Keeping the Human Touch as Restaurants Adopt More Technology with Carin Stutz

On today’s episode of Fast Casual Insider, Jerry sits down with Carin Stutz, the former EVP of Red Robin. Carin has more than 40 years’ experience in the restaurant industry. She’s held leadership roles for major brands such as Applebee’s, Wendy’s, and McAlister’s Deli. She’s seen a lot of change in her tenure and talks to Jerry about how the lessons from the past can inform the changing technological landscape of fast-casual dining.

• [02:13] - The Volstead Act
• [03:28] - What are some of the biggest lessons you learned in your career?
• [07:54] - Changes to the fast casual marketplace over time
• [09:57] - How did you emerge from Wendy's as an entrepreneur?
• [11:44] - Peter Drucker
• [12:13] - The importance of culture over strategy
• [13:51] - Can emphasis on results interfere with growth?
• [15:41] - Is innovation coming from disruption?
• [17:59] - Are you concerned about third-party delivery changing the industry?
• [21:55] - Should third-party delivery be considered a separate P&L item?
• [23:38] - How did your mentoring skills grow?
• [25:06] - What's new vs. what's next?
• [32:30] - Adapting to new technologies
• [33:57] - How do make sure you don't lose connection with the guest?
• [36:15] - The next big thing

With more than four decades experience in the restaurant industry, Carin Stutz is one of the most high-profile women heading the fast casual space. She has served as EVP of Red Robin and has also worked in global business development. 

Our host, Jerry White, has worked in operations, in foodservice distribution, and then in media sales, holding top sales and management positions with several leading food media companies during the past 35+ years. Jerry joined the team at Plate magazine in early 2010 as associate publisher, and continues in that role providing solutions and opportunities for manufacturers and organizations as they anticipate tomorrow’s industry challenges. 

This episode was sponsored by Sage Intacct, a leading provider of restaurant accounting and financial solutions. Sage Intacct helps their restaurant customers reduce time, cost and resources on tedious financial processes so they can focus on servicing customers and growing their businesses. Learn more about how Sage Intacct restaurant customers make smarter decisions with critical visibility into business performance by visiting www.sageintacct.com/hospitality.

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This podcast episode was produced by Dante32.