Episode 37: From Passion to Profit — How JAC's Craft Smokehouse Built a Catering Engine

Episode 37: From Passion to Profit — How JAC's Craft Smokehouse Built a Catering Engine

In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts [https://www.caterzen.com/podcast?utm_source=podcast-network&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_medium=podcast], Michael Attias welcomes Tracy Carter, owner of JAC's Craft Smokehouse [https://www.jacscraftsmokehouse.com/] in West Monroe, Louisiana. What started as a passion for barbecue, competition cooking, and a food truck eventually grew into one of the area's busiest barbecue operations—with catering now accounting for roughly 42% of the business. Tracy shares the remarkable story behind launching a restaurant during the height of COVID, overcoming years of financial challenges, and learning that great barbecue alone doesn't guarantee a profitable business. He discusses the turning point that forced him to focus on systems, profitability, leadership, and operational discipline—and how those changes transformed both his restaurant and his quality of life. Michael and Tracy also dive into the realities of barbecue catering, including menu simplification, pricing every detail correctly, building repeat business through word-of-mouth referrals, and why checklists remain one of the most powerful tools in any restaurant operation. Whether you're trying to grow your catering sales, improve profitability, or build a business that doesn't depend entirely on you, this episode is packed with practical lessons from someone who has lived every stage of the journey. Barbecue Catering Smarts is sponsored by CaterZen Catering Software [https://www.caterzen.com/?utm_source=podcast-network&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_medium=podcast].

Episode 36: Betting on Barbecue — How Henn House BBQ Turned Passion Into a Catering Business

In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts [https://www.caterzen.com/podcast?utm_source=podcast-network&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_medium=podcast], Michael Attias welcomes Phil and Johanna Hennenfent, owners of Henn House BBQ [https://hennhousebbq.com/]. What started with Phil winning a smoker in a local radio contest eventually grew into an award-winning barbecue catering business serving weddings, corporate events, and special occasions throughout the Midwest. Together, Phil and Johanna share the story of how they turned a side hustle into a full-time business, the leap of faith that led Phil to leave his job, and how their partnership helped build a thriving catering operation. They discuss why they chose a catering-first model instead of opening a traditional restaurant, how weddings became a major growth driver, and the systems they've implemented to stay organized as the business scaled. Phil and Johanna also explain how building a CRM and automating their sales process helped fuel significant growth, why documentation and communication are critical to successful event execution, and how they navigated losing a 10,000-follower Facebook page overnight. The conversation also covers food trucks, holiday catering, fundraising programs, online product sales, wedding marketing, customer experience, and the importance of balancing growth with quality of life. Whether you're looking to grow catering sales, improve your systems, or build a business that fits your lifestyle, this episode is packed with practical insights from operators who have done exactly that. Barbecue Catering Smarts is sponsored by CaterZen Catering Software [https://www.caterzen.com/?utm_source=podcast-network&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_medium=podcast].

Episode 35: Finding Your Niche — How Burnt BBQ N' Tacos Built Catering Through Differentiation

In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts [https://www.caterzen.com/podcast?utm_source=podcast-network&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_medium=podcast], Michael Attias welcomes Tim Halls, co-founder of Burnt BBQ N' Tacos [https://www.burntbbqntacos.com/]. Tim shares the unconventional journey that led him from working in the ambulance industry and attending culinary school to building one of the most unique BBQ concepts in Texas—blending traditional barbecue, tacos, and Venezuelan-inspired flavors into a catering-driven business model. With a restaurant that's only 24 seats but generates a significant percentage of revenue through catering, Tim breaks down how relationship-building, word-of-mouth marketing, ezCater, and strategic differentiation have fueled Burnt BBQ N' Tacos' growth. Michael and Tim also dive into: * Why finding a niche matters in crowded BBQ markets * Using catering as both a revenue stream and a marketing tool * Turning first-time catering customers into repeat clients * The power of food sampling to drive sales * Building relationships with corporate accounts and construction companies * Why operators need systems, follow-up, and less friction in their marketing * How Venezuelan-inspired menu items helped create a true point of differentiation This episode is packed with practical insights for BBQ operators looking to stand out, grow catering revenue, and build long-term customer relationships in competitive markets. Barbecue Catering Smarts is sponsored by CaterZen Catering Software [https://www.caterzen.com/?utm_source=podcast-network&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_medium=podcast].

Episode 34: From Hip-Hop to High-Volume Catering — How Stack City BBQ Built a Brand That Travels

In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts [https://www.caterzen.com/podcast?utm_source=podcast-network&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_medium=podcast], Michael Attias sits down with Mark Avalos, founder of Stack City BBQ [https://dopebbq.com/]. 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 [https://www.caterzen.com/?utm_source=podcast-network&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_medium=podcast].

Episode 33: Relationships Over Reach — How Maurice's Built Catering with Chris Bennett

In this episode of Barbecue Catering Smarts [https://www.caterzen.com/podcast?utm_source=podcast-network&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_medium=podcast], Michael Attias sits down with Chris Bennett, VP of Catering at Maurice's Piggie Park [https://catering.piggiepark.com/catering-full-service]—a multi-generational barbecue brand with nearly 70 years of history. Chris shares how he built Maurice's catering division from essentially zero into a meaningful revenue stream by focusing on relationships, consistency, and playing the long game. Rather than chasing every lead, his strategy centers on taking care of existing customers, letting reputation compound, and leaning into the segments that scale best—especially corporate events. They also dive into how brand legacy, community involvement, and product quality all work together to drive catering growth, why not every opportunity is worth pursuing, and how simplifying your focus can actually accelerate revenue. This episode is packed with practical insight for BBQ operators who want to grow catering sales without adding chaos—by focusing on what works and doing it consistently. Barbecue Catering Smarts is sponsored by CaterZen Catering Software [https://www.caterzen.com/?utm_source=podcast-network&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_medium=podcast].