The Hospitality Hangout | Hospitality Podcast14 Huhti

It’s All in the Sauce: The Eric Skae Playbook Behind Rao’s and Carbone’s Billion-Dollar Growth

Eric Skae joins the conversation to break down what it really takes to build and scale a food brand, drawing from his experience growing Rao’s and now leading Carbone Fine Foods into a new era of rapid expansion. From identifying untapped potential to driving exponential growth, he unpacks the fundamentals behind turning strong products into nationally recognized brands.

The discussion explores the key differences between restaurant success and retail success, and why so many operators struggle when making the jump into CPG. From distribution and data to brand awareness and consumer behavior, Eric shares how Carbone scaled to tens of thousands of stores while maintaining a premium position and authentic identity in a crowded category.

Along the way, the conversation dives into the role of hospitality in brand building, the importance of staying focused during high-growth phases, and how innovation fits into long-term strategy. The episode also highlights emerging opportunities across the broader Italian food category, offering a look at how disciplined execution, strong partnerships, and a clear brand vision can drive sustained growth at scale.

Episode Credits:

Produced by: Branded Hospitality Media
Hosted by: Michael Schatzberg, Jimmy Frischling
Producer: Julie Zucker
Creative Director: Adam Levine
Show Runner: Drewe Raimi
Post Production: Three Cheers Media

www.thehospitalityhangout.com

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Inside Yum! Brands: How Taco Bell, KFC and Habit Run at Global Scale

Nigel Henry, Global Director of Operations at Yum! Brands, joins Hospitality Hangout live from Prosper Forum for a conversation about what it takes to create operational excellence across some of the ...

22 Syys 41min

The Foodfluencers: Cassie Yeung on Viral Food, Gordon Ramsay and Reinvention

Cassie Yeung did not take the traditional path into food. Before millions of people were watching her cook, she was dancing professionally with the Brooklyn Nets, working a 9-to-5, and trying to figur...

17 Syys 43min

Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s CMO on Building Awareness, Joy and Purpose

Deborah von Kutzleben, Chief Marketing Officer of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, joins Hospitality Hangout live from Prosper for a conversation about what happens after a brand has already grown across the m...

15 Syys 36min

How GOODLES Made Mac and Cheese for Grown-Ups | Foodfluencers

On this episode of Hospitality Hangout’s Foodfluencers series, Jen Zeszut, co-founder and CEO of GOODLES, joins the show live from Pepsi Studios in New York City to talk about reinventing one of Ameri...

10 Syys 52min

Jo Lambert on Olo’s Big Bet to Give Restaurants Their Guests Back

Jo Lambert, COO of Olo, joins Hospitality Hangout live from Prosper for a conversation about the future of restaurant technology, online ordering, loyalty, guest data, and the next chapter of digital ...

8 Syys 31min

Hospitality Insiders: Nadeem Bajwa’s Journey From Pizza Delivery to Franchise Empire

This episode of Hospitality Hangout introduces Hospitality Insiders, a special segment built for deeper operator-to-operator conversations about ownership, capital, structure, people, and what it real...

2 Syys 39min

The Friday Feeling: Inside TGI Fridays’ Comeback

On this episode of Hospitality Hangout, Ray joins the show live from The Prosper Forum in Orlando, Florida to talk about capturing the Friday Feeling and rebuilding one of casual dining’s most iconic ...

1 Syys 34min

The 2 P.M. Snack Brand Taking Over Grocery Shelves

Jake Karls, co-founder and rainmaker of Mid-Day Squares, joins Hospitality Hangout for The Food Fluencers series to talk about the chocolate bar built for the 2 p.m. crash and the founder-led content ...

27 Elo 41min