At CaterZen, we believe BBQ catering can become a powerful profit center when it’s built with intention, strong systems, and a clear understanding of what makes the business actually work. That’s why we created Barbecue Catering Smarts.
Hosted by me, Michael Attias, founder of CaterZen Catering Software, this podcast is built for BBQ operators who want actionable insights, expert advice, and real-world strategies to grow a more profitable catering operation.
We’re excited to announce Episode 39 of Barbecue Catering Smarts, featuring Stuart McClean, founder of BaQ-Bone BBQ & Catering in Nashville, Tennessee!
Episode 39: Catering First — How BaQ-Bone BBQ Built a Business Beyond the Food Truck
In this episode, I sit down with Stuart McClean to talk about how an East Texas barbecue upbringing, a backyard offset smoker, and a growing Thanksgiving turkey business eventually led to a full-time BBQ catering operation.
Stuart began by selling a small number of smoked turkeys to friends and customers during the holidays. As demand grew from five or ten turkeys to nearly 50 in a season, he realized there was an opportunity to build something bigger.
That momentum led to small catering jobs, a food truck, corporate relationships, and a catering business that now accounts for roughly 85% of BaQ-Bone BBQ’s revenue.
But what makes Stuart’s approach especially valuable for BBQ operators is the intentional way he is choosing to grow.
Instead of simply opening the food truck more days and hoping customers show up, Stuart is prioritizing catering, corporate drop-offs, private events, festivals, and booked food truck experiences. Catering gives his team greater predictability, reduces waste, and allows him to plan production and staffing around confirmed revenue.
Here’s some of what you’ll learn in Episode 39:
- How Stuart went from backyard smoking to building a full-time BBQ business
- Why smoked Thanksgiving turkeys became the first real proof of demand
- How BaQ-Bone built corporate catering relationships without relying on a traditional brick-and-mortar restaurant
- Why office pop-ups helped Stuart build a valuable book of catering clients
- How word-of-mouth, catering marketplaces, food truck platforms, flyers, cold calls, and TikTok ads generate new opportunities
- Why BaQ-Bone maintains minimums for pickup and delivery catering orders
- How advance bookings make purchasing, preparation, staffing, and production more predictable
- Why catering offers greater revenue certainty and less waste than everyday food truck service
- How Stuart decides which opportunities are worth accepting—and which ones create more stress than profit
- Why discipline, mental health, family priorities, and work-life balance all influence the way he is building the business
One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is that growth does not have to mean opening more days, adding more complexity, or chasing every dollar.
For Stuart, smarter growth means focusing on the part of the business that provides predictable revenue, makes better use of the team’s time, and creates more room for family life.
That means setting clear minimums, preparing orders in advance, pursuing the right corporate relationships, and being willing to turn down opportunities that do not align with the business.
How to Tune In
You can listen to Episode 39 of Barbecue Catering Smarts on your favorite podcast platform or watch the full episode right here.
Why Barbecue Catering Smarts?
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.
Each episode dives 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 who understand what it takes to turn great barbecue into a profitable catering operation.
From sales and marketing to pricing, operations, customer relationships, staffing, technology, and profitability, our guests share what is actually working inside their businesses.
Whether you’re building your BBQ catering operation or looking to scale, Barbecue Catering Smarts gives you practical ideas you can put to work immediately.
Let’s Hear From You!
What was your biggest takeaway from Stuart’s story?
Are you currently relying on daily restaurant or food truck sales, or have you started building catering into a more predictable part of your business?
Send us a message—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: @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 Around Predictable Revenue?
Stuart’s story is a reminder that a successful BBQ business does not have to depend entirely on customers walking through the door or showing up at the food truck.
Catering gives operators the opportunity to know what they are producing, how many people they are serving, and how much revenue an event will generate before the cooking begins.
But that predictability only works when the business has clear minimums, disciplined preparation, multiple lead sources, strong customer relationships, and the confidence to say no when an opportunity does not make sense.
If you’re ready to make catering a larger and more dependable part of your BBQ business, this episode is packed with real-world ideas you can start applying today.
Launching Soon: The BBQ Catering Business Academy — for Operators Who Want More Sales (Without More Chaos)
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
Join the waitlist and be the first to know when doors open:
bbqcateringbusinessacademy.com
