On this episode of Hospitality Hangout, Ray joins the show live from The Prosper Forum in Orlando, Florida to talk about capturing the Friday Feeling and rebuilding one of casual dining’s most iconic brands from the inside out.

Ray shares how he moved from the kitchen to the boardroom, left Fridays as president, led other major restaurant companies, and returned to a brand he never stopped caring about. He talks about the work behind the comeback, including leadership, franchisee alignment, technology upgrades, off-premise, social media, hospitality, and an 85% menu refresh built around food the team can be proud to serve.

The conversation also gets into the bigger Fridays story: potato skins, Jack Daniel’s ribs, bar flair, striped uniforms, big appetizers, mocktails, GLP-1 dining behavior, delivery, Olo, global growth, and the brand’s goal of reaching 1,000-plus restaurants and $2 billion in annual revenue by 2030.

From the original singles bar to a global casual dining brand, this episode is about restoring the energy, hospitality, and social connection that made TGI Fridays famous, while building a version of the brand for the next generation.

Episode Credits:

• Produced by: Branded Hospitality Media
• Hosted by: Michael Schatzberg, Jimmy Frischling
• Producer: Julie Zucker
• Creative Director: Adam Levine
• Show Runner: Drewe Raimi
• Post Production: Three Cheers Creative

www.thehospitalityhangout.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jake Karls, co-founder and rainmaker of Mid-Day Squares, joins Hospitality Hangout for The Food Fluencers series to talk about the chocolate bar built for the 2 p.m. crash and the founder-led content strategy that turned a better-for-you snack into one of the most talked-about brands in CPG.

Jake shares how Mid-Day Squares started with Lezlie Karls making a cleaner afternoon chocolate snack for Nick Saltarelli, how the three founders began making bars by hand in a condo kitchen, and how they hand-delivered product while documenting the entire journey online.

Jake also talks about using social media as a competitive weapon, hiring a videographer before most people thought it made sense, turning a Hershey moment into a viral diss-track-style music video, building fans who fix shelves in grocery stores, and why the future belongs to brands that can earn attention and get customers to come back.

From functional chocolate and protein-packed snacks to Target, Whole Foods, Costco, offices, coffee shops, nostalgia flavors, food influencers, and the future of midday snacking, this episode is a look at how Mid-Day Squares turned a chocolate bar into a movement.

Episode Credits:

• Produced by: Branded Hospitality Media
• Hosted by: Michael Schatzberg, Jimmy Frischling
• Producer: Julie Zucker
• Creative Director: Adam Levine
• Show Runner: Drewe Raimi
• Post Production: Three Cheers Creative

www.thehospitalityhangout.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

John Kelly, Brand President of SONIC Drive-In, joins Hospitality Hangout for a conversation about drinks, drive-in culture, nostalgia, technology, and why SONIC still feels different.

John talks about the power of SONIC’s beverage platform, from cherry limeades and Refreshers to dirty soda, SONIC ice, and more than a million drink combinations. He also gets into the SONIC Smasher, value, mobile ordering, SONIC Rewards, third-party delivery, and the role of drive-in stalls in creating a guest experience that still feels personal.

The episode also explores how SONIC is thinking about AI and restaurant technology. John’s focus is on helping general managers make better decisions, improve speed of service, and run stronger restaurants without letting technology get in the way of hospitality.

From “newstalgia” to custom drinks, this is a look at how SONIC is keeping its brand fun, familiar, and different.

Episode Credits:

• Produced by: Branded Hospitality Media
• Hosted by: Michael Schatzberg, Jimmy Frischling
• Producer: Julie Zucker
• Creative Director: Adam Levine
• Show Runner: Drewe Raimi
• Post Production: Three Cheers Creative

www.thehospitalityhangout.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.