In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts, Michael Attias welcomes Terry Matthews, Co-Founder of CaterLinked, a fast-growing community built to connect, educate, and empower catering professionals.
Terry shares how CaterLinked was born out of one big idea: that caterers don’t have to compete alone—they can grow stronger together. Through online groups, in-person meetups, and the newly launched CaterLinked Academy, Terry and his team are creating a space where operators can collaborate, share best practices, and accelerate their success.
Michael and Terry talk about the power of curiosity, connection, and community, and why open sharing—not secrecy—is the real key to innovation. They also dive into how education, culture, and technology all intersect to help restaurants turn catering into a scalable, profitable business.
Whether you’re a small operator looking for support or a multi-unit brand ready to grow, this episode will inspire you to rethink competition and embrace collaboration as your new business advantage.
Restaurant Catering Smarts is sponsored by CaterZen Catering Software.
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✅ Collaboration Is the Future: The most successful caterers don’t compete in silos—they grow together through shared knowledge and partnerships.
✅ Community Creates Confidence: CaterLinked gives caterers a space to ask questions, find resources, and connect with people who’ve been there and done that.
✅ Curiosity Drives Growth: Terry’s career has been built on asking why and how—a mindset that every great operator can adopt.
✅ Education Multiplies Success: The CaterLinked Academy helps caterers shorten their learning curve and improve results faster.
✅ Consistency Across Channels: Aligning messaging from in-store to digital reinforces brand identity and keeps catering top of mind.
✅ Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast: Passion, curiosity, and team alignment matter more than any single tactic.
✅ Technology Is a Tool, Not a Crutch: When used wisely, catering software like CaterZen removes friction so you can focus on service, sales, and growth.
✅ Learn, Then Share: When you share what you’ve learned, the whole industry rises.
🔹 “We’re not just connecting caterers—we’re building a movement where everyone wins.”
🔹 “Collaboration beats competition every time. You grow faster when you grow together.”
🔹 “Curiosity is the one skill that’s carried me through every chapter of my career.”
🔹 “When your team shares the same vision and passion, that’s when the magic happens.”
🔹 “Education is the engine. Community is the fuel.”
🔹 “You don’t have to figure it out alone—there’s a whole network ready to help.”
