1263: Eric Reed, Chief Development Officer at Layne's Chicken Fingers

1263: Eric Reed, Chief Development Officer at Layne's Chicken Fingers

Author: Inspiring interviews with todays most successful restaurateurs 2-days a wee March 23, 2026 Duration: 1:56:31

Eric Reed and Natalie Hurley (also of Layne's) join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on April 20th, 2026 at 11AM EST.

To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE!

Eric Reed is the Chief Development Officer at Layne's Chicken Fingers, where he leads the brand's aggressive growth and real estate strategy as the company scales its footprint across existing and new markets.

With more than two decades of experience in restaurant and retail real estate development, Eric has held leadership roles at brands including Raising Cane's, Brinker International, Payless ShoeSource, and Sally Beauty, giving him a deep understanding of site selection, market planning, and franchise expansion. Before joining Layne's in 2024, he also served as Chief Growth Officer at Main & Main Capital and previously as Vice President at Main and Main Development, working on growth strategies for a variety of concepts. Eric is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where he earned his BBA in Finance, and he now applies that background to building what Layne's calls its "soon to be famous" chicken empire.

Join RULibrary: www.restaurantunstoppable.com/RULibrary

Join RULive: www.restaurantunstoppable.com/live

Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: www.restaurantunstoppable.com/evolve

Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/restaurantunstoppable

Subscribe to our email newsletter: https://www.restaurantunstoppable.com/

Today's sponsors:

-

Restaurant Technologies — the leader in automated cooking oil management. Their Total Oil Management solution is an end-to-end closed loop automated system that delivers, monitors, filters, collects, and recycles your cooking oil eliminating one of the dirtiest jobs in the kitchen.. Automate your oil and elevate your kitchen by visiting rti-inc.com or call 888-779-5314 to get started!

-

Cerboni - Cerboni is an all-in-one financial solution for restaurants. Reliable tax preparation & Business incorporation. Seamless Payroll and compliance report. Strategic CFO Services That Drive Business Growth. Detailed, custom reporting for complete financial clarity. Dedicated support for restaurants & Multi-location businesses. End-to-end financial management under one roof. Call (281) 888-2413 and mention Restaurant Unstoppable to get 20% off your first month of service.

-

US Foods®. Running a restaurant takes MORE than great food—it takes reliable deliveries, quality products, and smart tools. US Foods® helps you make it. Ready to level up? 

Visit: usfoods.com/expectmore.

-

Guest contact info: 

Thanks for listening! Rate the podcast, subscribe, and share! 


Eric Cacciatore sits down with the people who actually run the show in the world of food service. Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore is built on conversations with established restaurateurs and seasoned professionals who have navigated the intense realities of the industry. Twice a week, these interviews dig past the surface, focusing on the tangible details of leadership, team management, and effective marketing that separate a thriving venue from a struggling one. You’ll hear firsthand accounts of what worked, what didn’t, and the often-overlooked decisions that shape a restaurant's path. This podcast serves as a direct line to collective experience, whether you're dreaming of your first opening or steering a multi-location group. The dialogue is practical, centered on the daily grind and long-term strategy needed to build something lasting. For anyone invested in the business of hospitality, these regular episodes compile a vital resource, turning shared insights into actionable knowledge for your own journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Podcast Episodes
1238: Charles Clark, Owner of Clark Concepts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30:12
Charles Clark is the owner of Clark Concepts, based in Houston, TX. Charles was on the show for episode 666 back in 2019 and quite a lot has changed since then. In 2019, he had 6 concepts and a partner. He and his partne…
1235: Dan Weinberger, Founder of Weinberger's Deli [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:25
Dan Weinberger is the Founder of Weinberger's Deli located in Grapevine, Texas. Dan's parents opened and operated 5 deli's in Chicago from 1952 until 2000. Dan worked in his parent's stores growing up and eventually went…
1234: Addie and Dustin Teague, Owners of Relish Restaurant and Bar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:05:21
Addie and Dustin Teague are the owners of Relish Restaurant and Bar located in Houston, TX. The pair are married and are both from Houston originally. Dustin worked in restaurants in Las Vegas and New York before returni…
1233: David Denis, Chef/Owner of Bistro Mistral [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:47:48
Chef David Denis was born and raised in France with a grandmother and mother who both owned restaurants and cafes. David became a chef and ended up in Houston for a private chef gig and stayed. He opened his first restau…
1232: Brian Reece and Steve Crowley, Co-Founders of Service Physics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01:21
Brian Reece and Steve Crowley are the co-founders of Service Physics. Service Physics is a multi-unit restaurant service consultant company based in NYC. The company was organically recommended by Haven Hot Chicken for f…
1231: Dan Carr, CEO and Co-Owner of Visconti's Hospitality Group [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:16:29
Dan Carr is the Co-Owner of Visconti's Hospitality Group. The original Visconti's was opened in 1985 in Wenatchee, WA. Dan moved to Wenatchee from the midwest in 1991 and started working in Visconti's in 1993 after meeti…
1230: What you need to know about L.T.O.'s with Anna Neave [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:32
This is a Restaurant Unstoppable Network LIVE event all about Limited Time Offers (L.T.O.'s) and how to best utilize them in your business, as presented by Anna Neave. Anna is the owner of Good Kind Consulting and Sweet…