Podcast
FULL COMP: Restaurant Tactics, Tools, & Strategies
Hosted by Josh Kopel · EN
What if I told you that the difference between struggling and thriving in the restaurant industry is just one conversation away?
I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur who’s spent decades building blockbuster brands across every tier of dining. I know the challenges you’re facing—because I’ve been there. That’s why I created FULL COMP.
Every week, I go one-on-one with the smartest minds in the game: restaurateurs, chefs, and industry insiders who’ve cracked the code. Together, we unpack their biggest wins, hardest lessons, and the strategies that changed everything.
No fluff, no filler—just actionable insights to help you boost profits, build your brand, and create the kind of restaurant you’ve always dreamed of.
So, if you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start seeing results, hit subscribe.
64episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Who Gets to Be the Best? William Drew on Power, Politics, and the Future of Fine Dining
Jul 25, 202500:36:13Tap to summarizeWhat if the most powerful list in restaurants isn’t about food—it’s about influence?William Drew runs the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, the ranking that can transform a chef’s life overnight. But behind the glitz is a story of politics, pressure, and purpose. In this episode, we go deep on how the list really works, who gets included, and what it reveals about the evolving values of the global dining scene. We explore the rise of storytelling over technique, how post-pandemic shifts are impacting who wins, and why French cuisine is no longer the default standard. William doesn’t just defend the list—he opens it up. And in doing so, he gives us a rare look into how prestige is created and what it means for the future of restaurants. If you’ve ever wondered who decides what matters in food—this is that conversation. To learn more about The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, visit https://www.theworlds50best.com.____________________________________________________________Full Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars
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Office Hours: Your Loyalty Program is your Sales Engine
Jul 24, 202500:07:27Tap to summarizeI’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I’ve spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter, more successful businesses.In this episode, I talked about why we need to rethink loyalty programs in the hospitality industry. To me, loyalty isn’t about handing out discounts—it’s about creating emotional connections with our guests. I shared how designing programs that reward status and access, rather than just transactions, can help restaurant owners build a real sense of belonging. I also touched on how important it is to involve our team in these programs and why they can serve as powerful marketing tools to boost both engagement and sales.Takeaways:Most restaurant owners think they need more guests.Profit isn't random, it's engineered.Loyalty isn't transactional. It's emotional.Discounts don't build loyalty, identity does.Your loyalty program should sell, not just retain.Engagement trumps size every day.Make loyalty a part of service, not a side hustle.Your team is the engine.Audit your current program.Reward it with a feeling of belonging.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Hospitality Insights01:20 Rethinking Loyalty Programs04:43 Building Emotional Connections with CustomersIf you’ve got a marketing or profitability related question for me, email me directly at josh@joshkopel.com and include Office Hours in the subject line. If you'd like to scale the profitability of your restaurant in only 5 days, sign up for our FREE 5 Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge by visiting https://joshkopel.com.
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Sam Fonseca on the science of scaling
Feb 24, 2023Tap to summarizeHow do you become a restaurant expert? You take the time to learn from the experts themselves. Sam Fonseca received the education of a lifetime working at In & Out, Cane’s, and Dave’s Hot Chicken. In today’s conversation, we discuss the lessons he learned from the greats and how he’s leveraged that knowledge to scale Roll Em Up Taquitos into a national brand. For more information on Roll Em Up, visit https://rollemup.com/. ____________________________________________________________ Full Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time. We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other shows: Restaurant Marketing School Restaurant expert videos & webinars
Transcribe →Building a Culture-First Company: Steve Schwartz, founder of The Art of Tea
May 8, 2020Tap to summarizeOn today's show, we chat with Steve Schwartz, founder of the Art of Tea, a bespoke tea company crafting custom blended tea for the biggest names in hospitality. If you're going to create a product, logic would dictate that you'd want the masses to have access to it. But that's not the route Steve Schwartz went. He wanted his tea company to serve those that serve others. It's one of the foundational values that guides The Art of Tea. In today's tough economy, the companies that thrive will be culture first companies. Here, Steve walks us through the core values and culture-first perspective that has made The Art of Tea a huge success. Click to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Click here to book time on my personal calendar. Click here to download our Restaurant Recovery Guide. Want to streamline your front-of-house operations and increase sales? Head over to http://restaurants.yelp.com/fullcomppodcast to claim your free page and learn more about these powerful tools for your business. SHOW NOTES The importance of mentors Find yourself a teacher, acquire yourself a friend Mentors can share lessons Friends can challenge you and learn with you Mentors and friends in Steve’s life 3 daughters - all under 15yo Coach - in his mid-70s and helps to separate belief from reality Group of peers in similar businesses - sharing best practices and meaningful lessons Lessons from childhood Had a very perfect, comfortable upbringing until parents’ divorce at 14 Sent to live with 19yo brother with no financial support Learned to be scrappy and creative to make money Knew it was a phase and would be able to teach lessons to children one day Entering entrepreneurship Started digital gatherings in Arizona at 19 Minimal resources but events were profitable Introduction to tea Mom became very ill with brain cancer - she passed within 10months Steve realized there could be other schools of medicine and treatments Found Ayurvedic Institute and learned about botanicals Began traveling the world for the best botanicals to create tea Tea as a business Ethos of not creating mass-produced low-quality tea Began selling in hotels and creating custom blends Creating a movement against big tea companies Aligning with core values Leadership team reviews the company’s core values every week Impact. Culture. Accountability. Results. Excellence (ICARE) This is much more important during Covid Projections for hospitality 3rd of businesses won’t survive 3rd will barely survive 3rd will thrive Pivoting during Covid crisis Becoming a conduit of ideas between businesses Learning how some clients are surviving and relaying that advice to other struggling businesses Changing marketing plans Government is unlikely to stop marketing efforts so there is an opportunity to be more creative with marketing Creating ice tea for sale to consumers or restaurants How to manage fear If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans Ideas that make Steve fearful and excited confirm he should pursue it He thanks the fear for protecting him Create a backup plan in case things do go wrong Coping with being back at zero
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