
How Beyond Juicy Built a 51-Location Franchise Empire
Beyond Juicery and Eatery, founded by Mijo Alanis in 2005, has grown from a single Michigan juice bar to a 51‑location franchise spanning the Midwest and beyond. The interview traces the brand’s evolution, from early observations about unhealthy fast‑food options to the launch of a manufacturing facility and the decision to franchise in 2018 after establishing rigorous SOPs and training platforms. Key insights include the timing of the first store—three years before the national juice boom—rapid adoption of bottled cold‑pressed organic juices, and the strategic addition of a full‑service eatery to balance seasonal demand. Jasmine Miller, a former construction executive, now serves as CEO, applying low‑margin, high‑efficiency principles to streamline supply‑chain negotiations and maintain product quality despite rising ingredient costs. Notable moments highlight the company’s culture: Alanis’s mantra “do what others won’t so you can do what they can’t,” the pursuit of certified organic HPP juice, and the launch of limited‑time food items that keep the menu fresh. The partnership with Rising Stars Academy underscores a community‑focused growth strategy. The story illustrates how disciplined operational frameworks, brand differentiation through organic certification, and a flexible menu can fuel rapid franchise expansion in the competitive health‑food sector, offering a blueprint for entrepreneurs seeking scalable, health‑centric concepts.

4 Equipment Trends Shaping the Future of Beverage Menus
The video spotlights Coca‑Cola’s latest equipment innovations, emphasizing a digital overhaul that extends the Freestyle platform’s connectivity and modularity across its entire beverage‑service fleet. Kaiser Sayers explains how the company is translating the popular self‑serve Freestyle experience into a suite...

How Jeff’s Bagel Run Exploded to 35 Locations
Jeff's Bagel Run, founded by Jeff and Danielle Pereira after Jeff lost his job in 2019, grew from a home‑made bagel experiment to 35 stores by 2026, doubling unit count annually and posting over 200% sales growth. The brand attributes growth...

How Savory Fund Plans to Build the Next Generation of Restaurant Brands
In a candid interview, Savory CEO Klay Dover outlines the firm’s operator‑first private‑equity model, positioning Savory as more than a capital source. The firm partners with early‑stage restaurant founders, providing hands‑on expertise, supply‑chain leverage, and a playbook honed from scaling...

Snooze CEO Josh Kern on Navigating Restaurant Challenges & Growth Strategy
In a candid interview with Nation’s Restaurant News, newly appointed Snooze CEO Josh Kern outlines his strategy for turning around a brand that slipped into a 5% sales decline and 2.8% retrenchment after rapid, unfocused expansion. Having left a portfolio...

Cracker Barrel Gets Its Groove Back?? Plus KFC, Flesh Eating Screwworm, and More Restaurant News
The podcast opened with a roundup of recent restaurant‑industry headlines, centering on Cracker Barrel’s unexpected sales recovery after its 2025 logo rebrand fiasco and KFC’s renewed momentum under new leadership. Julie Felsmino, Cracker Barrel’s CEO, reported same‑store sales down only...

Top 500 Restaurant Chains, Revealed: Two Experts Break Down Biggest Trends & Surprises
The latest Technomic‑NRN Top 500 report shows the U.S. restaurant sector entering a low‑growth era, with system‑wide sales up just 3% in 2024 – the weakest expansion outside the pandemic and the Great Recession. Unit growth stalled at 1.7%, meaning most...

Restaurant LTO Playbook: Tap Into Trends While Protecting Margins
The National Restaurant Association Insider Series featured JTM Food Group’s Brad Nelson outlining a playbook for limited‑time offers (LTOs) that help restaurants stay on‑trend while protecting margins. Nelson highlighted the fifth‑year Beer Cheese Throwdown, where contestants incorporated nostalgic, spicy or...

What’s Wrong With Pizza? Mellow Mushroom Has Some Answers with Transformed Experience
In this Takeaway with Sam Okus episode, executive vice‑president Asan Jiva outlines Mellow Mushroom’s three‑year transformation, centered on a “fast‑fine” hybrid service model that blends counter service with the brand’s full‑service roots. The shift aims to capture growing off‑premise demand,...

Restaurant President Explains Hot Chicken's Explosive Growth
Houston Hot Chicken reported a 36% sales surge and a 16% increase in restaurant units despite a tough market environment. The brand accelerated its footprint by signing 25 new franchise agreements in December 2025. Its growth engine relies on a...

From Accounting to Hospitality Leadership: 40 Years in Restaurants
The interview with John Thoer, a Michigan State University School of Hospitality alumnus, marked the centennial celebration of the program and highlighted his four‑decade journey from public accounting to senior finance roles at Hilton, Alapco, and notably Panda Express. Thoer...

Can This Man Save Wendy’s? Plus Starbucks, CAVA, and Other Restaurant Headlines to Know
The Extra Serving podcast tackled several hot restaurant‑industry stories, from Wendy’s new CEO appointment to Starbucks’ reversal on an AI inventory system, and Cava’s impressive quarterly results. Bob Wright, a three‑time Wendy’s veteran who revived Potbelly through digital upgrades and...

PART 2: The Future of Fast Casual Restaurant Chains Will Look Something Like Mendocino Farms
The interview with Alicia Mouter, chief marketing officer of Mendocino Farms, explores how the 20‑year‑old California brand is shaping the future of fast‑casual dining. Mouter describes a hybrid model that blends premium ingredients, table service and a curated dining environment,...

Starbucks, 7 Brew, Memorial Day
Starbucks is abandoning an AI-driven automated inventory-counting system and will revert to a single consistent manual process after staff reported errors and inaccuracies. Drive-through chain 7 Brew continues explosive expansion — posting average unit volumes near $2.7 million, 111% annual...

Restaurant Chains Made This Many Billions in 2025 | Here’s Who Won — and Lost — Big
The Extra Serving podcast recaps the National Restaurant Show and dives into the latest Top 500 restaurant chain rankings, with a spotlight on Jack in the Box’s leadership shake‑up. Host Sam Okus and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the brand’s recent performance woes and...