In partnership with
Friends of Branded:
Happy Saturday and I hope you had a great week.
This week the Branded Team was down in Atlanta for WTWH Media’s QSR Evolution conference.
Did I have some FOMO sitting this one out? Absolutely. As someone who believes in Woody Allen’s “80% of success is just showing up” philosophy, the LinkedIn posts and photos from the event—which Branded proudly hosted with partners Ayden, Amazon Business, DoorDash and Olo—only fed the FOMO beast. But I skipped for a good reason: an incredible dinner hosted by Mr. Jeff Millard with a meal prepared by my new favorite Second City chef, Charles Webb. Good people, good food and great conversations. This is why showing up matters!
At dinner, someone quickly reminded me that restaurants are a sexy business and then followed with the punchline: “we don’t like sexy businesses, we like boring businesses.” (Shout-out to Team Phit Well for the boxing references!)
This got me fired up. You want boring? Let me tell you how boring restaurants can be—in the best way. “Boring is beautiful” is a disciplined investment thesis, and when you look closely, this “boring” industry is actually one of the most exciting, full of incredible people delivering experiences that matter.
Let’s go!
Top Publishers Hand-Selecting Amazon Brands to Promote this Holiday Season
This holiday season, top publishers are handpicking Amazon brands to feature in gift guides, newsletters, and reviews — driving high-intent shoppers straight to storefronts.
Levanta is connecting a select group of 7–9 figure brands with publishers ready to promote products to millions of buyers.
This week on the Hospitality Hangout, we sit down with Josh Kopel—award-winning restaurateur and hospitality strategist—for a deep dive into the latest hospitality trends shaping today’s food service industry. From emerging brands to innovations redefining success in both QSR and full-service dining, Josh shares candid, evidence-based strategies every operator, investor, and hospitality insider should hear.
Kickstart your holiday campaigns
CTV should be central to any growth marketer’s Q4 strategy. And with Roku Ads Manager, launching high-performing holiday campaigns is simple and effective.
With our intuitive interface, you can set up A/B tests to dial in the most effective messages and offers, then drive direct on-screen purchases via the remote with shoppable Action Ads that integrate with your Shopify store for a seamless checkout experience.
Don’t wait to get started. Streaming on Roku picks up sharply in early October. By launching your campaign now, you can capture early shopping demand and be top of mind as the seasonal spirit kicks in.
Get a $500 ad credit when you spend your first $500 today with code: ROKUADS500. Terms apply.
The Branded team just got back from Atlanta after an incredible few days at QSR Evolution, the conference that brings together the brightest minds shaping the quick-service and fast-casual future.
From live podcasting with our friends at Amazon Business (and eight powerhouse guests!) to another unforgettable Cocktails & Connections event, QSR Evolution was buzzing with ideas, innovation, and energy—and we can’t wait to bring that momentum into our work.
Big thanks to Danny Klein, Satyne Doner, and the WTWF Media team for curating such a dynamic event and for continuing to push the industry forward. Atlanta, you treated us right. We can’t wait to be back!
📱 Everyone’s “over” dating apps, so why are over 2 million people still begging to get on Raya?
🏈 How Kansas City Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt turned his team into the NFL’s ultimate dynasty.
🎓 Which campus can actually claim to be the “real” Animal House?
🖊️ Starbucks orders, sports scandals, even Trump: Sharpie’s fingerprints are everywhere.
🐶 The doodle dog craze is now a billion-dollar business but have we finally gone too far?
Craveworthy Brands is on a mission to reinvent the future of dining—and they’re doing it fast. In less than 3 years, they’ve gone from 0 brands and 0 locations to 20 brands and 400+ locations across the country.
At the helm is Gregg Majewski, the former Jimmy John’s CEO who scaled that brand to a $3B valuation, and he’s aiming to make Craveworthy the next Roark Capital.
The company's momentum is undeniable:
☕ Gregorys Coffee just joined the Craveworthy family, bringing its cult-following along for the ride.
This is your chance to get in early with a company redefining what’s next in dining.
Don’t just scroll—click! Congratulate everyone on making the B List and send some LinkedIn love their way.
Industry Intel
@hospitality.hangout What’s YOUR go to drink? If you say vodka pineapple…. I’m concerned. #vodka #tequila #pineapple @topochicousa
That’s it for today!
See you next week, same bat-time, same bat-channel.
It takes a village!
Jimmy Frischling
Branded Hospitality
235 Park Ave South, 4th Fl | New York, NY 10003
Branded Hospitality is a foodservice growth platform with three integrated business lines—Ventures, Solutions, and Media. We invest in innovative tech and emerging brands, provide expert advisory and capital strategies, and amplify visibility through podcasts, newsletters, social, and events—creating a powerful flywheel that drives growth, brand strength, and lasting success.
