In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts, Michael Attias sits down with Mark Avalos, founder of Stack City BBQ.
What started as backyard cookouts and weekend catering jobs has evolved into one of the most recognizable barbecue brands in Texas. Mark shares how he combined barbecue, hip-hop culture, hospitality, and relentless relationship-building to create a catering business that keeps customers coming back year after year.
Michael and Mark dive into the real drivers behind long-term catering growth — from creating memorable customer experiences and building venue relationships to standing out in a crowded barbecue market. Mark also opens up about growing from a trailer to multiple locations, navigating the challenges of COVID, and why consistency and responsiveness matter more than flashy marketing.
They also discuss the economics of barbecue catering, including managing brisket costs, structuring buffet lines strategically, maximizing profitability at events, and why catering clients ultimately care about reliability just as much as great food.
This episode is packed with actionable insights on branding, hospitality, referrals, customer service, and building a catering operation people trust enough to recommend repeatedly.
Barbecue Catering Smarts is sponsored by CaterZen Catering Software.
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✅ Relationships Compound Over Time: Long-term catering growth comes from consistently nurturing venue partners, corporate clients, and repeat customers.
✅ Responsiveness Creates Revenue: Simply answering the phone and responding quickly puts operators ahead of much of the competition.
✅ Reliability Wins Repeat Business: Clients want confidence that the food, timing, and service will be executed flawlessly every time.
✅ Branding Matters in BBQ Catering: Stack City BBQ built a memorable identity by leaning into authenticity, culture, and customer experience.
✅ Catering Is Built on Trust: Venue coordinators and office managers repeatedly recommend vendors who make them look good.
✅ Experience Drives Referrals: Music, atmosphere, hospitality, and energy all contribute to creating memorable catering experiences customers talk about.
✅ Buffet Strategy Impacts Profitability: Structuring serving lines and protein portions strategically helps protect margins without sacrificing guest experience.
✅ Three-Meat Packages Increase Flexibility: Offering multiple proteins spreads food costs more effectively while improving perceived value.
✅ Consistency Beats Complexity: Great catering operators focus on repeatable execution rather than overcomplicating the menu or process.
✅ Systems Support Growth: Creative operators need strong backend systems and CRM tools to stay organized as catering volume increases.
🔹 “Have food, will travel.”
🔹 “I built it off of two things: hip-hop and barbecue sandwiches.”
🔹 “If you respond, you’re already ahead of so many other caterers out there.”
🔹 “They don’t want to think about anybody else — they just want to know they can count on you.”
🔹 “Relationships can create more relationships.”
🔹 “The food is a big part, but they don’t want to have to think about it.”
🔹 “You make sure you take care of the customer, because they’re the ones that take care of you.”
🔹 “Just answer the phone.”
🔹 “People will feel the love and energy you put into the food.”
🔹 “Consistency and customer service are what keep people coming back.”
