The Pineapple Perspective
By Troy Hooper
Categories: Arts, Food, Business, Careers
What would you say if we told you that every business is in the hospitality business? Join Troy Hooper, CEO of Hot Palette America, as he explores what hospitality means in every business with industry leaders. Troy and his guests will tackle how they came to deploy hospitality in their businesses, how it impacts their results, and how they came to understand, adopt, and deploy this mindset and framework. Leveraging Troy's experience, insight, and straight talk - listeners will walk away with a plan of action that's right for them. If you feel you have deployed a unique hospitality tactic to your business, reach out to be a guest. For more information on Troy Hooper and Pepper Lunch, visit: https://www.krpusa.com/ and https://www.pepperlunchrestaurants.com/
82 episodes indexed on PodSearch.
Recent episodes
- 081: Franchise Expansion Lessons from a Global Fast Casual Brand with Troy Hooper
In this week's episode, Troy Hooper appears as a guest on The Local Marketing Lab to discuss brand growth, franchise expansion, and modern marketing strategies through the lens of hospitality. Hooper shares how staying visible through podcasts, social platforms, and industry conversations allows…
- 080: Hospitality That's Felt: Carin Stutz on Culture, Leadership and Retention in Restaurant Operations
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, host Troy Hooper sits down with Carin Stutz, a longtime restaurant executive whose leadership spans quick service, casual dining, fast casual, and global operations. Stutz defines hospitality as genuine connection, something felt immediately through…
- 079: Why Restaurant Franchisors Need a Franchise Specialist Attorney with Leslie Curran of Plave Koch PLC
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, host Troy Hooper sits down with franchise attorney Leslie Curran of Plave Koch PLC (Falls Church, Virginia) for a practical conversation on how strong legal guidance supports long-term brand health especially in restaurant franchising. Curran explains…
- 078: Breakfast Is Booming: Affordability, Speed, and Full-Service Experience with Ricky Richardson
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, host Troy Hooper talks with Ricky Richardson, CEO of Eggs Up Grill, about what hospitality looks like in practice and what it takes to scale a franchise brand without losing the culture that made it successful. Richardson shares lessons from a 35+ year…
- 077: Scaling Pepper Lunch: Global Growth, Consistency, and Consumer Insight with Troy Hooper on Grounded
077: Scaling Pepper Lunch: Global Growth, Consistency, and Consumer Insight with Troy Hooper on Grounded In this week's episode, Troy is a guest on Grounded. He shares an inside look at the rapid growth and operational strategy behind Pepper Lunch as the brand expands across North America and…
- 076: Building Global Restaurant Brands with Authenticity and Scale with Troy Hooper on Zaller Talk
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, Troy Hooper joins as the guest on Zaller Talk to share an in-depth look at his career path, the evolution of his consulting practice, and his executive role leading global expansion for Pepper Lunch. He discusses how his early exposure to hospitality…
- 075: How Dave's Hot Chicken Builds Culture, Consistency, and Growth with CEO, Jim Bitticks
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, host Troy Hooper sits down with Jim Bitticks, President and COO of Dave's Hot Chicken, for a deep conversation on leadership, hospitality, team building, and the operational foundations behind some of the fastest-growing restaurant brands in the…
- 074: Troy Hooper with Charlie Eblen of Single Tree Wood Fire BBQ on Single Tree Nation
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, Troy Hooper appears as a guest on the Single Tree Nation podcast, hosted by Charlie Eblen of Single Tree Wood Fire Barbecue. Troy shares his journey from bussing tables at Bennigan's to becoming CEO of Kiwi Restaurant Partners and the North American…
- 073: Killer Burger's Fast Casual Edge with CEO Adam Sanders
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, Troy Hooper interviews Adam Sanders, CEO of Killer Burger, to explore how a finance executive transitioned into leading a fast-casual burger brand through strategic franchising and customer experience innovation. Adam shares his path from valuation…
- 072: Hospitality, Innovation, and Staying Customer-Driven with Beyond Juicery + Eatery's Mijo Alanis
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, host Troy Hooper sits down with Mijo Alanis, founder and franchisor of Beyond Juicery + Eatery. Mijo shares his journey from dishwasher to successful brand builder, offering candid insight into the realities of starting, scaling, and franchising a…
- 071: Inside Stonefire Grill's Hospitality Strategy with David Youngberg
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, host Troy Hooper speaks with David Youngberg, CEO of Stonefire Grill, about what it truly means to lead with hospitality. With decades of experience in restaurant operations—from his early days at McDonald's to senior leadership at BJ's and now…
- 070: Building a Scalable Brand That Stays True to Its Roots with Mo'Betta's CEO Rob Ertmann
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, Troy sits down with Rob Ertmann, CEO of Mo'Betta's Hawaiian-style restaurant chain. With over 25 years in the hospitality industry, Rob shares the brand's growth journey from 22 to 68 stores in four years, its partnership with Savory Fund, and its…
- 069: How ZenZap is Simplifying Team Communication in Hospitality with Guy Weiss
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, Troy Hooper sits down with Guy Weiss, tech entrepreneur and founder of ZenZap, to discuss how workplace communication is evolving—especially in the hospitality industry. Guy shares his journey from cybersecurity to launching a purpose-built messaging…
- REPLAY From Service Innovation to Loyalty Programs: Jim Balis on the Future of Restaurant Hospitality
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, Troy Hooper interviews Jim Balis, partner of Strategic Operations Group at Capitol Spring. They delve into how hospitality can be delivered effectively in the fast-casual and QSR space. Jim shares thoughts and insights on the future of loyalty…
- 067: Growing Midweek Revenue Through Corporate Dining with Laura Wilber
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, Troy Hooper speaks with Laura Wilber, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Dinova, about the business dining landscape and how restaurants can tap into the lucrative market of corporate dining. Laura shares her journey from custom boot fitting and…
- 066: Turning Guest Feedback into Revenue with Davi Dubinski of Momos
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, Troy Hooper sits down with tech industry veteran Davi Dubinski, co-founder at Momos. They unpack the critical role of customer data and engagement tools in today's hospitality landscape. Davi shares his journey from international relations and ad tech…
- 065: Adapting with Heart and the Building of Crazy Pita with Mehdi Zarhloul
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, Troy Hooper welcomes Mehdi Zarhloul, founder of Crazy Pita, to discuss the evolution of hospitality, business resilience, and brand-building in the restaurant industry. From humble beginnings as a teenage immigrant to becoming a multi-concept…
- 064: The Future of Restaurants is Phygital with Guest Experience and Leadership Expert Kathleen Wood
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, host Troy Hooper welcomes Kathleen Wood—industry veteran, consultant, and founder of Kathleen Wood Partners—for a dynamic conversation about hospitality, founder-led businesses, and the future of leadership in the restaurant space. Kathleen shares her…
- 063: Building Legacy Brands with Andrew K. Smith of Savory Fund
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, Troy Hooper sits down with Andrew K. Smith, co-founder and managing partner of the Savory Fund. They explore the principles of servant leadership, authentic partnership in franchising, and how discipline, transparency, and an abundance mindset can…
- 062: Cameron McNie on Hospitality Culture and the Fast Casual Success of Hawaiian Bros
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, Troy Hooper talks with Cameron McNie, co-founder and executive chairman of Hawaiian Bros Island Grill, about leading with values in the fast casual restaurant space. Cameron shares how he and his brother have scaled the brand from its roots in Kansas…
- 061: The Strategy Behind Scaling Costa Vida and Building the Virtual Brand "It's Just Wings" with Wade Allen
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, host Troy Hooper speaks with Wade Allen, President of Costa Vida, about his unique journey from a digital and tech background to leading a fast-casual restaurant brand. Wade shares his philosophy on hospitality, the importance of leadership over…
- 060: How Restaurant365 Helps Operators Tackle Labor and Efficiency with Tony Smith
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, host Troy Hooper sits down with Tony Smith, co-founder and CEO of Restaurant365, a SaaS platform transforming restaurant back office operations. Tony shares the story behind R365's founding and its evolution from a niche accounting software to a…
- 059: Helping Hospitality Leaders Drive Long-Term Results with Andrew Parr
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, host Troy Hooper welcomes longtime hospitality leader Andrew Parr to discuss his journey from operator to consultant and coach. Drawing on his experiences with Applebee's franchisees, major hotel groups, and independent restaurants, Andrew shares how a…
- 058: How Toast Empowers Staff and Improves Guest Experience with Kelly Esten
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, host Troy Hooper interviews Kelly Esten, CMO of Toast, live from the National Restaurant Association Show 2025. They discuss the role of technology in enhancing hospitality, including how Toast integrates tools to empower staff and improve guest…
- 057: How Team Culture Impacts Guest Experience and Business Results with Amy Hom
In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, host Troy Hooper sits down with Amy Hom, Chief Operating Officer at Barcelona Wine Bar, live from the National Restaurant Association Show 2025. Amy shares her journey from starting at McDonald's to leading major brands through culture transformation…
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