At CaterZen, we're passionate about helping BBQ restaurant operators build stronger, more profitable catering businesses. And Barbecue Catering Smarts is 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 features conversations with pitmasters, smokehouse owners, and catering leaders who share the systems, lessons, and strategies behind successful BBQ catering operations.
We're excited to announce Episode 41 of Barbecue Catering Smarts, featuring Kersten Grigg, Owner of Big Daddy's BBQ in Boise, Idaho!
Episode 41: Built to Pivot — How Big Daddy’s BBQ Keeps Growing After 20 Years
In this episode, I sit down with Kersten Grigg to discuss the evolution of Big Daddy's BBQ—from a family business selling barbecue from a trailer to a 20-year operation with two full-service restaurants and growing catering programs.
While Kersten's story is rooted in family and perseverance, what makes this conversation especially valuable is her willingness to keep adapting. She shares practical lessons on responding to catering inquiries, generating new business beyond word of mouth, communicating value in a price-sensitive market, embracing technology, and continuing to evolve as customer expectations change.
Here’s some of what you’ll learn in Episode 41:
- Why responsiveness can be one of your biggest competitive advantages when converting catering inquiries into booked events.
- How Big Daddy's moved beyond word of mouth by using direct mail, local business outreach, and its restaurant customer base to generate catering opportunities.
- Why simplifying the inquiry and booking process can help customers make decisions faster.
- How to communicate the value of your food and service without competing solely on price.
- Why knowing which opportunities to say no to can help protect quality, service, and profitability.
- How embracing new tools, technology, and changing customer expectations can help a BBQ catering operation continue growing over the long term.
One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is that longevity doesn't come from doing things the same way for 20 years—it comes from being willing to evolve.
For Big Daddy's BBQ, that has meant moving beyond a catering business built primarily through word of mouth, becoming more intentional about marketing and follow-up, and continually improving how the team responds to and serves catering customers.
Whether it's answering inquiries faster, making the buying process easier, protecting the value of your catering offer, or embracing new technology, Kersten's experience shows that sustainable growth requires operators to keep learning, adjusting, and finding better ways to serve their customers.
How to Tune In
You can listen to Episode 41 of Barbecue Catering Smarts on your favorite podcast platform or watch the full episode right here.
Why Barbecue Catering Smarts?
Every episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts is designed specifically for BBQ restaurant operators who want to grow catering revenue. We go beyond generic restaurant advice to explore the unique challenges and opportunities of BBQ catering—covering sales, operations, marketing, systems, profitability, and customer experience.
Each conversation delivers real-world lessons from operators who have built successful catering businesses, giving you proven strategies you can apply in your own restaurant.
Let’s Hear From You!
Is there a BBQ operator you'd love to hear on the podcast? Or is there a catering challenge you'd like us to cover in a future episode?
Send us a message—we'd love your suggestions as we continue building the industry's most valuable resource for BBQ catering operators.
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: @bbqcateringbizacademy
- 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 Catering Business That Keeps Growing?
Big Daddy's BBQ's journey demonstrates that long-term catering success requires more than great food—it takes responsiveness, adaptability, a strong understanding of your value, and a willingness to keep improving as the business changes. Whether you're working to generate more catering leads or building a larger operation across multiple locations, this episode will challenge you to look at where you can make your business easier for customers and better prepared for future growth.
If you're serious about turning catering into a dependable profit center for your BBQ restaurant, you won't want to miss this episode.
The BBQ Catering Business Academy is Now Open!
If you’re looking to build a more predictable, profitable catering operation, the BBQ Catering Business Academy was built for you.
Learn how to:
- Generate consistent catering leads
- Put systems in place that save time and reduce stress
- Turn catering into a reliable, high-margin revenue stream
Sign up now:
bbqcateringbusinessacademy.com
No cost. No spam. Just BBQ.
