Episode 11:  From Drive-Thru to Director—Ellen Diehl’s Road to Catering Leadership

catering software podcast episode ellen diehl

 
In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts, Michael Attias welcomes Ellen Diehl, Operations Coordinator at Roots Natural Kitchen—affectionately dubbed “The Catering Queen” by her team.

Ellen plays a pivotal role in building and scaling off-premise catering for one of the country’s fastest-growing health-focused fast-casual brands. From her humble beginnings working the drive-thru at Long John Silver’s to orchestrating seamless catering operations across multiple locations, Ellen’s journey is both inspiring and practical.

Michael and Ellen dive into:
  • How strong systems and SOPs empower store teams to deliver consistently great catering
  • Using CaterZen to coordinate logistics, manage orders, and eliminate chaos
  • What it takes to scale catering without sacrificing brand standards or team morale
  • Why packaging, communication, and training are key ingredients to off-premise success
This is a must-listen episode for anyone looking to scale catering smartly, without burning out their teams or blowing up their operations.

Restaurant Catering Smarts is sponsored by CaterZen Catering Software—the all-in-one solution for restaurants ready to grow catering sales while saving time and staying organized.

 

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Top Takeaways for Catering Success

✅ Empower with SOPs: Clear playbooks and checklists make it easy for store teams to deliver catering with confidence.
✅ Catering Calendar Clarity: Using tools like CaterZen’s calendar view helps visualize workload and manage prep effectively.
✅ Packaging Matters: Branded, tamper-evident packaging enhances presentation, security, and brand experience.
✅ CaterZen = Calm: From driver tracking to black-out dates, Ellen uses CaterZen to streamline the entire operation.
✅ Training is Everything: Onboarding and re-training staff keeps standards high and operations consistent.
✅ Work Smarter, Not Harder: Scaling with limited bandwidth requires lean systems, not heroic efforts.
✅ Team Culture Wins: Ellen celebrates wins, promotes ownership, and builds pride in the process.

Juicy Sound Bites

🔹 “Systems create confidence. When the process is clear, people show up stronger.”
🔹 “CaterZen gives me that 10,000-foot view—so I’m not blindsided during a crazy week.”
🔹 “We’re not perfect, but we’re consistent—and that’s what makes catering repeatable.”
🔹 “Good packaging isn’t just functional. It’s part of the experience.”
🔹 “I love being the support net for our teams. It’s about making their jobs easier.”
🔹 “You can’t scale chaos. You have to scale structure.”
🔹 “If everyone knows their role, the catering event becomes effortless.”
🔹 “Catering is logistics and love all wrapped up in a to-go box.”