Catering Cage Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Step inside the Catering Cage as we welcome Claudie Newman, Director of Catering Sales at Founders Table. In this episode, Claudie brings energy and real-world perspective to some of the industry’s toughest questions — from building confidence in catering sales, to creating a culture where teams thrive, to navigating the challenges of scaling hospitality in today’s market.

👉 What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to turn setbacks into stepping stones for catering growth
• Why confidence and culture are non-negotiables for success
• Claudie’s personal lessons from the front lines of hospitality

In this episode of Catering Cage, host Erle Dardick sits down with Alyson Schill, Co-Founder and CEO of Careit, the digital platform that makes it easy for restaurants, caterers, and businesses to donate surplus food to local nonprofits.
Alyson shares her journey from “waste nerd” to food recovery innovator and explains how Careit helps operators cut disposal costs, unlock tax advantages, reduce environmental impact, and strengthen community ties while fighting hunger.

Key takeaways:

• Why about 40% of U.S. food goes to waste, and practical steps operators can take
• The business case for donation: cost savings, tax benefits, and brand goodwill
• Field stories of Careit rerouting leftover catering food to those in need
• How to weave food recovery into daily operations and team culture

Sustainability, social responsibility, and smart business all come together in this conversation, showing why food recovery should be on every operator’s radar.

Join the fastest-growing catering community for restaurants. It’s free to join and built to help you grow smarter and faster. Sign up and download the app at CaterLinked.com.

Join Danna Navarro from Boudin Bakery as she reveals game-changing strategies for catering sales in today's challenging business landscape. Learn how to leverage AI, integrate operations and sales teams, and build lasting client relationships through authentic human connection. From technology tools to sales techniques, this episode offers actionable insights for restaurant professionals looking to thrive amid market uncertainty.

Sponsored by:
OPGA: Off Premise Growth Academy - Join tight-knit communities for catering sales, operations, catering in the c-suite, and catering technology. Find a group that’s right for you and elevate your catering!
https://opga.academy/

CateringSales #RestaurantInnovation #BusinessStrategy
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 https://www.savor.fm/

Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.

Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

In this insightful episode of The Catering Cage, host Erle Dardick speaks with Andrew Nakkache, Co-founder and CEO of FIRST (YC W19), about revolutionizing catering delivery. Andrew shares FIRST's journey from managing their own delivery fleet to becoming a technology company that connects restaurants with delivery providers through their innovative Delivery Display System. The conversation explores the high-stakes nature of catering delivery, strategies for scaling operations beyond five deliveries per day, and the importance of a hybrid approach where restaurants handle VIP orders personally while leveraging partners for routine deliveries. Both experts emphasize relationship-building with key clients and menu consolidation as essential tactics for success in today's challenging market.

Sponsored by:
OPGA: Off Premise Growth Academy - Join tight-knit communities for catering sales, operations, catering in the c-suite, and catering technology. Find a group that’s right for you and elevate your catering! https://opga.academy/

CateringTech #RestaurantOperations #DeliveryInnovation
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 https://www.savor.fm/

Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.

Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

Join Erle Dardick as he interviews Jeremy Hood, founder of Restaurant Results Partners and former restaurant owner, who reveals how independent operators can leverage catering to dramatically increase profits. Jeremy shares his journey from working in his family restaurant to creating systems that allowed for a successful exit, and offers practical advice on menu costing, pricing strategy, and database marketing. Learn how to implement the "law of reciprocity" through strategic sampling, automate your prospecting, and finally start working ON your business instead of just IN it.

Sponsored by: OPGA: Off Premise Growth Academy - Join tight-knit communities for catering sales, operations, catering in the c-suite, and catering technology. Find a group that’s right for you and elevate your catering! https://opga.academy/

RestaurantProfits #CateringSuccess #WorkOnYourBusiness
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 https://www.savor.fm/

Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.

Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

In this eye-opening interview, Garden Catering CEO Frank Carpenteri reveals how his multi-unit restaurant operation transformed their catering strategy from "saying yes to everything" to a focused Monday-to-Friday business lunch model that's driving significant profit margins. Carpenteri shares practical insights on kitchen operations, technology integration, community partnerships, and the coming AI revolution in restaurant catering while emphasizing the importance of focusing on core strengths and consistent client follow-up to create what he calls "a virtuous cycle" where "more catering leads to more retail."

Sponsored by:
OPGA: Off Premise Growth Academy - Join tight-knit communities for catering sales, operations, catering in the c-suite, and catering technology. Find a group that’s right for you and elevate your catering!
https://opga.academy/

RestaurantCatering #B2BFoodService #RestaurantProfits
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 https://www.savor.fm/

Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.

Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

In this insightful episode of "The Catering Cage," host Erle Dardick interviews Mary Shillue Goldberg, Director of Catering at Clover Food Lab, who shares her journey from making early morning box lunches to leading catering for Boston's beloved vegetarian restaurant chain. Mary reveals practical strategies for building successful catering operations, including prioritizing operational excellence before aggressive sales, training "catering captains," creating compelling in-store displays, and leveraging community resources like Caterlink. With competition intensifying from unexpected quarters like grocery stores and convenience chains, Mary's approach of relationship-building, storytelling, and extending brand experience beyond restaurant walls offers valuable insights for operators looking to grow their off-premise business without compromising quality.

RestaurantCatering #OffPremiseSales #FoodServiceInnovation
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. ➡ Visit www.savor.fm

Follow on X: Savor_fm

Discover how restaurant operator Nick Panos transformed his family's pizza business into a thriving catering operation through innovative technology and operational excellence. Learn his proven strategies for maximizing profit margins, building effective teams, and leveraging unused capacity to scale your catering business. From custom tech solutions to timely delivery systems, Panos shares practical insights on how restaurants can build sustainable catering revenue streams while maintaining quality and customer satisfaction.

RestaurantCatering #FoodServiceTech #RestaurantBusiness

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. ➡ Visit www.savor.fm

Follow on X: Savor_fm

Restaurant industry insider Jason Brooks reveals the shocking truth about why most restaurants are leaving MILLIONS on the table with their catering strategies. Discover the hidden fears, critical mistakes, and game-changing solutions that can transform your food service business from struggling to successful. Whether you're a restaurant owner, manager, or aspiring food entrepreneur, this eye-opening breakdown will show you exactly how to unlock massive catering potential and boost your bottom line like never before. Get ready to revolutionize your approach and turn catering from a side project into your most profitable revenue stream!

RestaurantSuccess #CateringPro #FoodServiceInnovation
🫶 Subscribe NOW - Unlock a world of knowledge, innovation, and growth from the largest podcast network in food service! - https://savorfm.substack.com/

Follow on X: Savor_fm

Dive into the world of professional catering sales with industry veteran Lance VanHemel as he shares invaluable insights on building a successful B2B catering operation. From managing relationships between sales and operations teams across 42 locations to his proven strategies for identifying high-value accounts, VanHemel reveals the secrets behind his impressive track record. Learn about his lightning-fast response time approach, sophisticated objection handling techniques, and expert tips for targeting specific industries. Whether you're just starting in catering sales or looking to enhance your existing program, this comprehensive guide offers practical strategies you can implement immediately.

CateringSales #RestaurantBusiness #HospitalityIndustry

🫶 Subscribe NOW - Unlock a world of knowledge, innovation, and growth from the largest podcast network in food service! - https://savorfm.substack.com/

Follow on X: Savor_fm