In this episode of the Restaurant Technology Guys podcast, host Jeremy Julian speaks with Nicholas Fontenot, CTO and partner at Crust Pizza Co., a Houston-based fast casual pizza brand known for its unique approach to pizza making and franchise operations. Nicholas shares insights into what sets Crust Pizza apart, including their dedication to fresh ingredients and a proprietary tech stack designed to streamline franchise operations. He discusses the journey from his background in tech and franchises to enhancing Crust Pizza's back-end processes with innovative technology solutions. They delve into the challenges and strategies behind building their own POS system and the importance of achieving consistency and quality across all franchise locations. The conversation highlights the balance of growing a brand while maintaining a high standard of food quality and customer experience. Nicholas also teases future expansion plans and emphasizes the importance of selecting quality franchise partners.

00:00 Crust Pizza

01:06 Introduction and Welcome

01:35 Meet Nicholas: Background and Journey

02:46 Crust Pizza: Concept and Quality

05:23 Challenges and Tech Solutions in Franchising

08:26 Building and Automating the Kitchen

16:21 Developing a Custom POS System

25:34 Franchise Growth and Future Plans

29:53 Conclusion and Farewell