Restaurant Masterminds Podcast

New innovation across the board within the food and beverage industry often occurs within the entrepreneurial Independent and small-to-medium business (SMB) growth space. These businesses are operating with less resources, and business owners often have to make agile decisions on things they may not 100% understand, sometimes even building their own solutions.

Join host Rob Grimes as he dives into his experience working with the independent operators as they consider their investment in technology. First, he expresses a common misconception around the technology environment, that what works for one restaurant or business that is similar to yours, will work for you.

“No two operations are 100% alike. If you’re a pizza restaurant, you aren’t going to operate like every other one. So while it is good to know what they use and recommend, simply comparing yourself to them may not get you the solutions that work for you. Without knowing their TechStack holistically, you won’t know what other systems they’re using outside of the POS. For instance, what applications are in the back office, what do they use for payroll, time & attendance, and food costing? And then, what are they (and you) doing manually through spreadsheets that could be automated?.”

If you’re considering how to upgrade, grow, and enhance your service and offerings through new technology as an independent or SMB, Rob gives his tips to lessen your risk, find what you need, be able to grow and of course provide the best ROI to your operations. Involve the entrepreneur, always think holistically, and understand the full scope of your current operations.

To start the process of developing and implementing a tech strategy & roadmap for your business, listen to this episode of Accelerate.

Limited resources, support, and a lack of digital presence are a few things black-owned restaurants, in particular, struggle with. EatOkra - an community that directly connects consumers with Black-owned restaurants - is here to change that.

Host Rob Grimes is joined by EatOkra Co-Founder Anthony Edwards Jr., and Head of Sales Andre Ferguson. They discuss the inception of EatOkra, including challenges Anthony witnessed his parents facing while operating an events and catering company. Combining an application development background, with a passion for foodservice, Anthony and his co-founder and wife Janique, brought together a team with a wealth of industry experience such as Andre’s who previously worked with UberEATS and Cloud Kitchens.

EatOkra uses technology to empower black food communities through exposure, celebration, and access to developmental resources. They recently celebrated over half a million users and over 9,500 listings.

When it comes to observations about why black restaurants are slower in adopting technology into their restaurants, Anthony notes there is skepticism when it comes to corporate technology. “It’s in the messenger. A lot of companies are sending people that don’t look like them into their communities to sell a product to them.”

If you want to learn more about EatOkra’s mission, the rise of the black restaurant community, and partnership between EatOkra and IFBTA - listen to this episode of Accelerate.

Technology, much like fashion, sometimes follows a lifecycle where trends go from hot to not, and then back to hot again.

Host Rob Grimes attended RetailNow 2023 where there was a replica of the first ever cash register built by Dayton Saloon Owner James Ritty in 1879. James sold to the National Cash Register Company and the rest is history… The cash register exhibit and timeline at the show also inspired a train of thought about this cycle of technology, and why trends appear or even reappear later. QR codes and Kiosks, for example are great examples of technologies that existed in the hospitality industries prior to COVID, but only afterwards became more mainstream and accepted within operations. Why is that?

Well, there are a lot of reason for this, Rob explains. “A lot of times while the technology exists, the infrastructure to introduce it does not.” He compares the U.S. market to Japan and why the latter was able to introduce handheld devices to their restaurant market right away, while the US market was 20 years later. Cost, regulations, and consumer adoption are also deterrents to adopting technology immediately.

A lot of times, big events which trigger the need to adopt certain technology - 9/11 caused the desire for security and like COVID for many of the technological adoptions in the restaurant industry, with alcohol delivery and the need to be remote. Other industries also influence the consumer’s desire to have access to certain technology within the hospitality verticals.

If you want to hear more about the cycle of technology, tips to stay ahead of the curve, and even where Rob predicts where AI and ChatGPT will fit within this cycle - listen to this episode of Accelerate.

When it comes to investing in foodservice and food related technologies, you may want to have a conversation with former NFL player Lamarr Houston who clearly has a taste for this! Lamarr joins Accelerate Host Rob Grimes to talk about how his athletic, business and entrepreneurial passions have come together to feed his inspiration and ideas that started early in his life.
Lamarr started angel investing with a former teammate, Dez Bryant, and currently has a small portfolio of seven companies - all with a different focus - from alcoholic beverage vending machines to mushrooms to semiconductors. When discussing his Liquor Software business BoxxTech, Houston says what originally was a traditional snack vending machine quickly evolved into a tech business when he realized what he was looking for didn’t exist.

“The consumer is there for the reason of the event and being that it's centered around that we want the customer to not be standing in a line for 45 minutes waiting for a drink” he says. They needed a quicker and more convenient way to get their beverages. But when it came to alcohol, age verification and limits on serving multiple drinks, also needed to be addressed.
If you want to hear Lamarr’s thoughts and advice on food-tech investing or learn more about Houston’s entrepreneurial beginnings and even personal favorite technology - listen to this episode of Accelerate.

The restaurant industry has traditionally been slow about adapting to the digital age.
Starting with the impact of COVID in changing the way restaurants operate, the industry turned to Delivery and eCommerce, and a new focus on Delivering Digitally. This business shift, brought about the birth of the Digital Restaurant Association (“DRA”) who recently announced its partnership and alliance with the IFBTA.

Host Rob Grimes, founder, and CEO of the IFBTA is joined by Joe Reinstein, Executive Director of the DRA in having a conversation that covers why Digital plays such an important and expanding role in today’s restaurant operations and why the IFBTA and DRA have come together to help restaurants thrive in the digital world.

As the IFBTA connects the entire restaurant technology ecosystem and the operators within it, Joe highlights that in addition to providing digital education, products and services, one of the key objectives of the DRA is to give restaurants a voice in public policy - noting third parties are now controlling new customers in the digital space. “If you think about before the pandemic, the restaurants were doing 8% of their sales through online delivery - now they’re doing 20-50% of their revenue through online ordering.”

Both organizations will kickoff the new partnership by hosting a joint Virtual Chapter Meeting and Restaurant Marketing Summit on July 25th to 27th.
If you want to hear more about the opportunities and challenges to the restaurant industry brought about by the industry’s Digital Revolution, and the roles the IFBTA and DRA play in support of this - listen to this episode of Accelerate.

It’s the end of Q2, and that means half the year is gone. A great time for reflection & planning for the future.

Host Rob Grimes shares his own reflections and recent observations on this week’s Accelerate podcast - noting 6 months of conversations and participating in industry events has given him a perspective on what’s coming the rest of this year and beyond.

Just based on physical presence at national events, “Robotics took the biggest space” mentions Rob. AI was also a central theme that took the spotlight at national and regional shows alike. While labor continues to be a main concern into the end of the year, data seems to indicate there’s some relief through leveraging the gig economy and a focus on better scheduling practices.

Considering both internal and external views of how to proceed, Rob suggests competitive analysis; being constantly aware of changes to the market, and to look at your TechStack holistically by putting everything on a whiteboard and seeing how the fit (or not) together. In terms of implementing new changes, whether those be technology or operational, give yourself 6 months to identify, research, review, select and test anything major. A structured process that defines the requirements, sets a reasonable gameplan and timeline, allows you to test thoroughly, and finally plan your launch, will help to ensure success.

If you want to hear Rob’s 2023 observations to-date, and his thoughts on investing to year-end and beyond, listen to this episode Accelerate.

Giving back to local communities has always been a key focus for hospitality and restaurant brands. This act of service can make a difference in local communities, it creates a connection between the guest and business.

Joining Accelerate host Rob Grimes this week is Michelle McCarthy, Executive Director of Round It Up America an application conceived and developed by leaders in the restaurant industry, to make it easier than ever to donate through POS connected technology. Michelle previously worked with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, and COO for American Red Cross in Los Angeles, and has been able to leverage her experiences to support our industry.

Michelle gives credit to micro transactions as an easy way to get into giving back. “Even [employees] can participate because it isn't asking for them to write a big check. You know it's a small donation that goes a long way” she says, adding that this charity can be added easily as a new item to a menu at any business.

Charity is also a way to build morale within a company. Employees also want to feel like they’re making an impact with their work - and adoption of these giving back campaigns by employees and guests alike is the best way to make them successful.

If you want to hear about the ways that technology is changing the business of charity, and simple ways to get involved with giving back - listen to this episode of Accelerate.

Among the oldest mediums to predict the future of technology, books theorize where we might be headed, and one genre in particular has been a consistent predictor of the future and tech - science fiction. Science fiction has always pushed the boundaries of the current science that we think we know. Scientific thought beginning with theories, moving to research, confirming facts, and in the end, many ending up as reality.

Joining host Rob Grimes is W.L. Hoffman, the author of the Soulstealer War series. Coming from a law background, W.L. Hoffman eventually made a shift in his career after finding inspiration on the beach at the Jersey Shore, he followed his dreams and passion to start writing science fiction stories.

He references how Jules Verne, a science fiction writer in the 1880’s, “accurately depicted a sub that had all the aspects of nuclear technology.” Combining the aspects of observation and creativity is a key component to the sci-fi genre. It’s also why many times the prediction becomes reality.

Relating to the restaurant industry, W.L. Hoffman advises thinking outside of the box. Observe patterns and adapt your ideas of technology to create a better and more unique experience.

If you want to explore the world of science fiction, and its impact of the present and the future, you don’t want to miss this Accelerate conversation with W.L. Hoffman.

What inspires technology? The simple answer is that people look towards technology that makes their lives easier and/or more enjoyable. If people don’t buy-in to technology, if they’re not enthusiastic about it, then it’s not going to be used – Accelerate host Rob Grimes included!

On this week’s episode of Accelerate, Rob explores some of the personal technologies he’s invested in and how these technologies are shifting to accommodate his individualized preferences which also find their way into technology adoption within the hospitality industries. In many ways people are trying to simulate their preferred technology they get at home in their restaurant and hospitality experiences.

For example, voice control is a technological innovation that people are using at their home or on-the-go. This is translatable to the experiences one might get when they go into the hospitality industry, where they will begin to expect universal voice integration within the technologies used by both customers and operators.

If you want to learn more about the symbiotic relationship between our personal desires and technological advancements as well as Rob’s own personal inspirations, listen to this episode Accelerate.

Partnerships are the backbone of any great organization and it’s with those partners that you can provide stellar service and offerings for operators of all sizes locally, regionally, and nationally. This is where the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA) supports the Vendors of tech and their channels of Value-Added Resellers (“VAR’s”) throughout the foodservice, hospitality, and retail industries. In its 75th year, the RSPA provides leadership, training and support to it members in order to provide the best solutions to the operators who need them.

On this week’s episode of Accelerate, host Rob Grimes has a conversation with Jim Roddy, CEO of the RSPA where they discuss the impact, opportunities and ways that operators can engage with RSPA members. They also discuss the newest partnership between the RSPA and IFBTA.