During this unrehearsed, unedited interview, Restaurant Technologies Inc. (RTI) CEO Jeff Kiesel shares how his business overcame significant COVID-19-related challenges and along the way, improved its go-to-market strategy and how it takes care of its 10 largest clients. It also consolidated/simplified its IT systems and centralized administrative work. When COVID first affected RTI’s business, it furloughed 250 people. All but 7 have since returned to work (five retired), plus another 350 have been hired during 2021 and dozens more a month are expected to be added through December.

RTI delivers new and recovers used cooking oil for more than 30,000 restaurants as well as food service providers serving commercial and non-commercial customers. RTI is based in Mendota Heights, Minn., and operates though 40 depots located across most of the country. It also provides fry cook hood cleaning systems and services, a niche it began covering about four years ago.

About One Take: Minnesota CEOs discuss how they're navigating the latest challenges and opportunities facing their businesses, leadership teams and employees during one-on-one unrehearsed, unscripted and unedited interviews. CEOs are selected based upon the degree of interest they may provide to One Take's audience. One Take receives no compensation from those it interviews or their companies. The interviews are produced by award-winning journalist Dale Kurschner, who today serves as an executive consultant with Platinum Group, Minnesota's most experienced firm guiding business owners and leaders through acquisitions, divestitures, turnarounds, family business disputes, and crises.