At CaterZen, we’re all about empowering restaurant owners and operators to grow their catering businesses—and our Restaurant Catering Smarts podcast is your backstage pass to the strategies, systems, and stories that drive real success.
🎙️ Hosted by me, Michael Attias, founder of CaterZen Catering Software, each episode brings you candid conversations with catering leaders across the country. And trust me, Episode 11 is one you don’t want to miss.
Episode 11: From Drive-Thru to Director—Ellen Diehl’s Road to Catering Leadership
In this episode, I sit down with Ellen Diehl—a.k.a. The Catering Queen—who leads off-premise and catering ops at Roots Natural Kitchen. Ellen isn’t just a systems whiz… she’s proof that you don’t need a big team to build a big impact.
Here’s what you’ll learn in Episode 11:
✅ How Ellen went from Long John Silver’s drive-thru queen to one of the key players scaling one of the fastest-growing fast casuals.
✅ Why systems and SOPs are the secret to empowering store-level catering execution.
✅ How CaterZen helps her manage catering logistics with clarity and control, from delivery to black-out dates.
✅ Why clear communication, team training, and branded packaging are key to creating a consistent, customer-friendly experience—across multiple markets.
✅ Ellen’s perspective on balancing operational excellence with human connection—and why scaling doesn’t mean losing the personal touch.
How to Tune In
You can listen to the full episode or watch the video version right here on our Restaurant Catering Smarts podcast page.
Why Restaurant Catering Smarts?
Let’s face it: the catering business isn’t always easy—but the right tools, tactics, and team make all the difference. This podcast gives you an inside look at what’s working right now for top-performing brands. Whether you’re building a catering division from scratch or looking to scale smarter, Restaurant Catering Smarts gives you the insights to move faster, with fewer headaches.
Let’s Hear From You!
Have a question or topic you’d love us to cover in a future episode? Shoot us a message! We’re always looking to answer real questions from real operators.
Stay Connected with Us on Social Media!
Let’s keep the conversation going—and help you grow your catering business in the process:
- LinkedIn: CaterZen LinkedIn
- Twitter/X: @CaterZen
- Instagram: @CaterZenCateringSoftware
- Facebook: CaterZen Catering Software
- Join our private Facebook group: Restaurant Catering Professionals
Drop us a comment or DM and let us know how this episode helped you level up your catering ops!
Ready to Build a Catering Operation That Runs Like Clockwork?
If your catering program feels like a juggling act—where you’re just hoping nothing hits the floor—Ellen’s approach is the blueprint you’ve been waiting for.
She proves that you don’t need a big team or endless hours… just the right systems, tools, and team support.
So here’s your challenge: Listen to this episode and choose one thing to operationalize this week.
✅ Maybe it’s creating a catering SOP checklist.
✅ Maybe it’s rethinking how your packaging represents your brand.
✅ Or maybe it’s finally getting the software that gives you peace of mind (hint: CaterZen).
Because catering success doesn’t happen by accident—it’s engineered. And if you build it right, it won’t just scale... it’ll soar.
