In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Mahesh Sadarangani, the CEO of Philz Coffee, an artisanal coffee brand that, for more than 20 years, has committed itself to serving hand-crafted coffee using sustainably sourced beans from around the world. Mahesh arrived at Philz from Wingstop in 2021, and he set out to modernize and optimize the chain while protecting its quality commitment. He joined the podcast to talk about how Philz manages to obsess over its high-quality coffee even as it adds tools like drive thrus and loyalty programs. 

In this conversation, you’ll find out why:

• The coffee category is highly fragmented — which is good news for all of us
• Your brand’s original values are probably still relevant for your path forward
• Restaurant brands need multiple formats to fulfill their potential 
• Even saturated categories are ripe for something outside the box
• Your experience defines your relationship with your guest; don’t mess with it too much
• Human connection is alive and well in the restaurant industry 

Have feedback or ideas for Take-Away? Email Sam at [email protected].