Restaurant Operator Podcast
Heather Neary, president and CEO of legacy model Taco John’s, chats with podcast host Mandy Detwiler about balancing the model’s historical past with the innovation youthful company search.
June 24, 2025
On this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of QSRweb.com and Pizza Market, chats with Heather Neary, president and CEO of Taco John’s which has almost 400 items in 23 states.
Neary took her management function final 12 months, however Taco John’s has been serving up tacos and its signature Potato Oles since 1969.
“We’re an ideal legacy model,” Neary stated. “We have second-generation franchisees within the enterprise. We have quite a lot of actually superb operators who’re right here to honor the integrity of the historic model that is bought quite a lot of legs in entrance of it to develop ahead.”
Honoring the model’s wealthy historical past whereas innovating to realize new demographics is without doubt one of the model’s present operational objectives. Neary stated continuous communication with the model’s franchisees and company to grasp the core belongings of Taco John’s that it “cannot sway from” and the place it will probably innovate to take it to the following stage are main targets.
For example, the model is testing AI in its drive-thru and has been for the previous 12 months or so.
“We’re at a 93% to 94% settle for price which implies that 6% of the time a human has to intercept the order as a result of it is not going easily, however 93%, 94% of the time the AI voice … is ready to take the order for the visitor and is ready to do an ideal job delivering that nice Taco John’s expertise that individuals are used to,” Neary added.
To be taught extra about Taco John’s and its improvements, take heed to the podcast in its entirety. Remember to subscribe to the Networld Media Group podcast channel for extra nice restaurant interviews.
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