エピソード

  • 502. How to Build a Restaurant Team That Stays | Tom Kilby, Vanteo

    502. How to Build a Restaurant Team That Stays | Tom Kilby, Vanteo
    2026/09/04
    Finding good restaurant employees is hard. Keeping them can be even harder. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, Roger sits down with Tom Kilby of Vanteo to talk about what it really takes to build a restaurant team that stays. They dig into smarter recruiting strategies, better onboarding, creating a culture people want to be part of, developing employees from within, and why restaurant operators need to think beyond simply filling the next open position. You’ll discover practical ideas for: • Recruiting restaurant employees beyond traditional job boards • Creating a stronger onboarding experience • Setting expectations from day one • Improving employee retention and workplace culture • Developing and promoting your best people • Building a longer-term staffing strategy If staffing challenges are costing your restaurant time, money and momentum, this episode will give you a different way to think about building your team. A special thank you to our sponsor, Smithfield Culinary. Smithfield Culinary serves up perfect proteins for every dish, every daypart, like Smithfield’s new Ready to Eat Select Bacon, new Ground Chorizo, or the broadest portfolio of pork. When you partner with Smithfield, you serve what you love and your guests will love what you serve. To order or learn more: https://smithfieldculinary.com/smithfield 🎓 Ready to build a stronger, more profitable restaurant? Join The Profitable Restaurant Operator Academy for proven systems, tools and training to help you improve your team, operations and bottom line: https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy Subscribe to the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast for more restaurant management, leadership, operations and profitability strategies.
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    36 分
  • 501. The Restaurant Profit Strategy Most Operators Overlook | Greg Vojnovic

    501. The Restaurant Profit Strategy Most Operators Overlook | Greg Vojnovic
    2026/08/26
    What if one of your greatest opportunities to improve restaurant profit has nothing to do with raising prices or cutting costs? Greg Vojnovic of The Melt joins Roger to reveal the restaurant profit strategy many operators overlook: building a culture and operation their people can execute successfully. In this episode, discover: • Why financial metrics are often lagging indicators • How operational complexity hurts execution • Why The Melt avoids constantly adding limited-time offers • How cross-training improves labor efficiency • Why strong restaurant cultures retain better employees • How The Melt develops leaders from within • How one location grew from $1.5 million to $6.1 million in annual sales Profitability is not created only in a spreadsheet. It begins with your people, leadership, culture and consistent daily execution. Learn more and join the Restaurant Academy: https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMelt/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themelt/ Website: https://www.themelt.com
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    34 分
  • 500. 10 Restaurant Profit Strategies Every Operator Should Know - Roger Beaudoin

    500. 10 Restaurant Profit Strategies Every Operator Should Know - Roger Beaudoin
    2026/08/17
    It’s our 500th episode, and I’m sharing 10 proven ways to make your restaurant more profitable. These aren’t theories. They’re strategies I used in my own restaurants to increase sales, control costs, build stronger teams and create extraordinary guest experiences. In this episode, I cover menu costing and profit contribution, prime cost, inventory, portion control, training your team to serve and sell, creating high-profit “cash cows,” generating additional revenue, recruiting A-players and recognizing and rewarding your best people. I’ll also share some of my favorite real-world strategies, including the mug club that grew to 1,200 members and generated $75,000 a year, plus the recognition program that helped us achieve a 96% employee retention rate. The big takeaway? Being busy doesn't necessarily mean you're profitable. Know your numbers, train your people and give your guests an experience that keeps them coming back. Ready to put these strategies to work in your restaurant? 👉 Join the Profitable Restaurant Operator Academy: https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy Here’s to 500 episodes...and to your restaurant’s success! Roger
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    38 分
  • 498. Restaurant Systems That Build Profitable Teams (Without Constant Turnover) - Kyle Peters

    498. Restaurant Systems That Build Profitable Teams (Without Constant Turnover) - Kyle Peters
    2026/08/02
    In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, Roger sits down with Kyle Peters, co-owner of Sexy Pizza, to discuss the operational systems that help independent restaurants reduce turnover, improve profitability and build stronger teams. From employee retention and leadership to KPIs, inventory, labor management, marketing and community engagement, Kyle shares practical strategies that operators can implement immediately. Learn why checklists create accountability, how tracking the right numbers protects margins, and why investing in your people often delivers a bigger return than constantly hiring new ones. In this episode you'll discover: • Why retention beats constant hiring • The restaurant KPIs every operator should track • How checklists improve accountability and consistency • Ways to reduce labor leakage and protect profits • Community marketing that builds loyal guests • Loyalty ideas that keep customers coming back • Why strong vendor relationships improve your bottom line Whether you operate one restaurant or multiple locations, this episode is packed with practical ideas to help you build a stronger team, improve operations and increase profitability. 🎙 Restaurant Rockstars Podcast: https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/podcasts Helping independent restaurant owners build more profitable restaurants through better leadership, systems and operations. ⭐️ The Profitable Operator Restaurant Academy: Practical systems and operational strategies designed to help independent restaurant operators improve profitability, performance, and control. https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy 🔥 FREE 5 DAY RESTAURANT MENU MARGIN MAKEOVER CHALLENGE: https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/the-5-day-menu-margin-makeover-challenge Connect with our guest 👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sexypizza Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sexypizza/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sexypizzaco?lang=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sexypizza/ https://sexy.pizza
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    36 分
  • 497. Restaurant Leadership Secrets That Build Better Teams & Bigger Profits | Steve Kislow, CEO of Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

    497. Restaurant Leadership Secrets That Build Better Teams & Bigger Profits | Steve Kislow, CEO of Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
    2026/07/24
    What separates great restaurant operators from everyone else? According to Firebirds Wood Fired Grill CEO Steve Kislow, it starts with leadership. In this episode of Restaurant Rockstars, Steve shares the leadership principles, accountability systems, and operational disciplines that helped grow Firebirds from just three restaurants to 70 locations across 23 states. Roger and Steve discuss hiring great leaders, creating a culture of meaningful feedback, improving employee retention, tracking the KPIs that matter most, protecting restaurant profits, using technology wisely, and delivering memorable guest experiences without losing the human side of hospitality. Whether you own a single independent restaurant or manage multiple locations, you'll walk away with practical ideas you can implement immediately. ▶️ Watch the Episode: https://restaurantrockstars.com/audio/497-restaurant-leadership-profits/ In this episode: • Hiring leaders who build winning teams • Creating accountability through feedback • Why employee retention is a critical KPI • Protecting profits without sacrificing hospitality • Restaurant systems that drive consistency • Using AI and technology the right way • Creating value that keeps guests coming back Connect with our guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-kislow/ https://firebirdsrestaurants.com 🔥 If you're serious about building a more profitable restaurant, the Restaurant Rockstars Academy is for you. Inside, you'll learn Roger's proven systems for leadership, profitability, menu engineering, marketing, labor control, and building a restaurant that runs smoothly, even when you're not there. Learn more at restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy. ⭐️ Thanks to our podcast sponsor – PosterMyWall PosterMyWall is the AI-powered marketing platform built for restaurants. Create social media posts, email campaigns, event promotions, automatic reminders, and event calendars, all from one easy-to-use platform. With millions of professionally designed templates and built-in AI, you can create high-quality marketing in minutes, no design skills or agency required. Visit postermywall.com and use promo code RESTAURANT30 to save 30% on a Premium subscription.
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    36 分
  • 496. The Restaurant Hospitality Formula That Keeps Guests Coming Back - Brian Toll

    496. The Restaurant Hospitality Formula That Keeps Guests Coming Back - Brian Toll
    2026/07/09
    What keeps guests coming back again and again? In this episode, Roger sits down with Brian Toll, co-founder of h.wood Group, to discuss the leadership, culture, and hospitality strategies behind one of the industry's fastest-growing restaurant groups. You'll learn: Why "wow" experiences create loyal guests How to hire and retain exceptional employees The leadership habits that build winning restaurant cultures The KPIs every operator should monitor Creative ways to increase traffic on slower nights Lessons learned from growing multiple successful restaurant concepts Learn more about h.wood Group: https://www.hwoodgroup.com Thanks to Our Sponsors Owner.com helps restaurants increase direct online orders with automated marketing campaigns and a branded mobile app. 👉 https://www.owner.com/rockstars Smithfield Culinary helps restaurants save time and labor while serving premium-quality proteins guests love. 👉 https://www.smithfieldselect.com Join the Restaurant Rockstars Academy Ready to build a more profitable restaurant? 👉 https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy
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    39 分
  • 495. Restaurant General Manager Secrets with Andrew Roy | Leadership, Labor & Profit

    495. Restaurant General Manager Secrets with Andrew Roy | Leadership, Labor & Profit
    2026/07/05
    What separates an average restaurant manager from a truly great general manager? In this episode, Roger sits down with Andrew Roy, General Manager of Mahogany Prime Steakhouse, to discuss the leadership habits, systems, and financial discipline that drive successful restaurants. From hiring and accountability to labor management, guest recovery, online reviews, inventory, prime cost, and profitability, Andrew shares practical strategies every restaurant owner, operator, and GM can put to work immediately. Whether you're leading one restaurant or a growing team, this episode is packed with real-world advice to help you build stronger people, deliver better hospitality, and run a more profitable operation. ▶️ Watch now: https://restaurantrockstars.com/audio/495-restaurant-general-manager-secrets/ 👉 Want to build a more profitable restaurant? Join the Restaurant Rockstars Academy for proven systems, practical training, and expert coaching: https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy Thank You to our Sponsors: ⭐️ Smithfield Culinary serves up perfect proteins for every dish and every daypart like Smithfield’s new ready to eat select bacon, Its premium, ready to cook bacon that will elevate your menu and your bottom line. Smithfield Select saves you time, labor and back of house costs all while satisfying your guests. When you partner with Smithfield, you serve what you love and your guests will love what you serve. To order or more information go to: https://www.smithfieldselect.com ⭐️ Owner.com: Owner.com runs automated marketing campaigns for your restaurant that send personalized offers, order reminders, promotions, and new menu announcements automatically to your guests. So your marketing works for you every single day.And here’s the real power move: Owner.com gives your restaurant your own branded app. Go to https://www.owner.com/rockstars
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    33 分
  • 303. One Solution to Today’s Restaurant Labor Challenges - Sam Zeitz

    303. One Solution to Today’s Restaurant Labor Challenges - Sam Zeitz
    2022/07/22
    Everyone is searching for solutions to today’s restaurant “big issues” ie: labor, prices, shortages… In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Sam Zeitz, CEO of www.grubbrr.com Grubbrr offers one such solution with their self-ordering technology and digital restaurant kiosks. Listen on as Sam tells us: - What the “restaurant of the future” looks like - How this technology combines order by phone with speed, convenience and ease of payment - The way Grubbrr offers Upsells & Suggestive Selling to increase the guest check - Leveraging “Artificial Intelligence (AI)” for most popular or profitable items - How to keep guests informed and notified by text and the “Progress Board” And of course, the on-boarding process and timing to get your restaurant set up.. ROCK Your Restaurant. Roger Thank you to our Sponsors: SRV - Unlock Staff Potential and Maximize Sales. SRV teaches your team to profitably sell and accurately create the food and drinks at your restaurant. Learn More: https://srvnow.com/ SparkPlug - The World’s 1st Incentive Management Platform for Restaurant Servers. Sparkplug Will Pay $200 For Your Restaurant’s 1st Incentive Campaign. Learn More: https://Sparkplug.App/rockstars Davo – Automate Your Sales Tax. Why not Try Davo FREE for 30 days: https://www.davosalestax.com/ Popmenu - For a limited time only, popmenu is offering our listeners $100 off your first month plus an unchanging lifetime rate. FREE Demo: https://www.popmenu.com/rockstars
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    53 分