In this episode of the Fast Casual Insider podcast, host Jerry White is joined by Blazing Onion Burger Company CEO and co-founder David Jones. David talks with Jerry about labor relations, the hybrid fast casual concept, and delivery innovation.

• [01:59] - David's journey to co-founder of the Blazing Onion Restaurant Group
• [03:09] - Combining a full-service lounge with a fast casual restaurant 
• [05:07] - How David and his Wife, Lorri Jones, started Blazing Onion 
• [08:47] - What influences what goes on their menu
• [09:41] - The role 3rd party delivery services play in disrupting the fast casual industry
• [13:34] - Operating Subway restaurants compared to opening Blazing Onion
• [14:34] - Launching a restaurant during a recession
• [16:18] - Experience evolving a menu during a restaurants life
• [19:03] - David's experience with the Fast Casual Industry Council
• [23:12] - Robotics, Automation, and Technology
• [25:10] - Restaurant culture
• [26:55] - The future of Blazing Onion

David Jones is the CEO & Co-Founder of the Blazing Onion, opening his 1st Blazing Onion in March of ’07 in the Greater Seattle Market. He is married to Lorri Jones, his CFO & Business Partner. The Blazing Onion profiles both a fast-casual plus restaurant as well as our full service Sports & Whiskey Lounges, making them a hybrid in the evolving fast casual segment. The menu is about all natural fresh local ingredients with recipes made from scratch at each individual location. They have been recognized by QSR magazine as “Ones to Watch” and ranked #25 by Fast Casual magazine in its “Top 100, Mover’s and Shakers”.

Our host, Jerry White, has worked in operations, in foodservice distribution, and then in media sales, holding top sales and management positions with several leading food media companies during the past 35+ years. Jerry joined the team at Plate magazine in early 2010 as associate publisher and continues in that role providing solutions and opportunities for manufacturers and organizations as they anticipate tomorrow’s industry challenges.

This episode was sponsored by Sage Intacct, a leading provider of restaurant accounting and financial solutions. Sage Intacct helps their restaurant customers reduce time, cost and resources on tedious financial processes so they can focus on servicing customers and growing their businesses. Learn more about how Sage Intacct restaurant customers make smarter decisions with critical visibility into business performance by visiting www.sageintacct.com/hospitality.

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Episode produced by Dante32.