About this episode
The episode features interviews with founders of three emerging fast casual brands discussing their growth strategies and innovations.
Discover the rising stars of fast casual dining as hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler interview three breakout brands from FastCasual.com's 2026 list of 25 emerging brands to watch. Jeff Pereira of Jeff's Bagel Run shares how a home kitchen experiment turned into a 26-unit bagel empire with vertical integration and proprietary tech. Brian Simowitz reveals Houston TX Hot Chicken's blueprint for scaling to 300+ locations through racing-inspired energy and loyalty innovation. Matt Morrison discusses Agapé Mediterranean's growth strategy in the fast-expanding Mediterranean category, dubbed "the new Mexican." Learn how these founders are redefining hospitality, leveraging social media, navigating price pressures, and building the next generation of restaurant concepts in a sector projected to reach $148 billion. #FastCasual #RestaurantIndustry #EmergingBrands Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support . Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed…
People in this episode
Hosts: Paul Barron, Cherryh Cansler
Guests: Jeff Pereira, Brian Simowitz, Matt Morrison
Topics covered
- fast casual dining
- emerging brands
- restaurant industry
- hospitality
- social media
- growth strategy
Keywords
- 2026
- restaurant concepts
- loyalty innovation
- vertical integration
- price pressures
Mentioned in this episode
Products: Jeff's Bagel Run, Houston TX Hot Chicken, Agapé Mediterranean
Places: Mediterranean
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