Succeeding in the Restaurant Industry with NRN's Sam Oches

Succeeding in the Restaurant Industry with NRN's Sam Oches

Author: Restaurant Technology Guys Podcast, sponsored by Custom Business Solutions March 17, 2025 Duration: 37:18

Succeeding in the Restaurant Industry with NRN's Sam Oches

In this episode, Jeremy Julian hosts Sam Oches, Editor in Chief of The Nation's Restaurant News, to discuss significant trends and insights shaping the restaurant industry in 2025 and beyond. Sam highlights the success strategies of top restaurant brands like Texas Roadhouse, Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane's, and Jersey Mike's, emphasizing consistency, quality, and efficient operations. They also explore innovation while maintaining brand integrity, employee investment, and managing growth. Moreover, they delve into the impact of technology, especially in enhancing employee efficiency, and the importance of adaptive strategies for casual dining brands. The episode is rich with strategies for navigating the evolving restaurant landscape.

00:00 Sam Oches
00:41 Introduction and Guest Introduction
01:08 Sam Oches: Background and Role
02:15 Current Trends in the Restaurant Industry
02:40 Successful Restaurant Brands and Their Strategies
04:36 Balancing Consistency and Innovation
10:48 Employee Investment and Retention
15:14 Growth Strategies and Challenges
19:30 Casual Dining: Challenges and Opportunities
20:17 Introduction to Fogo de Chão's Success
20:45 Gen Z's Favorite Full-Service Restaurant
21:47 The Evolution of Casual Dining
22:37 Twin Peaks: A Modern Sports Bar Experience
23:26 Gustavo Group's Community-Centric Approach
24:47 Balancing Tradition and Innovation
27:39 Future of Restaurant Technology
31:43 Employee Engagement and Retention Strategies
34:39 Connecting with Industry Leaders


Ever feel like the tech in your restaurant is more of a headache than a help? You’re not alone. The Restaurant Technology Guys Podcast brought to you by Custom Business Solutions cuts through the noise, offering real talk from people who’ve been in the trenches. Host Jeremy brings a lifetime of perspective-his family founded Custom Business Solutions, and he spent school vacations soldering components, giving him a unique, ground-up understanding of the systems that keep dining rooms and kitchens humming. This isn’t abstract theory; it’s practical knowledge forged from years of combined hands-on experience in implementation, marketing, and daily operations. Each episode feels like a conversation with a trusted advisor, breaking down complex topics into actionable advice you can use immediately. Whether it’s navigating a new point-of-sale rollout, understanding how to leverage data, or simply making your current tech stack work harder for you, this podcast provides clarity. Tune in for straightforward discussions that focus on one core goal: using technology to run your business more smoothly and profitably. It’s a resource built on genuine expertise, designed specifically for owners and operators who need reliable solutions, not just flashy trends.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Restaurant Technology Guys Podcast brought to you by Custom Business Solutions
Podcast Episodes
Navigating Restaurant Tech and Trends with Alicia Kelso [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:02
In this episode of the Restaurant Technology Guys podcast, host Jeremy Julian is joined by Alicia Kelso, Executive Editor for Nations Restaurant News. They discuss a wide array of topics, including Alicia's extensive bac…
Revolutionizing Restaurant Tech: Yaro's Journey with PickPad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:34
Revolutionizing Restaurant Tech: Yaro's Journey with PickPadIn this episode of the Restaurant Technology Guys podcast, Jeremy Julian interviews Yaro, a multiple-time founder in the realm of restaurant technology. Yaro sh…
Maximizing Kitchen Efficiency with QSR Automations' Brian Wayne [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:28
In this episode of the Restaurant Technology Guys podcast, Jeremy Julian is joined by Brian Wayne, VP of Customer Success at QSR Automations. They discuss how QSR Automations' technology solutions, such as the ConnectSma…
Navigating the Future of the Restaurant Industry with Danny Klein [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:33
In this episode of the Restaurant Technology Guys Podcast, Jeremy Julian talks with Danny Klein, freshly promoted to VP Editorial Director at WTWH Media's FRH properties. They delve deep into the state of the restaurant…