What's Cooking? | A Podcast from Nory
What's Cooking? is a podcast from Nory for hospitality operators scaling smart. Hosted by Conor Sheridan, CEO and co-founder of Nory and a former multi-site restaurant operator, each episode looks at the operational challenges facing fast-growing restaurant groups. Guests discuss issues like disconnected systems, staffing chaos, margin pressure, automation, AI, culture, data, and waste reduction. The show aims to offer practical, no-fluff insights from industry leaders, with new episodes every two weeks.
Episodes
TASTE bite-size: You can still open in New York
Missed the full episode with Matt Rodbard, Editor in Chief of TASTE? Here's the bite-size cut.
Keep an eye out for our next episode, featuring Sophie Buresi, Group Head of AI at QSRP.
Hosted by Conor Sheridan, CEO of Nory, the AI operating system for hospitality.
LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-can-still-open-matt-rodbard-on-what-new-yo
"You Can Still Open": Matt Rodbard On What New York Operators Are Getting Wrong
"You can still open in New York." Matt Rodbard, founding Editor in Chief of TASTE, on what operators get wrong when they try.
Conor sets up this episode on the three-times cost of entry in New York — the number that decides who is allowed to try at all. Matt's reply reframes the hour in his first line: "You can still open in New York. So I hope that's like a headline from it." The rest of th
Emmy Squared Pizza Bite-size: Operational Reality of a Post-Covid Rebuild
Missed the full episode with Topher Bertone-Ledford, VP of Operations at Emmy Squared Pizza? Here's the bite-size cut.
Keep an eye out for our next episode of What's Cooking, hosted by Conor Sheridan, CEO of Nory, the AI operating system for hospitality.
LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/how-to-rebuild-a-struggling-restaurant-region-with/id182
How to Rebuild a Struggling Restaurant Region with the VP of Operations of Emmy Squared Pizza
There's a split happening across hospitality right now that doesn't get talked about enough. Restaurant groups that opened after Covid built their operations for a world we're actually in: leaner teams, faster decisions, tighter margins, all from day one. Groups that existed before Covid and survived it are often still running on assumptions from a different era. Surviving the pandemic and su
Hart's Group Bite-Size: Scale Without Standardising
Missed the full episode with Harts Group CEO Sam Hart? Here's the bite-size cut.
Keep an eye out for our next episode of What's Cooking, hosted by Conor Sheridan, CEO of Nory, the AI operating system for hospitality.
LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-harts-group-multi-brand-playbook-what-to/id1825066598?i=1000777855873
Spotify: https://op
The Harts Group Multi-Brand Playbook: What to Centralise, What to Protect
Harts Group CEO Sam Hart on running eight distinct hospitality brands, centralising the systems that scale, and protecting the individuality that drives the reputation.
Most multi-brand hospitality groups end up looking like a head office running several businesses that happen to share a name on a group balance sheet. Harts Group has done the opposite. Since 2003, the family-run business beh
Black Sheep Coffee bite-size: Never fear competition
Missed the full episode with Gabriel Shohet, co-founder and co-CEO of Black Sheep Coffee? Here's the bite-size cut.
Keep an eye out for our next episode, featuring Sam Hart, CEO, Harts Group
Hosted by Conor Sheridan, CEO of Nory, the AI operating system for hospitality.
LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conviction-over-consensus-with-the-co
Conviction Over Consensus with the Co-CEO of Black Sheep Coffee
Black Sheep Coffee co-CEO Gabriel Shohet on building a 135-site brand by betting on the bean the specialty industry rejected.
In 2013, two university flatmates from St Andrews quit their corporate jobs the same day, moved to London with around £20k between them, and built a coffee company on the bean the entire specialty industry had written off. 13 years later, Black Sheep Coffee runs 135+
Jamie Oliver Group bite-size: A second act
Missed the full episode with Ed Loftus, Global Director of Jamie Oliver Restaurants? Here's the bite-size cut.
Keep an eye out for our next episode, featuring Gabriel Shohet, Co-Founder, Black Sheep Coffee.
Hosted by Conor Sheridan, CEO of Nory, the AI operating system for hospitality.
LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-second-act-with-the-g
A Second Act with the Global Director of Jamie Oliver Group
Ed Loftus on bringing Jamie's Italian back to the UK, scaling Jamie Oliver Group to 80+ sites in 24 countries, and the discipline behind a real second act.
Very few people in UK hospitality ever get to attempt a real second act. Jamie Oliver Group has just done it: Jamie's Italian back in Leicester Square in March 2026, seven years after the 2019 administration that closed the UK estate. The
Creams Cafe bite-size: Nobody needs a dessert
Missed the full episode with Oliver Rodbard, COO of Creams Cafe? Here's the bite-size cut.
Keep an eye out for our next episode, featuring Ed Loftus, Group Director, Jamie Oliver Restaurants.
Hosted by Conor Sheridan, CEO of Nory, the AI operating system for hospitality.
LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rebuilding-the-franchise-with-the-co
Rebuilding the Franchise with the COO of Creams Cafe
Creams Cafe COO Oliver Rodbard on scaling a franchise system, vertical integration as franchisee protection, and what it takes to make every visit count in a discretionary category.
Oliver Rodbard, COO of Creams Cafe, sits down with Conor to walk through the operational reality of running a 98%-franchised, ~100-site business through UK family restaurant visits halving, aggregator commissions
Hawksmoor bite-size: Eight weeks to open at peak trading
Missed the full episode with Louisa Richards, Restaurant Director, Hawksmoor? Here's the bite-size cut.
Keep an eye out for our next episode, featuring Oliver Rodbard, Chief Operating Officer, Creams Cafe
Hosted by Conor Sheridan, CEO of Nory, the AI operating system for hospitality.
LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/eight-weeks-to-open-louis
Eight Weeks to Open: Louisa Richards, Restaurant Director, Hawksmoor
Hawksmoor restaurant director Louisa Richards on opening St Pancras in eight weeks at peak Christmas trading, and what it took to do it without breaking the culture that 13 years has built.
Louisa Richards has been at Hawksmoor for nearly 13 years, opening Manchester, opening Edinburgh, running Air Street through Covid, and now overseeing the eight-site London estate as Restaurant Director.
Burger King UK bite-size: Why cash margin beats margin %
Missed the full episode with Alasdair Murdoch, CEO of Burger King UK? Here's the bite-size cut.
Keep an eye out for our next episode, featuring Louisa Richards, London Restaurant Director, Hawksmoor.
Hosted by Conor Sheridan, CEO of Nory, the AI operating system for hospitality.
LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/discipline-at-scale-alasdair-m
Discipline at Scale: Alasdair Murdoch, CEO of Burger King UK
Burger King UK CEO Alasdair Murdoch on running 600 sites, washing the estate, and the discipline that holds labour flat through a 50% rise in the living wage.
After 30 years across KFC, Pizza Hut International, Pizza Express International, Gourmet Burger Kitchen and now eight years at Burger King UK, Alasdair Murdoch sits down with Conor to walk through the operational mechanics of running a
Wahaca bite-size: The gap between the food and the experience
Missed the full episode with Gemma Glasson, CEO of Wahaca? Here's a bite-sized version.
Keep an eye out for our next episode, featuring Alasdair Murdoch, CEO of Burger King UK.
Hosted by Conor Sheridan, CEO of Nory, the AI operating system for hospitality.
LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE
Apple Podcasts: [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevating-experience-with-authenticity-gemma-glasson
Elevating Experience with Authenticity: Gemma Glasson on Wahaca Reimagined
How Wahaca's new CEO rebuilt the guest experience to match the plate — and the partnership campaign that drove £120k of sales without a single discount.
Four years ago, newly promoted Wahaca CEO Gemma Glasson launched Wahaca Reimagined: a line-by-line operational rebuild of the guest experience covering bespoke crockery, cutlery weight, chefs on the pass, new uniforms, rebuilt steps of servi
Inside Nory’s Series B: building the operating system for restaurants
Missed the full episode? Here’s the highlight reel.
In this episode's highlights, Conor Sheridan sits down with Jose Gaytan de Ayala, Investment Manager at Kinnevik, to unpack Nory’s $37m Series B raise - and what it takes to build a category-defining hospitality tech company.
From why Kinnevik chose Nory in a competitive round to how AI is shifting from dashboards to decision-making, this
Season one rewind: the strategies that actually move margins
In this season one wrap-up of What’s Cooking?, Conor Sheridan reflects on the standout insights from 12 leading voices across hospitality. From tech to team culture, discover what really drives profitability at scale. Learn how operators are solving frontline challenges with AI, operational clarity, and people-first leadership.
What you'll learn in this episode
>> How operators at sca
Brand isn’t a campaign: Prezzo Italian highlights
Short on time? Here’s the essence.
In this episode's highlights, Mark McCulloch, CMO of Prezzo Italian and founder of Hospitality Marketing Guru, breaks down why brand is not a logo, a launch, or a one-off campaign - it’s an operating system for the entire business.
Drawing on his experience across Pret, YO! Sushi and Prezzo Italian, Mark shares how to diagnose brand problems properly, alig
How Alison Wong leads change from the CFO seat
In this episode of What’s Cooking?, host Conor Sheridan talks with Alison Wong, Chief Financial Officer at House of Gods Hotel, about scaling financial leadership in hospitality. From consultancy to C-suite, Alison shares powerful insights on balancing operational rigour with guest experience, building scalable systems, and leading transformation with empathy. A must-listen for operators navi
Beautiful chaos, done right: Rosa’s Thai highlights
Pressed for time? Here’s the condensed version.
In this episode's highlights, Jonny Bramwell, Regional Head of Operations at Rosa’s Thai, breaks down what operational excellence really looks like when you’re scaling fast - without losing heart, culture, or energy.
From rolling out Rosa’s Done Right across 46 locations to redefining success beyond the P&L, Jonny shares how clarity, langu
Power of 1%: highlights from Maria McCann at Blacklock
Culture isn’t top-down - it’s built from the ground up.
In this episode’s highlights, Blacklock’s Ops Director Maria McCann shares how a people-first approach to training, onboarding and culture has driven real results across their growth.
You’ll hear:
>> Why off-the-shelf training can’t build brand culture
>> How investing in people slashes turnover and boosts profitability
Easy on people, tough on standards: A COO's leadership philosophy
In this episode of What’s Cooking?, host Conor Sheridan talks with Amy Hom, Chief Operating Officer at Barcelona Wine Bar, about scaling leadership in hospitality. From humble beginnings to the C-suite, Amy shares powerful insights on developing frontline teams, creating real culture, and making operations more human. A must-listen for operators navigating complexity at scale.
What you'll le
Structured chaos: highlights from Giggling Squid’s scale-up journey
Giggling Squid didn’t scale by playing it safe.
In this episode’s highlights, Ops Director Darko Salaj shares what it really takes to grow a hospitality brand - through delays, chaos, and curveballs.
You’ll hear:
>> Why resilience, not perfection, is the key to successful openings
>> The value of championing individuality (even at 50+ sites)
>> How tech should support a
Scaling smart: highlights from Tom James at Bill’s
Missed the full conversation? Here’s your shortcut.
In this episode’s highlights, Bill’s MD Tom James breaks down what it really takes to lead change in hospitality - from repositioning a legacy brand to launching delivery with precision.
You’ll hear:
>> Why brand clarity matters more than ever
>> How Bill’s doubled down on breakfast, brunch and Gen Z appeal
>> The role
UK Budget deep dive with Kate Nicholls: Higher costs, zero relief
In this special episode of What's Cooking, Nory CEO Conor Sheridan sits down with Kate Nicholls OBE, Chair of UKHospitality, to dissect the UK Budget 2025 and what it really means for operators on the ground.
The Chancellor promised "root and branch" reform of business rates and a reset that would lower bills for hospitality whilst increasing them for online giants. Instead, operators got th
From Boojum to Pizza Pilgrims and Farmer J: scaling hospitality icons
In this episode of What’s Cooking? host Conor Sheridan, CEO and founder of Nory, chats with Andrew Maxwell, Operating Partner at Imbiba, about what it really takes to scale and invest in hospitality businesses. From growing Boojum into Ireland’s leading Mexican QSR to guiding high-growth brands like House of Gods, Andrew shares practical insights into the inflection points, red flags, and cul
5 brands & 250 locations: how Azzurri Group uses data
In this episode of What’s Cooking? host Conor Sheridan, CEO and founder of Nory, chats with Jim Hingston, Digital & Technology Director at Azzurri Group, about what it really takes to make digital transformation stick in hospitality. From integrating across five brands to prioritising projects that actually move the needle, Jim shares practical insights into building tech that delivers op
The fast and furious arrival of Dave’s Hot Chicken to the UK
In this episode of What’s Cooking? Neil Remedios, Operations Lead for Dave’s Hot Chicken UK and Ireland, joins Conor Sheridan, CEO and founder of Nory, live from the 2025 Hospitality Tech Expo to unpack the fast, furious journey of scaling one of the world’s hottest QSR brands, under the Azzurri Group umbrella. From why a copy-and-paste localisation isn’t always possible, to launching 7 sites
How Blaze Pizza scales tech across 300 franchise locations
In this episode of What’s Cooking? Chris Demery, CTO of Blaze Pizza, joins Conor Sheridan CEO and founder of Nory, to unpack the gritty realities of tech transformation in hospitality. From piloting new systems to navigating franchise complexity, Chris shares how Blaze Pizza balances innovation with profitability. Learn why the best restaurant tech isn’t flashy—it’s functional, scalable, and
Inside Nory’s Series B: disrupting hospitality with AI
In this special episode of What’s Cooking?, host Conor Sheridan, CEO and founder of Nory, is joined by Jose Gaytan de Ayala, Investment Manager at Kinnevik, to unpack Nory’s recent $37 million Series B raise. They dive into what attracted Kinnevik to Nory, how AI is revolutionising restaurant operations, and what it takes for a hospitality tech company to win in a legacy industry. This is a c
Prezzo Italian: why brand is an operating system, not a campaign
What does it take to align brand, culture, and operations in hospitality? Mark McCulloch, Founder of Hospitality Marketing Guru and CMO of Prezzo Italian, joins Conor Sheridan, CEO and founder of Nory, on the latest episode of What’s Cooking? to share how he led a successful brand repositioning at national scale. From Pret to Prezzo Italian, Mark dives into building brand DNA, strategic marke
Inside Rosa's Thai's playbook
What does operational excellence really look like in the real world of hospitality? In this episode of What’s Cooking? Conor Sheridan, CEO and founder of Nory, sits down with Jonny Bramwell, Regional Head of Operations at Rosa’s Thai, to explore how the brand scaled a transformative internal programme—Rosa’s Done Right. Jonny shares leadership lessons, key challenges, and how to balance beaut
Blacklock's people-first growth strategy
In this episode of What’s Cooking? Conor Sheridan, CEO and founder of Nory, sits down with Maria McCann, Operations Director at Blacklock, to uncover how the brand has grown without compromising its people-first ethos. From retaining team culture across regions to transforming chef training, Maria shares tactical insights that have helped Blacklock scale smartly and sustainably.
Discover th
How chaos helped Giggling Squid thrive
In this episode of What’s Cooking? Conor Sheridan, CEO and founder of Nory, sits down with Darko Salaj, Operations Director at Giggling Squid, to uncover the unconventional strategies behind the brand's rapid expansion.
From thriving amid Covid to rejecting corporate rigidity, Darko shares his unique approach to operations, leadership, and scaling sustainably. Tune in to discover how embrac
Change management lessons from Bill's Restaurants
Tom James, Managing Director at Bill’s Restaurants, joins Conor Sheridan, CEO and founder of Nory, to share how he led the brand through record-breaking growth over the past 4 years by doubling down on guest experience, change management, and technology.
With decades of experience and a deep operational background, Tom shares how he’s led Bill’s Restaurants through significant transformatio
Trailer
What's Cooking? is the podcast for hospitality operators scaling smart. Hosted by Conor Sheridan – CEO and co-founder of Nory, and a former operator who built and ran multi-site restaurant brands himself – each episode goes behind the scenes of fast-growing restaurant groups to explore the operational challenges that actually matter - like disconnected systems, staffing chaos, and margin pres
