On this episode of TechBytes, host Rob Grimes sits down with Kris Douglas, Vice President of Technology at Smalls Sliders and co-chair of the IFBTA Atlanta chapter. Kris shares how Smalls went from under 10 locations to 47 units across 12 states, with ambitions of hitting 1,000+ locations—powered by a best-in-breed tech stack, data-driven decision-making, and a deep focus on the guest experience. They dig into AI beyond the hype, loyalty that actually drives engagement, and how to build scalable technology from the ground up without losing hospitality at the front line.
In this episode of TechBytes, host Rob Grimes is joined by Kris Douglas, Vice President of Technology at Smalls Sliders and co-chair of the IFBTA Atlanta chapter, for a deep dive into what it really takes to build a modern, scalable restaurant brand from the ground up.
Smalls Sliders launched in 2019 as a bespoke cheeseburger slider concept and has quickly grown to 47 locations across 12 states, with aggressive plans to reach 22 states and ultimately 1,000+ units and beyond. Kris explains how the brand is “taking the industry by storm” by pairing a simple, highly focused menu with a thoughtful, long-term technology strategy.
Coming from a diverse background that spans healthcare technology, CNN, consulting at EY, Coca-Cola, and Inspire Brands, Kris breaks down the transition from large, complex enterprises to a fast-growing entrepreneurial concept. He contrasts centralizing and stitching together legacy capabilities at big companies with designing an enterprise foundation from scratch at Smalls, all while keeping the guest experience at the center.
Kris and Rob also look ahead to the industry’s “March Madness” of conferences, the surge of new solutions providers, and the ongoing challenge of separating real, business-driven innovation from technology for technology’s sake.
If you’re interested in how high-growth restaurant brands are using technology, data, AI, and loyalty to scale without losing their soul, this episode is a must-listen
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