José Andrés Group Is Using Technology to Cut Food Waste

Restaurants are built on food and operations, but they are remembered because of the stories that come out of them.

During his tenure as Global CEO of José Andrés Group, Sam Bakhshandehpour saw how one unexpected moment can travel far beyond the dining room when it captures something real.

Note: This interview was originally recorded on October 14th, 2025 when Sam Bakhshandehpour was Global CEO of the José Andrés Group. He recently took a position at Bilt as President of Local Merchants.

Watch now to learn about fighting food waste, building meaningful partnerships, and growing a purpose-driven company with José Andrés.

Sponsored by:

• TOAST AllIn1 Restaurant POS

Chapters:

[02:03] - Meeting José Andrés and Joining the Group

[05:28] - The Paella Rainstorm and Power of Story

[11:16] - Ritz-Carlton NoMad and Hotel Strategy

[18:20] - Tackling Food Waste with Copia

[38:16] - The Heart of José Andrés and Advice for Restaurateurs

SPONSORS:

RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS IS PRESENTED BY TOAST —

Restaurant Influencers is brought to you by Toast, the powerful restaurant point of sale and management system that helps restaurants improve operations, increase sales and create a better guest experience.

• Toast AllIn1 Restaurant POS

Episode Links:

Sam Bakhshandehpour LinkedIn

José Andrés Group

José Andrés GroupLinkedIn

José Andrés TikTok

Kimberly Smith

Restaurant Technology Substack

Key Takeaways:

Purpose Can Power a Hospitality Brand: Working alongside José Andrés, Sam focused on pairing great food with meaningful impact, including sustainability efforts and community-driven storytelling.

Technology Can Reduce Food Waste: The group’s partnership with Copia shows how operators can cut waste, save money, and feed more people by using smarter systems.

Leadership Happens in the Details: From making his bed to staying present with his team, Sam believes consistency, humility, and small daily habits shape how leaders show up in hospitality.

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SAM BAKHSHANDEHPOUR —

As CEO and board member of José Andrés Group, Sam Bakhshandehpour leads a global restaurant and media platform spanning more than 40 restaurants across eight markets, including the two Michelin star minibar by José Andrés. Through José Andrés Media, he oversees the creation of compelling content that fosters connection and community. Through Silverstone Companies, Sam focuses on building and acquiring high value brands while ensuring they remain true to their integrity.

ABOUT RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS —

Restaurant Influencers is a weekly video podcast series presented by Entrepreneur Media and Cali BBQ Media. Every week host and restaurant owner Shawn Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) talks with business leaders like Shaquille O’Neal, Rob Dyrdek, Emeril Lagasse, Mayim Bialik, Jon Taffer, Robert Irvine, Toast co-founder Aman Narang, and more, about their secrets to Smartphone Storytelling, marketing, branding, and how to show up where customers are engaging online.

Published by Entrepreneur Media

Produced by Cali BBQ Media