In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Heather Neary, CEO of Taco John’s, in-person at the Restaurant Leadership Conference in Phoenix. Heather took the reins at Taco John’s a little over a year ago, shortly after the brand experienced the bright spotlight of the Taco Tuesday trademark battle with Taco Bell. Her strategy at the chain has been to tap into Taco John’s roots as a 56-year-old Mexican QSR that has a presence in a lot of small communities across America, and to remind fans who may be nostalgic for the chain why they should fall in love with it all over again. She joined the podcast to talk about how Taco John’s plans to capture the attention of young consumers in particular and why it’s pursuing disciplined, responsible growth across the country.

In this conversation, you’ll find out why:

• You can go a long distance by taking little steps every day
• Nostalgia is a powerful marketing tool 
• Sometimes the things you should be talking about are the most obvious 
• In volatile, uncertain times, it’s helpful to tackle things as a team
• Disciplined, responsible growth is usually more productive than shiny opportunities 

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