In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Julie Fussner, CEO of Culver’s, the beloved Wisconsin-based burger chain that has grown to more than 1,000 locations since Craig Culver opened the first location with his wife and parents in Sauk City, Wisconsin, in 1984. Despite a challenging economy that’s muting growth across the restaurant industry, Culver’s grew its sales by 14.2% in 2025 and this year will enter five new states — giving it a presence in 31 states. And Julie says that growth is all according to plan. She was named CEO in April 2025 after spending eight years on the marketing team, including two as chief marketing officer, and she’s hit the ground running building upon Culver’s strong culture and people development. Sam traveled to Sauk City to sit down with Julie in that first Culver’s location as part of the latest episode of the Signature Series, powered by The Coca-Cola Company, and they covered everything from Julie’s lessons as a child gymnast to her brutally honest leadership style to how much she feels Culver’s can embrace the tech-forward future.

In this conversation, you’ll find out why:

  • Just like in sports, you should be prepared, get up when you fall, and embrace coaching
  • Don’t be afraid of lateral moves in your career
  • Your path to sustainable growth is already in your restaurants
  • Culture begins with knowing your team at a deep level
  • Innovation cannot come at the expense of what already makes you great


Subscribe to NRN’s YouTube channel for exclusive video with Julie Fussner.

Rss Apple Podcaster
Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör Nation's Restaurant News. Innehållet i podden är skapat av Nation's Restaurant News och inte av, eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.