In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, host Troy Hooper talks with Ricky Richardson, CEO of Eggs Up Grill, about what hospitality looks like in practice and what it takes to scale a franchise brand without losing the culture that made it successful.

Richardson shares lessons from a 35+ year career spanning Black-Eyed Pea and TGI Fridays, then explains why he chose a smaller, high-growth environment at Eggs Up Grill. He breaks down what's fueling momentum in the breakfast/brunch category, how Eggs Up Grill positions itself with everyday affordability, speed, and a "uniquely friendly" experience, and why those pillars are resonating in a cautious consumer environment.

The conversation continues on operational discipline in franchising, brand clarity, franchisee profitability, and consistent execution, plus a practical approach to technology adoption that favors simple, scalable solutions (including POS standardization and tools that support operators without adding complexity).

• Defining hospitality as creating positive guest experiences

• Career lessons from legacy brands and applying them in a growth concept

• Why breakfast and brunch concepts are expanding and winning demand

• Protecting brand DNA and culture while scaling a franchise system

• Practical technology strategy for franchise operations and speed of service

Connect with Ricky Richardson:

https://eggsupgrill.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricky-richardson-971b0012

https://www.linkedin.com/company/eggs-up-grill

https://www.facebook.com/eggsupgrill/

https://www.instagram.com/eggs_up_grill/

This show is sponsored by Pepper Lunch. Find a location near you!

Production and Administration work completed by Smart Podcast Solutions and Elevate Virtual Business Solutions.

077: Scaling Pepper Lunch: Global Growth, Consistency, and Consumer Insight with Troy Hooper on Grounded

In this week's episode, Troy is a guest on Grounded. He shares an inside look at the rapid growth and operational strategy behind Pepper Lunch as the brand expands across North America and beyond. He discusses the differentiators that drew him to Pepper Lunch, including its experiential fast-casual model, simplified operations, strict ingredient sourcing, and global brand consistency. Troy explains how the company approaches supply chain management, from building its own procurement arm to optimizing redundancy and quality control across 17+ countries.

He also gets into the challenges of scaling like real estate constraints, global tariffs, and maintaining operational standards, and describes how Pepper Lunch's kiosk model, hospitality host strategy, and data-driven consumer insights are transforming customer experience and sales performance. Troy closes with broader industry trends around AI, labor, menu development, and cultural leadership, offering a direct look at what he believes is shaping the next generation of restaurant operations.

• Pepper Lunch's global expansion strategy and brand differentiators

• Supply chain structure, procurement approach, and vendor redundancy

• Operational decisions around ingredient sourcing and product consistency

• Experiential dining model, kiosk adoption, and hospitality host integration

• Real estate challenges, regulatory risk, and long-term scaling considerations

Connect with Lauren Mitchell of Grounded:

https://www.instagram.com/producealliance/?hl=en

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.pandora.com/browse/podcasts?source=stitcher-sunset.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The-Grounded-Podcast

https://x.com/ProduceAlliance

https://www.linkedin.com/company/produce-alliance-llc./

https://www.instagram.com/producealliance/?hl=en "

This show is sponsored by Pepper Lunch. Find a location near you!

Production and Administration work completed by Smart Podcast Solutions and Elevate Virtual Business Solutions.

In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, Troy Hooper joins as the guest on Zaller Talk to share an in-depth look at his career path, the evolution of his consulting practice, and his executive role leading global expansion for Pepper Lunch. He discusses how his early exposure to hospitality, construction, and entrepreneurship shaped his operating philosophy, as well as how experiences in culinary arts, maritime work, and corporate leadership at Procter & Gamble influenced his approach to business.

Troy walks through the rapid growth of Pepper Lunch worldwide, the strategic model behind Kiwi Restaurant Partners, and current market conditions impacting operators—particularly in California. He also offers grounded advice for new hospitality entrepreneurs on capital, mentorship, industry engagement, and building authentic, scalable brands.

• From consulting to becoming CEO of Pepper Lunch North America and Co-CEO globally

• The global footprint and growth strategy of Pepper Lunch

• Troy's early background in hospitality and entrepreneurship

• The evolution of Kiwi Restaurant Partners

• Expansion challenges and regulatory pressures affecting California restaurant operators

• Strategic considerations for hospitality entrepreneurs

Connect with Anthony Zaller of Zaller Talk:

Website: www.zallerlaw.com

Blog – California Employment Law Report: www.californiaemploymentlawreport.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyzaller/

Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6zpZovQKMeZ5l2DYL0nh3q?si=0df7a5bc45f44743

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-legal-lineup-with-anthony-zaller/id1405859405

Prosper Forum

Website: https://www.prosperforum.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/prosper-forum/

This show is sponsored by Pepper Lunch. Find a location near you!

Production and Administration work completed by Smart Podcast Solutions and Elevate Virtual Business Solutions.