The Sixth Sense of the Restaurant Industry with Bolay's Chris Gannon - Grounded Podcast - Episode #23
Explore how culture-first leadership, guest-centered service, and sustainable growth strategies can elevate a restaurant brand from the inside out. Chris Gannon, Founder and CEO of Bolay Fresh Bold Kitchen, shares how lessons from family, sports, and entrepreneurship shaped the company’s purpose and success.
In this energizing episode, Chris opens up about building a team that loves what they do, leveraging technology without losing the human touch, and how operational excellence powers every phase of growth. Whether you're a brand builder, people leader, or hospitality professional, Chris’s story offers inspiring takeaways rooted in service, spirit, and sustainability.
Takeaways:
- How a guest-first mindset drives retention and brand loyalty.
- Why investing in a strong internal culture and developing team talent leads to loyalty and exceptional guest experiences.
- What it means to balance entrepreneurial energy with team stability.
- Why strong vendor relationships are key to long-term success.
- What face-to-face interaction adds to company culture and collaboration.
Quote of the Show:
- “Getting human beings together, getting them outside of their restaurant, the collaboration, the energy of human beings together, you can’t underestimate how powerful that is” - Chris Gannon
Connect with Chris:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-gannon-82b106190/
- Company website: https://www.bolay.com/
Ways to Tune In:
- Transistor: https://www.groundedonthepod.com/
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2I7EoKaVff3SnW3CoIXjJ6
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grounded/id1680909033
- Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/451edb13-5534-43ee-b46c-be36a7581460
- iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-grounded-281280581/
- Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/grounded-5259267
- Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1064441
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The-Grounded-Podcast
Creators and Guests
Host
Lauren Mitchell
Lauren Mitchell is the Director of National Accounts and Custom Distribution at Produce Alliance, LLC. She is a dedicated fresh produce spend & spec maximizer for multi-unit national restaurant chains & groups. She gets to know your brand and infuses your expectation for quality, consistency and transparency to create more reliability in your produce category.
