FULL COMP: The Voice of the Restaurant Industry Revolution

On today's show we chat with Othon Nolasco, co-founder of No Us Without You, a non-profit serving the most vulnerable amongst us within the hospitality community.
There are some revelations in life that hit you like a ton of bricks. It was Othon that brought to light that there are thousands of undocumented hospitality workers that are unable to receive government assistance and thus are unable to feed their families. Most of us can empathize but few of us have the courage to act. Within days of the quarantine, Othon and team were feeding families throughout Los Angeles county. Here, Othon provides a window into the work they're doing and the people they're supporting.
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Click here to book time on my personal calendar.
Click here to download our Restaurant Recovery Guide.
Want to streamline your front-of-house operations and increase sales? Head over to http://restaurants.yelp.com/fullcomppodcast to claim your free page and learn more about these powerful tools for your business.
SHOW NOTES

Met partners Damien and Erin in 2012 and created Va’La Hospitality in 2018
Consultants specifically for bar services
Coping though Covid19
All projects were shutdown when crisis hit
Still figuring out the next steps for Va’La
Focus on the charity work
Being “unemployed” feels very odd since hospitality professionals are usually working constantly
The beginnings of No Us Without You
Predicted the lockdown and shutdown of bars would happen
Lots of GoFundMes were being made for FOH staff but not the most vulnerable
Started the initiative to feed 1 undocumented, unemployed family for 1 day.
Bought food from restaurant outlets and packaged it
The initiative grew to feed the family for 1 week
Candidates for the program
Families are of undocumented back of house staff who are now unemployed
Hard-working people struggling without work
Operations of No Us Without You
Food packages have a mix of produce, dried staples, and home-cooked meals
Food supply partners donate to subsidize food
Team still shops 3-4 times a week to buy food from wholesalers
Feeding 1 family = $33 per week
They feed 300 families a week
Future of No Us Without You
Non-profit, tax-exempt status
Aim to feed 600-700 families per week
The human aspect
Many children they see are very confused
How many families not aware of the program are going hungry?
How many children are going hungry?
Hunger in America during Covid
Due to restaurant closures, farmers are dumping milk and slaughtering animals as they cannot afford to keep them
Many families are going hungry with rising unemployment
Long-term implications
Unemployment could mean families are behind on rent
Families are typically working at least two jobs to pay bills in normal times
When the job market reopens, competition for work will be high
With accumulated debt, it will be a long time before they are financially stable again
Goal of providing food stability to as many families as possible, for as long as possible. Prediction 12-18months
Personal goals of Othon
Planning a wedding which was postponed
Improving on weaknesses
Learning more about how to run a non-profit

Show Notes

On today's show we chat with Othon Nolasco, co-founder of No Us Without You, a non-profit serving the most vulnerable amongst us within the hospitality community.

There are some revelations in life that hit you like a ton of bricks. It was Othon that brought to light that there are thousands of undocumented hospitality workers that are unable to receive government assistance and thus are unable to feed their families. Most of us can empathize but few of us have the courage to act. Within days of the quarantine, Othon and team were feeding families throughout Los Angeles county. Here, Othon provides a window into the work they're doing and the people they're supporting.

Click to sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Click here to book time on my personal calendar.

Click here to download our Restaurant Recovery Guide.

Want to streamline your front-of-house operations and increase sales? Head over to http://restaurants.yelp.com/fullcomppodcast to claim your free page and learn more about these powerful tools for your business.

SHOW NOTES

  • Met partners Damien and Erin in 2012 and created Va’La Hospitality in 2018
  • Consultants specifically for bar services
  • Coping though Covid19
  • All projects were shutdown when crisis hit
  • Still figuring out the next steps for Va’La
  • Focus on the charity work
  • Being “unemployed” feels very odd since hospitality professionals are usually working constantly
  • The beginnings of No Us Without You
  • Predicted the lockdown and shutdown of bars would happen
  • Lots of GoFundMes were being made for FOH staff but not the most vulnerable
  • Started the initiative to feed 1 undocumented, unemployed family for 1 day.
  • Bought food from restaurant outlets and packaged it
  • The initiative grew to feed the family for 1 week
  • Candidates for the program
  • Families are of undocumented back of house staff who are now unemployed
  • Hard-working people struggling without work
  • Operations of No Us Without You
  • Food packages have a mix of produce, dried staples, and home-cooked meals
  • Food supply partners donate to subsidize food
  • Team still shops 3-4 times a week to buy food from wholesalers
  • Feeding 1 family = $33 per week
  • They feed 300 families a week
  • Future of No Us Without You
  • Non-profit, tax-exempt status
  • Aim to feed 600-700 families per week
  • The human aspect
  • Many children they see are very confused
  • How many families not aware of the program are going hungry?
  • How many children are going hungry?
  • Hunger in America during Covid
  • Due to restaurant closures, farmers are dumping milk and slaughtering animals as they cannot afford to keep them
  • Many families are going hungry with rising unemployment
  • Long-term implications
  • Unemployment could mean families are behind on rent
  • Families are typically working at least two jobs to pay bills in normal times
  • When the job market reopens, competition for work will be high
  • With accumulated debt, it will be a long time before they are financially stable again
  • Goal of providing food stability to as many families as possible, for as long as possible. Prediction 12-18months
  • Personal goals of Othon
  • Planning a wedding which was postponed
  • Improving on weaknesses
  • Learning more about how to run a non-profit

What is FULL COMP: The Voice of the Restaurant Industry Revolution?

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.