The Piada Pivot: Can ’Italian Street Food’ Save the Fast-Casual Soul

The Piada Pivot: Can ’Italian Street Food’ Save the Fast-Casual Soul

From Fast Casual Nation by Savor.fm

May 5, 2026 · 51 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the potential breakthrough of fast casual Italian dining with insights from Matt Harding of The Piada Group.

Is fast casual Italian finally having its breakthrough moment? In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Matt Harding, Chief Culinary Officer of The Piada Group, to discuss how the brand has defied the odds in a category that has swallowed competitors whole — covering national expansion plans, value-driven operations, chef-forward food culture, and what it takes to build a fast casual brand that actually lasts.<br /><br />#FastCasualNation #PiadaGroup #FastCasual<br /><br /><br />Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support</a>.<br /><br />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 exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit <a…

People in this episode

Hosts: Paul Barron, Cherryh Cansler

Guest: Matt Harding

Topics covered

  • fast casual dining
  • Italian street food
  • restaurant management
  • brand building
  • culinary innovation

Keywords

  • fast casual
  • Italian food
  • restaurant expansion
  • culinary culture
  • brand longevity

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Piada Group

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