At CaterZen Catering Software, our mission is simple: give restaurateurs the tools, systems, and insights to grow their catering businesses while taking back their time. And our Restaurant Catering Smarts podcast is your all-access pass to strategies, stories, and straight talk from some of the best operators in the business.
Every episode, I sit down with someone who’s in the trenches—someone who knows what it really takes to grow catering in today’s world. And Episode 23 is packed with gold bars.
Today’s guest? Amanda Quinn, Director of Catering at Viva Chicken.
A powerhouse. A relationship builder. And one of the scrappiest, smartest catering leaders you’ll ever hear from.
Episode 23: Scrappy, Smart & Scaling — Catering Growth with Amanda Quinn of Viva Chicken
Amanda’s catering journey started long before AI tools and online ordering—back when orders were still written down with pen and paper. She’s navigated hotel catering, franchise operations, and now leads the off-premise strategy for one of the fastest-growing Peruvian concepts in the country.What I love about Amanda is this: she knows how to sell catering because she knows people.
She hires for personality, reads the room like a seasoned pro, and isn’t afraid to get scrappy when budgets are tight.
If you’re looking for real-world strategies—not theory—this episode is for you.
What You’ll Learn in Episode 23
Here are the big takeaways Amanda shares (and trust me, each one is worth the price of admission):
🔥 Hire the personality, teach the skills
“Anyone can learn to sell. You can’t teach someone how to care.” That’s Amanda’s philosophy—and it works.
🔥 Read the room and pivot your pitch
Some offices want to chat about lunch plans. Others want you gone in 15 seconds. Great caterers know which is which instantly.
🔥 Why you don’t need a big marketing budget
Viva Chicken doesn’t have Chick-fil-A money—and that’s exactly why Amanda gets scrappy, creative, and persistent.
🔥 Follow the big power caterers
Amanda studies who the Jasons Deli, Jimmy John’s, and Chick-fil-A buyers are—and goes after them.
“You can get rich off their crumbs.”
🔥 AI isn’t the future… it’s the present
Amanda uses GPT to:
- Pull businesses that order for 50+ guests
- Identify frequent lunch buyers
- Map sample-drop routes
- Save hours of manual prospecting
🔥 Sales is still a relationship game
From 30-second drop-ins to 30-minute conversations about a kid’s pet fish… Amanda has seen it all. And she makes each interaction count.
How to Tune In
You can watch or listen to this episode right here on our Restaurant Catering Smarts podcast page.
Why Restaurant Catering Smarts?
This isn’t a fluff podcast.Each episode is a behind-the-scenes look at what makes catering operations succeed—and what causes them to stall.
You’ll hear from leaders who’ve:
- Built multi-million-dollar catering programs
- Navigated economic shifts
- Used technology (like CaterZen) to streamline operations
- Scaled with consistency, systems, and heart
Whether you’re just starting out or running a thriving catering operation, this show is designed to help you grow sales and take back your time.
Let’s Hear From You!
Got a question you want me to tackle in a future episode?
A topic you’re hungry to learn more about?
A guest you think would be a home run?
Shoot us a message. We love hearing from fellow catering pros.
Stay Connected with Us on Social Media!
Don’t miss out on updates, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive tips for growing your catering business. Follow us on social media to stay in the loop:
- LinkedIn: CaterZen LinkedIn
- Twitter/X: @CaterZen
- Instagram: @CaterZenCateringSoftware
- Facebook: CaterZen Catering Software
- Join our private Facebook group: Restaurant Catering Professionals
Join the conversation and let us know how Restaurant Catering Smarts is helping you level up your catering game. We love hearing your wins!
Ready to Build Catering Sales the Scrappy, Smart Way?
Amanda’s story is a reminder that you don’t need a massive marketing budget—or a 20-person sales team—to win big in catering. You just need personality, persistence, and a willingness to roll up your sleeves.
Whether you’re running catering out of one store or guiding a whole brand like Viva Chicken, this episode is loaded with practical moves you can swipe, adapt, and put into play tomorrow. No fluff. No theory. Just real strategies from someone who’s out there doing it.
Think of it as a roadmap for operators who want to grow without burning out—the shortcuts that skip the guesswork and get you straight to the good stuff.
So grab your headphones, settle in, and hit play.
Because catering success isn’t about perfection—
it’s about showing up, reading the room, and doing the things that make people remember you (and reorder from you).
