Tech on Toast, The Hospitality Tech Podcast

The Safe Option – Building Gluten-Free Confidence with Sonny Wells, Founder of Sonny’s

In this episode, Chris Fletcher sits down with Sonny Wells, founder of Sonny’s – the soon-to-launch fast-casual food brand with a mission to make eating out safer and more inclusive for people with allergies, especially coeliacs. Sonny shares his personal journey through a difficult diagnosis, what sparked the idea for Sonny’s in Dubai, and how a chance encounter with Sir Richard Branson turned into national visibility and a wave of investor interest.They talk about why “gluten-free” often isn’t really gluten-free, the lack of trust coeliacs feel in mainstream restaurants, and the operational minefield most hospitality brands face when trying to serve guests with allergens. Plus, Sonny gives a sneak peek into how he’s building a scalable, confidence-first QSR brand—with tech, training, and trust at the core.💡 Key Topics Covered:The painful diagnosis that inspired Sonny’sWhat “truly gluten-free” actually means—and why most brands get it wrongThe difference between clean, allergen-free fast food and processed optionsHis pitch to Sir Richard Branson and winning the “Elevator of Dreams”How Sonny plans to scale the business through tech, training, and franchisingThe role of kiosks, face-to-face service, and roving allergen expertsChallenges with dairy-free cheese and lessons from early advisorsWhy confidence is the brand’s core value—and what that means in practiceThe untapped market of allergy-conscious consumers, and why it’s growing fastThe vision for Sonny’s in the UK and beyond🔗 Connect with Sonny:Instagram: @sonnystheceliacBusiness Page: @sonnys_foodLinkedIn: Sonny Wells💬 Chris’s Take:“Sonny’s isn’t just a food brand—it’s a confidence brand. It’s answering a real, growing need in hospitality with compassion, energy and commercial smarts.”

Cyber Security in the Age of AI with Naveed Islam CISO at Dojo

Cybersecurity with Naveed Islam, CISO at DojoIn this special edition of the Tech on Toast Podcast, host Chris Fletcher sits down with Naveed Islam, Chief Information Security Officer at Dojo, to unpack the state of cybersecurity in today’s AI-powered, hyper-digital world.From phishing scams and data breaches to quantum threats and ransomware-as-a-service, this episode breaks it all down in a way every operator – whether you’re running a single site or leading a national brand – can understand and action.🎯 Topics Covered:• What does a CISO actually do?• The rise in high-profile breaches (M&S, Co-op etc.)• Why small businesses are especially vulnerable• Common attack vectors: phishing, credential theft, outdated software• AI in cybersecurity – the good and the bad• The dark SaaS world of “Ransomware-as-a-Service”• Why card data is digital gold• PCI compliance made simple• The hygiene basics every business should master• Why cybersecurity needs to be on the boardroom agenda• What the future holds: Agentic AI, identity as the new perimeter, and post-quantum risk🔮 3 Cybersecurity Trends to Watch:Agentic AI – AI that defends autonomously, without human inputIdentity is the new perimeter – verifying who is accessing systems is now more critical than where they’re doing itPost-Quantum Risk – data stolen today could be decrypted tomorrow. Some attackers are already harvesting.🔐 Key Takeaways:• Cybercrime is getting slicker and cheaper – anyone can launch an attack• AI is a double-edged sword – it’s being used by both defenders and attackers• Security hygiene matters – MFA, strong passwords, regular updates• Only 27% of UK boards prioritise cyber – that needs to change• Payments are prime targets – card data can fetch up to $30 per record🛡️ How Dojo Protects Its Customers:• Point-to-point encryption• Hosted payment pages• AI-powered threat detection• Light-touch PCI support for SMEs🎧 Listen now🔗 dojo.tech📱 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & everywhere you get your podcasts.

Built in Minutes, Made for Mobile | Tech On Toast x 24social

Guest: Gab Lopez, MD at 24social (MVG Media)Host: Chris FletcherSeries: Tech on Toast Season Sponsored by DeliverectThis Week’s Slice:What if building a pub website took less time than pouring a pint?Chris sits down with Gab Lopez, MD of 24social, to talk about making websites work for hospitality – not the other way around. From their AI-powered “MyPlace” product for venue managers to scalable enterprise tools for group operators, 24social is transforming how pubs, restaurants and bars show up online – mobile-first, lightning-fast, and without the headache.You’ll hear about:🍽️ How the “AI menu” turns a phone snap into a full food menu online📱 Why venue managers can build a live website from their mobile in minutes🎯 Why websites still matter more than ever – even in a world dominated by social media⚙️ How 24social’s platform grows with operators – from one venue to 100🎉 Real operator stories (like Punching Palooka’s cocktail bar journey)🔗 Seamless integrations with booking systems, events, and even live sport🧠 The UX and accessibility trends redefining digital presence for hospitality🎤 And yes, Gab’s side gig as a school compère and 10K-running dad!Whether you’re a GM drowning in PDFs or a head office team managing 50 sites – this episode is for you.👀 Learn more🌐 24social.io🤝 Find Gab Lopez on LinkedInBrought to you by Deliverect – powering order management across thousands of hospitality businesses to reduce errors, streamline service, and deliver better guest experiences.Subscribe to Tech on Toast and discover the stories shaping the future of hospitality – one shift at a time.

From Bacon Butties to Brand Building – Le Swine x 93FT

This week, Chris Fletcher is joined by two guests with serious flavour and flair: James Packham, founder of cult bacon sandwich brand Le Swine, and Nick Clark, founder and MD of Sheffield-based creative studio 93FT. What starts with a bacon butty turns into a masterclass in brand building, creative bravery, and how friendship can drive business success.Together, they unwrap:How a stolen sandwich sparked a businessTurning a street food truck into a brand with national reachDesigning a café that feels nostalgic and newWhy great design is more than just visuals – it’s storytellingThe rise of ‘hole-in-the-wall’ dining and micro-conceptsWorking with heritage suppliers and building guest experiences that lastExpect plenty of laughs, some seriously tasty storytelling, and honest chat about scaling without selling out.🔥 Why Listen?Whether you’re running one site or rolling out fifty, this is a must-listen for anyone building a hospitality brand from the ground up.🛠️ Guests:James Packham, Founder, Le SwineNick Clark, Founder & MD, 93FT🍳 Highlights:The “bacon epiphany” moment in ClerkenwellDesigning with intention: from colour palettes to reclaimed floorsNavigating Covid with care kits and delivery hacksThe importance of supplier relationships in hospitality storytellingBecoming an employee-owned creative agency📦 Try it yourself:Head to leswine.co.uk to grab a bacon kit or visit the café in East Sheen.Design inspo? Visit 93ft.com or connect with Nick Clark on LinkedIn.

From Parties to Payments: How TripleSeat Is Fixing Events Tech

In this episode, Chris is joined by Nikki Perry, VP of Product at TripleSeat, who flew in from Boston for her very first visit to London. They dive into Nikki’s journey from bussing tables at 13 to leading product strategy at one of the most exciting events platforms in hospitality tech.Expect a brilliant blend of real-world hospitality experience and cutting-edge product thinking — from how TripleSeat is cutting admin, increasing conversions, and transforming pre-orders in the UK, to how AI is quietly becoming the venue’s best friend.They also cover: • The rise of 3D event planning (think The Sims, but for weddings and private dining) • The difference between US and UK event culture (spoiler: pre-ordering cocktails is wild to Americans) • How AI integrations like AdSalt are streamlining inbound calls and converting more leads • Why TripleSeat’s newest tool, PartyPay, is making painful event payments a thing of the past • What’s coming next in the product roadmap (hint: AI assistants, natural language reports, and hotel tech upgrades)Nikki shares how TripleSeat remains laser-focused on one core user: the event manager — and how the team stays close to the ground through regular customer visits, product feedback loops, and actual party-throwing.✨ Key Takeaways: • 📊 Built by Operators – Most of the TripleSeat team has worked in restaurants or events, making the product truly hospitality-first. • 🧠 AI for Admin – From call-handling bots to natural language reporting tools, AI is embedded in the TripleSeat future. • 🍽 UK vs US – The cultural difference around pre-ordering food and drinks highlights the importance of local product nuance. • 🛒 Self-Service Sales – Tools like TripleSeat Direct and guest portals allow for faster bookings and better guest experiences. • 💳 Payments Solved – PartyPay means no more faxed credit card forms (yes, that was still a thing). • 🧭 Always Iterating – The product roadmap is fuelled by customer feedback, and prioritised by real impact, not just loud requests.🔗 Mentioned in this episode: • TripleSeat • AdSalt AI for hospitality • Tech on Toast📣 Connect with us:Got feedback, questions, or want to be featured?👉 Visit techontoast.community👉 Follow us on LinkedIn: Tech on Toast