{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Disruptive Successor Podcast","title":"Episode 194 - Bagels, Bloodlines, and Business: Western Bagel’s Legacy with Jeff Ustin","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2688,"description":"Jeff Ustin is the Vice President of Western Bagel, the first bagel shop in Los Angeles. He helps carry on his great-grandfather’s 75-year legacy while leading the brand’s national and international expansion. Under his leadership, Western Bagel has become a West Coast staple, blending New York tradition with LA innovation. Carrying on a rich 75-year legacy, Jeff is the great-grandson of David Ustin, a union bagel baker from New York City who founded Western Bagel in 1947. Jeff grew up immersed in the business, learning every aspect from sweeping floors at 3 AM with his father, Steve, to managing retail stores. Under his leadership, Western Bagel continues to blend New York tradition with LA innovation, expanding its reach nationally and internationally while preserving its strong family values and commitment to employee. \n\nSHOW SUMMARY\n\nIn this episode of the Disruptive Successor Podcast, host Jonathan Goldhill talks with Jeff Ustin, Vice President of Western Bagel. Jeff shares the fascinating history of his family's 75-year-old bagel business, from its New York roots to becoming a West Coast staple. The conversation explores the unique challenges and triumphs of generational transitions, maintaining a strong company culture based on loyalty and respect, and the ongoing efforts to modernize and expand the brand in a competitive market. Jeff offers valuable insights into balancing tradition with innovation, adapting to consumer trends, and navigating market shifts like the COVID-19 pandemic, all while staying true to Western Bagel's core values.\n\nKEY TAKEAWAYS\n\nA Legacy Built on Hard Work and Family: Jeff highlights how Western Bagel's 75-year success is rooted in the tireless dedication of his great-grandfather and father, who instilled a strong work ethic and passion for the business from a young age.\n\nThe Backbone of Employee Loyalty: The longevity and success of Western Bagel are largely attributed to their deep respect for employees, many of whom have been...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/fzkIKBA2PNl6Glcet445Gbiy0fnqNjYhKNZIe8TjYts/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9iYmNj/ZDk4MjJkMTY2ZGQz/ZGMxYjQ5NWJmYTMx/NmM3Yi5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}