FOOD SERVICE EXECUTION (ENGINEERING THE PREPARATION QUANTITIES)

FOOD SERVICE EXECUTION (ENGINEERING THE PREPARATION QUANTITIES)

Author: C-Store Center May 30, 2026 Duration: 5:22

SHOW NOTES (THRIVE VERSION)

Episode Title: Food Service Execution: Engineering the Preparation Quantities (Episode 98) Episode Description: "You failed because you incentivized your staff to hide physical waste, which directly resulted in your customers purchasing severely degraded and unsafe food." In this episode of Thrive, Mike Hernandez explains why Store Managers must stop demanding zero waste and start mathematically calculating exactly how much food the staff is permitted to prepare.

What You Will Learn:

  • Mike's Professional Background: Why prioritizing a zero-waste log over food safety completely destroys the consumer's trust in the facility.
  • The Retaliation Failure: How penalizing staff for discarding food directly forces them to serve expired, hardened products to your customers.
  • The Engineering Protocol: The exact mathematical procedure for using your electronic transaction journal to calculate hourly preparation charts.
  • The Managerial Mandate: Why you must explicitly instruct your staff that recording a small, calculated amount of waste is actually a sign of successful operational execution.

Resources & Links:

  • Download the Food Preparation Engineering Calculator: Text the code word THRIVE98 to 9 5 6 - 8 9 7 - 9 1 9 2.
  • Recommended Listen: Drive: Episode 89.
  • Watch the Channel: Check out the YouTube channel and subscribe at @cStoreCenter.

Running a convenience store is a unique kind of leadership challenge, one that blends fast-paced operations with the nuanced work of building a team. Thrive: Leadership Skills for C-Store Managers, from C-Store Center, speaks directly to that reality. It’s for managers who know their role extends far beyond inventory and schedules, focusing instead on the human systems that make a location successful. Episodes delve into practical aspects of accountability and communication, but also explore how to genuinely develop employees and foster a culture where people want to perform. You’ll hear concrete discussions about improving daily execution, managing performance constructively, and translating leadership principles into the specific context of a c-store environment. This podcast recognizes that maintaining standards and driving results starts with the manager's own skills, offering ideas and reflections to help turn a hectic store into a thriving one. It’s a resource for those ready to lead, not just manage.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 99

Thrive: Leadership Skills for C-Store Managers
Podcast Episodes
Networking and Relationship Building [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:04
In this episode of "Thrive," host Mike Hernandez delves into the crucial yet often overlooked aspect of convenience store management: networking and relationship building. Learn how to develop and maintain valuable conne…
Sales and Upselling Strategies for Convenience Store Managers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:51
Here's what we'll be covering in today's episode:Sales techniques and consultative selling – Learn how to approach sales in a way that focuses on building trust and meeting customer needs.Identifying upselling opportunit…
Problem-Solving and Decision-Making for Convenience Store Managers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:01
Here's what we're going to cover today:First, we'll discuss developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills—how to think beyond the surface of a problem and dig deeper.Then, we'll go over the importance of analyz…
Technology Integration and Innovation for Convenience Store Managers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:01
In this episode, we'll cover some key areas where technology can greatly impact your day-to-day operations. We'll talk about:Retail technology trends and the latest advancements you should know about.How to implement ele…