Catering Cage Podcast by CaterLinked

In this episode of The Catering Cage, Erle Dardick welcomes Mike Sudermann, CEO of Ascent Select, for a deep dive into what it takes to recruit top-tier leadership in the restaurant and catering industry. Mike shares how his data-driven approach, what he calls the "Moneyball" of executive search, is helping brands build winning teams with precision and purpose.

Join the fastest growing catering community for restaurants. It...

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 tur...

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, an...

How do you turn catering into a true brand-building moment? In this episode, host Erle Dardick sits down with Jessica Serrano, Chief Marketing Officer at Bagel Brands and former CMO at Dig Inn. Jessica has built her career creating authentic connections between guests and food brands, leading marketing efforts for Taco Bell, Burger King, Dig Inn, and, shortly after this episode was recorded, Bagel Brands.

She shares how res...

Get ready for the Restaurant Catering Workshop (RCW) in Austin! In this episode of the Catering Cage, Erle sits down with Cherryh Cansler and Kelly Grogan to preview what’s ahead at this year’s event and talk about why catering is becoming a critical growth channel for restaurants.

We cover the crowded tech landscape, how brands are balancing third-party with first-party, practical ways to align the C-suite with on-the-grou...

Join host Erle Dardick and DeliverThat CTO Matt Benzel as they explore the dramatic evolution of catering delivery from simple driver debates to sophisticated hybrid ecosystems. Discover how restaurants are moving toward specialized catering production facilities, leveraging AI for delivery optimization, and why the industry needs dedicated expertise rather than generic solutions. Learn about the operational challenges of ...

Join Erle Dardick and education expert RaVae Beck as they expose the #1 reason most restaurant catering programs plateau at just 12% of sales while industry leaders like Jason's Deli hit 50%+ at top locations. Discover the game-changing training framework that saved one restaurant group during the pandemic, learn why the industry desperately needs its first "Chief Catering Officer," and get exclusive insights into the Off-...

In this insightful episode of The Catering Cage podcast, host Erle Dardick interviews Jennifer Saunders-Haynes, Catering Strategist at Elizabeth Jewel Consulting. The conversation explores the critical importance of executive-level catering leadership, with Jennifer emphasizing how a Chief Catering Officer coordinates across operations, marketing, and supply chain departments. They discuss community building in the caterin...

In the latest Catering Cage podcast, host Erle Dardick and CaterZen's Michael Attias discuss how AI and automation are transforming restaurant catering while emphasizing the need for specialized management systems, strategic investment during economic uncertainty, and community collaboration. They predict a future with AI order-taking and robot-assisted preparation but stress that investing in catering strategies now can p...

In this insightful episode of The Catering Cage, host Erle Dardick shares crucial advice for restaurant catering operations facing economic uncertainty. Drawing from 30 years of industry experience, he explains that while corporate spending cuts often impact food budgets first during downturns, these challenges are always temporary. Dardick emphasizes that the most powerful investment during tough times is in people—spread...

In this insightful episode of The Catering Cage, host Erle Dardick joins catering experts Kelly Grogan and Cherryh Cansler to discuss why restaurants should invest in catering during economic uncertainty. The trio reveals how catering can contribute up to 50% of profits while only representing 20% of sales, making it a strategic focus during challenging times. They preview the upcoming Restaurant Catering Workshop in Austi...

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 uncer...

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 ...

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...

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 restaura...

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, t...

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 restau...

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 yo...

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 a...