 new restaurant locations, she’s discovered that great training aligns what we do with what we say we do, and great business performance begins by pouring into our people. Her training mission is to help people grow into the best version of themselves. Kelly is currently VP of People for Hopdoddy Burger Bar based in Austin TX. She’s also the Regional Training Director for the Council of Hotel & Restaurant Trainers and a dog mom of 2 adorable rescues.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
05 Apr 2021
Episode #03: Shawn P. Walchef, Founder of Cali BBQ & Cali BBQ Media
00:16:29
This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.
Welcome to the 7shifts Restaurant Growth Podcast, where we sit down with the best minds in the restaurant industry to inspire you with new ways to improve your business. We had the chance to sit down with Shawn P Walchef. Shawn is the owner of Cali Comfort BBQ in San Diego and hosts the Digital Hospitality podcast. Since 2008, Cali Comfort has generated $25 million in sales from just one location. They just opened their second—a"friendly" ghost kitchen—a new chapter in the Cali BBQ story, with plans to scale with a "slow food fast" mentality.
The 7shifts Restaurant Growth Podcast is hosted by Dominick "D.J." Costantino, 7shifts' Content Writer.
About Shawn Walchef Since opening Cali BBQ in 2008, Shawn and Rositsa Walchef have incorporated the Bulgarian traditions of hospitality into every facet of their expanding business empire, from evolving their restaurant for 2020 and beyond with easy online ordering of BBQ online, to publishing podcasts and other digital media through Cali BBQ Media.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
How do you start moving up? What are the restaurant management skills you need to succeed and how do you acquire them? Is it difficult to get the right training? Do you need a degree?
Let’s take a look at what a restaurant manager does, what skills they need, and how to brush up on those skills.
Credits Host & Producer: D. J. Costantino Producer: Samantha Fung Editor: Fina Charleston
About 7shifts 7shifts is a scheduling, payroll, and employee retention app designed to help restaurants thrive. With an easy-to-use app and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for more than 50,000 restaurants.
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