At CaterZen, we believe barbecue catering can be far more than a side hustle or an “extra” revenue stream. When it’s built with hustle, trust, and the right systems, it can become the lifeline that helps carry your business through hard times and into long-term growth.
That’s exactly why we created Barbecue Catering Smarts — your go-to podcast for actionable insights, expert advice, and real-world strategies to grow your restaurant’s catering profit center.
Hosted by me, Michael Attias, founder of CaterZen Catering Software, each episode dives deep into the challenges and opportunities unique to BBQ catering. You’ll hear inspiring stories, proven systems, and practical tips from pitmasters, smokehouse owners, and catering leaders across the country who are figuring out how to grow without losing their minds in the process.
We’re excited to announce Episode 30 of Barbecue Catering Smarts, featuring Brent Reaves, Owner of Smokey John’s BBQ — a second-generation operator who knows firsthand how catering can help keep a business alive, profitable, and moving forward.
Episode 30: How Smokey John’s Turned Catering Into a Lifeline with Brent Reaves
In this episode, I sit down with Brent Reaves of Smokey John’s BBQ, a family business with deep roots and an incredible story of grit, hustle, and growth. Brent quite literally grew up in the restaurant, learned catering from the ground up, and eventually helped turn it into a serious profit center for the business.
What makes this conversation so valuable is that Brent doesn’t talk in theory. He talks like an operator who has lived it.
When the business was under pressure, he didn’t sit around waiting for some magical marketing solution to save the day. He leaned into catering. He got scrappy. He smoked menus overnight, walked them into office buildings, and created momentum the old-fashioned way — by hustling for it.
He also shares one of the most important truths in catering: you’re not just selling food. You’re selling trust. If a client trusts you to show up on time, get the order right, and make them look good, you’ve got a shot at turning one order into a long-term relationship.
Here’s what you’ll learn in Episode 30:
- How Brent used catering to help pull Smokey John’s through a difficult stretch in the business.
- Why hustle still matters — including the smoked-menu strategy that helped generate demand.
- The real product you’re selling in catering, and why trust beats price more often than people think.
- Why systems matter if you want catering to grow without creating total chaos.
- How drop-off catering in the 20-to-75-person range became a sweet spot for repeatable business.
- Why you don’t always need more locations to grow revenue if you’re maximizing catering and other channels.
This episode is a great reminder that success in BBQ catering doesn’t always start with polished branding or perfect conditions. Sometimes it starts with a strong product, a little desperation, and the willingness to go knock on doors until the phone rings.
How to Tune In
You can listen to Episode 30 of Barbecue Catering Smarts on your favorite podcast platform or watch the full episode right here.
Whether you’re building your BBQ catering operation from scratch or trying to turn it into a more dependable revenue stream, this episode is loaded with practical takeaways you can apply immediately.
Why Barbecue Catering Smarts?
This podcast isn’t about fluffy ideas or generic restaurant advice.
Barbecue catering has its own set of challenges. You’re dealing with timing, holding, transport, labor, volume, and all the little details that can make or break an event. That’s why this podcast focuses specifically on the operators, systems, and strategies that actually work in the BBQ world.
Each episode is built to help you:
- Grow catering sales
- Reduce operational headaches
- Build stronger systems
- Create a more profitable catering program
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to scale, Barbecue Catering Smarts is here to help you grow smarter.
Let’s Hear From You!
Got a catering challenge you’d like us to tackle on a future episode? Or a topic you’d love to hear us cover?
Reach out — we’d love to hear from you.
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:
- Instagram: @bbqcateringbusinessacademy
- Facebook: BBQ Catering Business Academy
Join the conversation and let us know how Barbecue Catering Smarts is helping you level up your catering game. We love hearing your wins!
Ready to Build a Stronger BBQ Catering Profit Center?
Brent’s story is proof that catering can be a whole lot more than an add-on. Done right, it can become a dependable growth engine that helps you generate revenue, create stability, and build a stronger business.
If you’re serious about growing your BBQ catering operation with more intention, better systems, and fewer headaches, this episode is for you.
Tune in and start implementing smarter today.
