What if the hardest part of building a brand starts after you’ve made it?
Jim Tselikis co-founded Cousins Maine Lobster in 2012 with his cousin Sabin Lomac and one food truck in Los Angeles. A Shark Tank deal with Barbara Corcoran later, the brand spans more than 75 trucks and restaurants. His new book, Life and Lobster, puts the near disasters on the record for the first time.
In this conversation, we get into how to protect margin when your core ingredient keeps climbing, why the franchisees you turn away matter as much as the ones you sign, and when to overrule a mentor you trust.
If you’re scaling and still waiting for the day it gets easy, this one is for you.
To learn more about Cousins Maine Lobster and his new book, Life and Lobster, visit
cousinsmainelobster.com.
_________________________________________________________
Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comThis episode is brought to you by Guestologie. Guestologie helps multi-location restaurant groups recognize their highest-value guests the moment they walk in, so your team can deliver better hospitality and drive more visits. Built for groups running 10 or more locations. Full Comp listeners get a complimentary Invisible Guest Assessment at guestologie.com/fullcomp
What is FULL COMP: Restaurant Tactics, Tools, & Strategies?
What if I told you that the difference between struggling and thriving in the restaurant industry is just one conversation away?
I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur who’s spent decades building blockbuster brands across every tier of dining. I know the challenges you’re facing—because I’ve been there. That’s why I created FULL COMP.
Every week, I go one-on-one with the smartest minds in the game: restaurateurs, chefs, and industry insiders who’ve cracked the code. Together, we unpack their biggest wins, hardest lessons, and the strategies that changed everything.
No fluff, no filler—just actionable insights to help you boost profits, build your brand, and create the kind of restaurant you’ve always dreamed of.
So, if you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start seeing results, hit subscribe.