Grounded

About Grounded

Join us as we engage with top tier producers in the foodservice industry to hear their perspective from all links throughout the supply chain. Here, we discuss brand development, company culture, global supply chain strategy, culinary innovation and leadership from folks who founded, operate or manage multi-unit restaurant chains. Each show is tailored around the guest to dig deep into their unique journey and how it shapes their current procurement strategy in order to aggregate the best insights toward the future of foodservice.

Publisher

Steve Moody

Category

business · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Apr 2023

Latest episode

21 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

7 of 61 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   21 Jul 2026

   How Great Food Trends Become Great Menu Items Episode is 62

   Episode Summary What turns a food trend into a menu mainstay? And how can restaurant operators balance innovation, consumer demand, and supply chain realities? In this episode of Grounded, host Lauren Mitchell sits down with Cathy Holley, one of the foodservice industry's most respected trend forecasters. As Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Flavor & The Menu and President of The Flavor Experience, Cathy has spent more than two decades helping operators understand emerging flavors, menu innovation, and changing consumer behaviors. Together, Lauren and Cathy explore the lifecycle of food trends—from street food and bowls to dirty sodas and Dubai chocolate—and discuss how operators can successfully bring innovation to market without creating unnecessary complexity. The conversation also dives into the growing role of AI, consumer wellness, hospitality, and the importance of aligning culinary, procurement, distribution, and supply chain teams early in the innovation process. Whether you're a restaurant operator, supplier, distributor, or simply fascinated by how food trends emerge, this episode offers a masterclass in innovation at scale. 5 Key Takeaways 1. Trends Can Come From Anywhere The days of white-tablecloth restaurants dictating food trends are largely behind us. Today, innovation often emerges from street food, social media, global food cultures, and consumer-driven viral moments. 2. “Fads” Often Leave Lasting Impact From the Cronut to cupcakes to Dubai chocolate, Cathy explains that even trends dismissed as fads often create ripple effects that shape future menu innovation, consumer expectations, and entirely new categories. 3. Innovation Must Be Balanced With Execution Successful menu innovation requires close collaboration between culinary, procurement, supply chain, distributors, and suppliers. The best ideas are the ones that can be executed consistently and profitably at scale. 4. Consumers Are Buying Experiences, Not Just Food Today's diners—especially younger generations—are increasingly influenced by hospitality, atmosphere, texture, and overall "vibe." Restaurants that create memorable experiences can differentiate themselves beyond menu offerings alone. 5. Personalized Wellness May Be the Next Major Shift As consumers become more informed about protein, fiber, macros, and health goals, AI-powered personalization could significantly influence menu choices and dining behaviors over the next several years. Memorable Quote “It's never too late to adopt a trend.” — Cathy Holley Connect with the Guest Cathy Holley LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-nash-holley-214a5613/ Flavor & The Menu Flavor & The Menu (https://www.getflavor.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Ways to Tune In Transistor: https://www.groundedonthepod.com/ (https://www.groundedonthepod.com/) Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2I7EoKaVff3SnW3CoIXjJ6 (https://open.spotify.com/show/2I7EoKaVff3SnW3CoIXjJ6) Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grounded/id1680909033 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grounded/id1680909033) Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/451edb13-5534-43ee-b46c-be36a7581460 (https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/451edb13-5534-43ee-b46c-be36a7581460) iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-grounded-281280581/ (https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-grounded-281280581/) Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/grounded-5259267 (https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/grounded-5259267) Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1064441 (https://www.stitcher.com/show/1064441) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The-Grounded-Podcast (https://www.youtube.com/@The-Grounded-Podcast) Subscribe to Grounded for conversations with leaders across foodservice, hospitality, supply chain, procurement, and innovation who are shaping the future of the industry.

2. 

   7 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Leading with Purpose: Building a Wellness Brand That Matters Episode #61

   Host Lauren Mitchell interviews Jennifer Dodd, CEO of Main Squeeze Juice Company, about building a purpose-driven wellness brand and empowering franchise growth.

3. 

   16 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT

   How Chuck E. Cheese Wins the Family Decision with Blake Johnson #60

   Host Lauren Mitchell interviews Blake Johnson, Brand Marketing & Creative Lead at CEC Entertainment, about how Chuck E. Cheese balances nostalgia with modern family entertainment strategies.

Inside a recent episode

Leading with Purpose: Building a Wellness Brand That Matters Episode #61

Published 7 Jul 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Jennifer, your description of a brand requiring to be multifaceted essentially was right on. I think that was a beautiful answer. Thank you so much. Okay. How about five years from now, what does the wellness consumer expect that they don't expect today? Yeah, that's an exciting space. I mean, the wellness travel, the wellness fitness world is absolutely a white space. And it is so exciting to think about. Wellness is not going to be something that is bolted on or... reluctantly chosen. I hate to say that, but in prior generations, that's what it was. It was, you know, hey, I have to do this because a doctor told me in a lot of circumstances. […]

Who has been a guest on Grounded

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Jennifer Dodd
• Blake Johnson
• Mandy Muller
• Christopher Rheault
• Billy Itule

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

3,421

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

40 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 74 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

82

Social presence

94

YouTube

68

Engagement

51

Contact Grounded

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Grounded