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.
Appears in 60 Episodes
Leading with Purpose: Building a Wellness Brand That Matters Episode #61
Episode SummaryWhat does it take to build a purpose-driven brand in one of the fastest-growing segments of the restaurant industry?In this episode of Grounded, host La...
How Chuck E. Cheese Wins the Family Decision with Blake Johnson #60
What does it take to market one of the most recognizable family entertainment brands in the world? In this episode of Grounded, host Lauren Mitchell sits down with Bla...
Small Moments Change Lives, Especially in Hospitality: Mandy Muller- Zaxby’s #59
In this episode of Grounded, Lauren Mitchell sits down with Mandy Muller to explore leadership, operational excellence, hospitality, and the power of people-first cult...
AI, Leadership & the Future of the Produce Supply Chain Episode #58
In this episode of Grounded, Lauren Mitchell sits down with Christopher Rheault for a wide-ranging conversation on AI, leadership, produce management, supply chain str...
Everyone Eats: Billy Itule on Produce, People & Partnership #57
Episode OverviewIn this episode of Grounded, Lauren Mitchell sits down with Billy Itule, CEO of Willie Itule Produce, for an inside look at the fast-moving world of pr...
Inside the Produce Pipeline: Planning for the Unpredictable Episode #56
In this episode of Grounded, host Lauren Mitchell brings together voices from across the produce supply chain to pull back the curtain on how sourcing really works—fro...
The Value Trap: Why Great Restaurants Still Win with Danny Klein Episode #55
Episode OverviewWhat does it take to win in today’s restaurant landscape—and what mistakes are brands making along the way? In this episode of Grounded, the conversati...
How Great Restaurant Cultures Are Actually Built with Tara O'Neill #54
How Great Restaurant Cultures Are Actually BuiltIn this episode of Grounded, host Lauren Mitchell sits down with Tara O'Neill to explore what it really takes to build ...
The Hidden Economics of Produce Buying with Dustin White Episode #53
Episode OverviewIn this episode of Grounded, Lauren Mitchell sits down with Dustin White to demystify produce pricing, contracts, and quality management in foodservice...
An Appetite for Risk: Billy Loesch Founder/CEO Baya Bar
In this episode of Grounded, Lauren Mitchell sits down with Billy Loesch to explore the mindset, risk tolerance, and systems required to scale a modern food brand. Bil...
Authentic Hospitality at Scale: Inside Hopdoddy’s Growth Story with CEO Jeff Chandler- Grounded #51
Hopdoddy Burger Bar President & CEO Jeff Chandler joins Lauren Mitchell to break down what it takes to scale a fast-casual brand without losing what makes it special. ...
From Barstool to Boss: James Bonanno on Building Upstream Hospitality Group
Episode OverviewIn this episode of Grounded, host Lauren Mitchell sits down with James Bonanno, Founder & CEO of Upstream Hospitality Group, to unpack how a kitchen dr...
Why Great Meals Tell Great Stories: Chef Chris Decker of Truly Pizza Grounded #49
Episode OverviewChef Chris Decker joins Grounded to share how 30 years of pizza-making turned into a mission-driven craft rooted in community, creativity, and connecti...
Leading with Balance: Career Growth, Travel, and Fitness in Hospitality - Grounded #46
In this episode of Grounded, host Lauren Mitchell brings together an inspiring panel of women leaders in hospitality to explore a question many professionals wrestle w...
Supply Chain Expert Exchange Recap: Freight, Fresh, and the Power of Peer Networks- Grounded #45
Supply Chain Expert Exchange Recap: Freight, Fresh, and the Power of Peer NetworksIn this special recap episode of Grounded, host Lauren Mitchell sits down with a powe...
Data-Driven Leadership with Checkers & Rally’s Ken Bianchi - Grounded Podcast - Episode #44
Explore how modern supply chain leadership goes beyond procurement in this episode with Ken Bianchi, Senior Director of Purchasing at Checkers & Rally’s Drive-In Resta...
Sustainability in Action with Snooze A.M. Eatery’s Cindy Keys - Grounded Podcast - Episode #43
How does starting on the front lines of a restaurant shape the way you lead at the executive level? On this episode of The Grounded Podcast, host Lauren Mitchell sits ...
Collective Volume Advantage with Church’s Texas Chicken’s Will Cash - Grounded Podcast - Episode #42
What does it take to run a global supply chain while keeping brand values intact across diverse international markets? On this episode of The Grounded Podcast, host La...
Endurance in Executive Leadership with Stonefire Grill’s David Youngberg - Grounded - Episode #41
What does it take to grow from flipping burgers at 15 to leading a successful restaurant brand built on people, purpose, and consistency? On this episode of The Ground...
Empowering Restaurant Voices with Lori Cominsky of Pancheros - Grounded Podcast - Episode #40
What does it take to successfully grow a brand while keeping operations simple, consistent, and people-focused? On this episode of The Grounded Podcast, host Lauren Mi...
