_{At ezCater, we want to help restaurants grow a successful catering business. Whether you’re in the early stages of building a business or an industry veteran, let us help you dip into the $61.5 billion catering market. In each episode of “The Catering Feed,” we talk to restaurant industry leaders of thriving brands who share insights and tactics to ramp up your catering business.}

Guests love your food and your team supports your restaurant concept. You’re ready to take the next step to scale your business beyond the four walls. But how do you deliver the same brand experience, while staying true to your core values as you grow?

In this podcast episode, Torchy’s Tacos’ GJ Hart, Chief Executive Officer, and Mike Rypka, founder and chef, discuss identifying growth opportunities and scaling a catering business, while honoring brand values. Tune in to hear how to make strategic decisions to expand into new channels and hire a passionate team to support growth. 

Episode Takeaways:

• Deliver an outstanding guest experience across all channels, whether dine-in or off-premises. 
• Hire for attitude. Hiring and training staff who care about your brand is paramount to fueling growth. Skills can be taught, but attitude can’t.
• Define how to expand. Base growth on the needs of your guests and commit to strategies for long-term solutions.
• Capture feedback at all levels. Front-line employees and guests have valuable feedback that can help you execute more effectively as you grow. This data helps improve the experience across channels.

GJ Hart is Chief Executive Officer of Torchy’s Tacos, where he oversees operations and strategic growth. A 36-year veteran of restaurant operations and management, he is passionate about growing casual dining concepts and expanding brands into new markets. Prior to Torchy’s Tacos, GJ served as executive chairman and CEO of California Pizza Kitchen, as well as president and CEO of Texas Roadhouse.

Mike Rypka is the founder of Torchy’s Tacos. A food service and restaurant operations veteran, Mike served as executive chef for Dell Computers, Enron, and the World Bank before developing the concept for Torchy’s damn good tacos. He’s laser-focused on providing opportunities for his employees and developing a restaurant culture that promotes fun, innovative, and affordable gourmet.