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Listen "Wow Bao CEO Geoff Alexander on Turning a Struggling Fast Casual into a National Powerhouse"
Episode Synopsis
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, CEO and Co-Founder of ClearCOGS, sits down with Geoff Alexander, CEO of Wow Bao, to unpack the remarkable story of how a small fast-casual concept became a national brand available in 15,000 grocery stores, 500 hot vending machines, and dozens of non-traditional locations—all without traditional funding.
Geoff shares how he took over Wow Bao with three underperforming units and turned it around by embracing early technology adoption, from kiosks and online ordering in 2010 to experimenting with biometrics, blockchain, and AI-powered production planning. He explains why limited capital forced him to innovate—and how that mindset laid the groundwork for an omnichannel empire that blurs the lines between restaurant, retail, and CPG.
They dive into Geoff’s philosophy on partnering with startups, the risks and rewards of being a first mover, and how operators can build better tech by giving better feedback. Geoff also discusses how Wow Bao uses its brick-and-mortar footprint to test products that scale instantly to thousands of locations—a key advantage few brands can claim.
Whether you're an operator looking for new growth channels or a tech founder trying to break into foodservice, this episode is packed with insights on how to build big with limited resources, a clear vision, and the right partners.
Links:
Visit Wow Bao: https://www.wowbao.com/
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler/
Connect with Geoff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffalex/
Visit ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com/
00:00 Intro
02:45 Introduction to Wow Bao
04:25 Geoff's background with Wow Bao
10:40 Is Wow Bao a restaurant brand or a food brand?
11:30 Restaurant product vs frozen product
12:50 Turning around a struggling concept
15:18 Mastering online ordering before everyone else
17:00 Learning the Chicago market with food trucks
19:45 Wow Bao's brick and mortar history
21:30 Taking a swing at online ordering due to frustration
24:53 Benefits of adopting technology early
27:14 The problem with restaurant technology
28:20 The new wave of restaurant people leading technology
30:06 Getting in early on self-ordering kiosks
34:45 Finding the right partners
35:21 Creating Venmo before Venmo existed
38:05 Working with technology partners
40:25 The benefit of not having access to capital
45:20 "Every vertical requires attention"
47:08 The philosophy of different verticals
55:42 Geoff's relationship with technology partners
1:00:12 Operators getting involved with technology benefits the industry
1:02:45 The evolution of technology and benefits of AI
1:12:17 Technology can enhance hospitality
1:15:20 The key to success for CPG and ensuring quality
1:16:25 "I don't pull the plug on anything"
1:18:17 Advice for restaurant turnarounds
1:20:05 Outro
Geoff shares how he took over Wow Bao with three underperforming units and turned it around by embracing early technology adoption, from kiosks and online ordering in 2010 to experimenting with biometrics, blockchain, and AI-powered production planning. He explains why limited capital forced him to innovate—and how that mindset laid the groundwork for an omnichannel empire that blurs the lines between restaurant, retail, and CPG.
They dive into Geoff’s philosophy on partnering with startups, the risks and rewards of being a first mover, and how operators can build better tech by giving better feedback. Geoff also discusses how Wow Bao uses its brick-and-mortar footprint to test products that scale instantly to thousands of locations—a key advantage few brands can claim.
Whether you're an operator looking for new growth channels or a tech founder trying to break into foodservice, this episode is packed with insights on how to build big with limited resources, a clear vision, and the right partners.
Links:
Visit Wow Bao: https://www.wowbao.com/
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler/
Connect with Geoff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffalex/
Visit ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com/
00:00 Intro
02:45 Introduction to Wow Bao
04:25 Geoff's background with Wow Bao
10:40 Is Wow Bao a restaurant brand or a food brand?
11:30 Restaurant product vs frozen product
12:50 Turning around a struggling concept
15:18 Mastering online ordering before everyone else
17:00 Learning the Chicago market with food trucks
19:45 Wow Bao's brick and mortar history
21:30 Taking a swing at online ordering due to frustration
24:53 Benefits of adopting technology early
27:14 The problem with restaurant technology
28:20 The new wave of restaurant people leading technology
30:06 Getting in early on self-ordering kiosks
34:45 Finding the right partners
35:21 Creating Venmo before Venmo existed
38:05 Working with technology partners
40:25 The benefit of not having access to capital
45:20 "Every vertical requires attention"
47:08 The philosophy of different verticals
55:42 Geoff's relationship with technology partners
1:00:12 Operators getting involved with technology benefits the industry
1:02:45 The evolution of technology and benefits of AI
1:12:17 Technology can enhance hospitality
1:15:20 The key to success for CPG and ensuring quality
1:16:25 "I don't pull the plug on anything"
1:18:17 Advice for restaurant turnarounds
1:20:05 Outro
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