Summary
In this episode of the Pizza King podcast, Tyrell Reed shares insights from his recent experience at the Pizza Power Forum. He emphasizes the importance of community within the pizza industry, highlights key networking opportunities, and discusses valuable lessons learned from industry leaders, particularly from Chick-fil-A. The conversation also covers marketing strategies, the significance of creating genuine connections, and practical advice for scaling a pizza business. Tyrell encourages listeners to engage with their communities and continue learning to drive success in their pizza ventures.

Takeaways:

• The pizza community is built on support and love.
• Networking at events is crucial for growth.
• Chick-fil-A's success is rooted in strong leadership vetting.
• Marketing should focus on creating conversations.
• Operators need to evolve with changing consumer preferences.
• Solving one problem at a time leads to effective management.
• Perfection can hinder progress in business.
• Getting outside your shop can provide fresh perspectives.
• Community connections are vital for business success.
• Continuous learning is essential in the pizza industry.

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In this Takeout Tip, I share a line I picked up at the Pizza Power Forum that hit me hard: “Create conversations, not campaigns.” Most operators treat social media like a flyer, posting specials and coupons with no real connection. I explain why that approach doesn’t work and how you can shift your strategy.

I walk through:

• Why asking questions beats posting pictures
• How putting your team on camera builds loyalty
• Why responding quickly matters more than likes
• Easy ways to use polls and stories to spark engagement

If your social media feels more like a bulletin board than a conversation, this episode will show you how to flip the script and get your customers talking with you.

Brought to you by TyrellReed.com

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We Appreciate Your Support

Hey, if you’ve gotten any value from this episode, I’d love your support. Leaving a quick review on Apple or a 5-star rating on Spotify helps more pizzeria owners find this show. And as a thank you, I’m sending a free gift to every listener who shares their review—just DM me a screenshot and I’ll send you something awesome

Learn how to cut costs in your pizzeria without cutting quality. In this episode, Tyrell Reed shares three proven strategies every operator can use: portion control to keep food costs in line, smart ordering to avoid waste, and efficient scheduling to save on labor. These steps can add up to thousands of dollars in savings each month while keeping your pizzas, service, and customer experience consistent. If you’re serious about profitability and growth, this episode will help you run a leaner, smarter shop. 

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Free New Store Opening Checklist
New Pizzeria? Free Store Opening Checklist! Ace Your Launch

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

We Appreciate Your Support

Hey, if you’ve gotten any value from this episode, I’d love your support. Leaving a quick review on Apple or a 5-star rating on Spotify helps more pizzeria owners find this show. And as a thank you, I’m sending a free gift to every listener who shares their review—just DM me a screenshot and I’ll send you something awesome

Cheese is the biggest cost in your shop, and if you’re not tracking it, you’re losing money. In this Takeout Tip I show you how just one extra ounce per pizza can cost nearly $6,000 a year. 

Today’s episode is sponsored by Tyrell Reed—download your free New Store Opening Checklist 

https://go.tyrellreed.com/checklist

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Support the show

We Appreciate Your Support

Hey, if you’ve gotten any value from this episode, I’d love your support. Leaving a quick review on Apple or a 5-star rating on Spotify helps more pizzeria owners find this show. And as a thank you, I’m sending a free gift to every listener who shares their review—just DM me a screenshot and I’ll send you something awesome

In this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, I sit down with Matthew Zeiss, better known online as @swedza, the creator of Holy Hot Honey. Matt shares his journey from growing up on Long Island to moving to Sweden, where he discovered a completely different pizza culture. One where kebab pizza reigns supreme and Friday night means tacos, not pizza.

We talk about his deep dive into making authentic New York–style pizza at home, how that passion led to experimenting with hot honey recipes, and why his version brings a savory depth that stands apart from anything else on the market. Matt walks us through the process of building his brand from scratch. From steeping peppers for a month to nailing the perfect label design, and his big vision for getting Holy Hot Honey onto shelves around the world.

Along the way, we also touch on Matt’s other passions: music, graphic design, and even his award-winning Elvis tribute performances. It’s a conversation about projects, creativity, and the hustle of turning a big idea into reality. Pizzeria operators, take note...you might just want to get your hands on a bottle of this “divinely sweet, sinfully spicy” honey for your shop.

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DM us a screenshot of your review and get a special gift!

Free New Store Opening Checklist
New Pizzeria? Free Store Opening Checklist! Ace Your Launch

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

We Appreciate Your Support

Hey, if you’ve gotten any value from this episode, I’d love your support. Leaving a quick review on Apple or a 5-star rating on Spotify helps more pizzeria owners find this show. And as a thank you, I’m sending a free gift to every listener who shares their review—just DM me a screenshot and I’ll send you something awesome

In this Takeout Tip, Tyrell Reed explains how clear expectations on day one improve pizza shop training and team performance. Learn a simple way to set non-negotiables with new hires and build a stronger restaurant culture.

Takeout Tips are quick bites of restaurant leadership and pizza business advice from the Pizza King Podcast.

For more tools and full episodes, follow the Pizza King Podcast. 

Let's Connect! Click here to send me a text

Free New Store Opening Checklist
New Pizzeria? Free Store Opening Checklist! Ace Your Launch

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

We Appreciate Your Support

Hey, if you’ve gotten any value from this episode, I’d love your support. Leaving a quick review on Apple or a 5-star rating on Spotify helps more pizzeria owners find this show. And as a thank you, I’m sending a free gift to every listener who shares their review—just DM me a screenshot and I’ll send you something awesome

Most restaurants don’t fail because of bad food. They fail because of poor leadership. In this episode, Tyrell Reed shares lessons from his California Restaurant Show session Lead the Shift, including how to train managers who lead, not babysit, and why systems, not goals, drive success. Plus, news on his upcoming book Lead the Shift.

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Free New Store Opening Checklist
New Pizzeria? Free Store Opening Checklist! Ace Your Launch

Scale Your Shop Without Burnout
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Pizza Business Coach
Free 45-Min Pizza Biz Strategy Call: Transform Your Success Now!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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We Appreciate Your Support

Hey, if you’ve gotten any value from this episode, I’d love your support. Leaving a quick review on Apple or a 5-star rating on Spotify helps more pizzeria owners find this show. And as a thank you, I’m sending a free gift to every listener who shares their review—just DM me a screenshot and I’ll send you something awesome

The California Restaurant Show 2025 brought pizzeria owners, restaurant operators, and the pizza industry together under one roof. Hear my highlights from the event, leadership lessons from the stage, and visits to some of the best pizza shops in California. 

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DM us a screenshot of your review and get a special gift!

Free New Store Opening Checklist
New Pizzeria? Free Store Opening Checklist! Ace Your Launch

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

We Appreciate Your Support

Hey, if you’ve gotten any value from this episode, I’d love your support. Leaving a quick review on Apple or a 5-star rating on Spotify helps more pizzeria owners find this show. And as a thank you, I’m sending a free gift to every listener who shares their review—just DM me a screenshot and I’ll send you something awesome

 

What can a pizza operator learn from a guy who's built and scaled 12 online brands to over $10 million in sales — without a warehouse, storefront, or full-time staff? 

In this episode, I sit down with Neil Twa, Amazon FBA expert and co-author of Almost-Automated Income, to unpack the systems, mindset, and data-driven strategy behind his success. 

We cover: 

• How Neil finds profitable products in minutes
• Why volume doesn’t matter if profit margins suck
• The power of selling "shovels to miners"
• What Amazon’s AI engine can teach you about customer targeting
• Why e-commerce isn’t a side hustle — and neither is your pizzeria

Whether you're running a pizza shop or launching your next product, this episode will challenge how you think about scale, automation, and ownership.
 
🎁 Grab Neil’s bestselling book for FREE at voltagedm.com/freebook — use code pizzaking.
 

Let's Connect! Click here to send me a text

DM us a screenshot of your review and get a special gift!

Support the show

We Appreciate Your Support

Hey, if you’ve gotten any value from this episode, I’d love your support. Leaving a quick review on Apple or a 5-star rating on Spotify helps more pizzeria owners find this show. And as a thank you, I’m sending a free gift to every listener who shares their review—just DM me a screenshot and I’ll send you something awesome

In this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, I break down what it’s really like to sell your pizza shop after 23 years in the business. From running seven Westshore Pizza locations to navigating the emotional ups and downs of exiting the business, I share the behind-the-scenes story of my final days as a restaurant owner.

Whether you're thinking about selling your pizzeria, planning your exit strategy, or just curious about what life looks like after ownership—this one's for you. I also talk about what's next: my focus on coaching pizza operators, building community, and (yes) still making pies—just at home now.

What you'll learn:

• How we decided to sell our pizza shop
• What the sales process actually looked like
• Life after owning a pizzeria
• Why I’m not rushing back into ownership
• What's next for the Pizza King Podcast and beyond

🎁 Bonus: Hear how to grab some free Westshore Pizza merch just by supporting the show!

Let's Connect! Click here to send me a text

Scale Your Shop Without Burnout
A free video training for serious pizza operators.

Free New Store Opening Checklist
New Pizzeria? Free Store Opening Checklist! Ace Your Launch

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

We Appreciate Your Support

Hey, if you’ve gotten any value from this episode, I’d love your support. Leaving a quick review on Apple or a 5-star rating on Spotify helps more pizzeria owners find this show. And as a thank you, I’m sending a free gift to every listener who shares their review—just DM me a screenshot and I’ll send you something awesome