The Future of Restaurant Training Is Here

Recorded live at CraveCon 2025, guest host Josh Halpern sits down with Rachael Nemeth, CEO of Opus Training, to unpack why traditional restaurant training is failing today’s workforce — and what operators must do next. Rachael shares the core insight that sparked Opus: while roughly 80% of the global workforce is deskless, nearly all training technology has historically been built for people sitting at computers. The result is a massive access and engagement gap across restaurant teams. In this conversation, she explains why legacy approaches are fundamentally mismatched with how modern frontline employees actually learn and work. Josh and Rachael dive into how Opus is rethinking the entire training experience to be mobile-first, multilingual, and delivered in the moments that matter most. Instead of forcing hours of information into short onboarding windows, Opus uses a swipeable, social-style learning format designed to boost retention and engagement. The platform combines short-form content, interactive quizzes, and skill validation to ensure training doesn’t just get completed — it actually sticks. The discussion also looks ahead to the growing role of AI in restaurant operations. Rachael explains how real-time intelligence and integrations with guest feedback platforms like Ovation are transforming training from a reactive exercise into a proactive performance driver. By surfacing insights and delivering guidance in the moment employees need it, operators can address service issues earlier, support managers more effectively, and ultimately protect the guest experience. They also explore the importance of developing managers as coaches, expanding training beyond new hires to the full employee lifecycle, and why the restaurants that win in the next decade will be the ones that treat learning as a continuous, embedded part of operations. Episode Links Connect with Josh Halpern on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/josh-halpern-168b29 Connect with Rachael on LinkedIn:   / rachael-nemeth   Learn more about Opus Training: https://www.opus.so Follow Opus Training on LinkedIn:   / opus-so   Follow Opus on X: https://x.com/get_opus Follow Opus on Facebook:   / opus.so   Connect with Gregg Follow Gregg on Instagram: www.instagram.com/greggmajewski Follow Gregg on TikTok:   / greggmajewski   Follow Gregg on X (Twitter): https://x.com/Gregg_Majewski Follow Gregg on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@greggmajewski Connect with Gregg on LinkedIn:   / greggmajewski   Connect with Craveworthy Follow Craveworthy Brands Instagram: www.instagram.com/craveworthybrand Visit Craveworthy Website: https://www.craveworthybrands.com/ Learn About Franchise Opportunities with Craveworthy: https://www.craveworthybrands.com/fra... Checkout the Craveworthy Portfolio of Brands: https://www.craveworthybrands.com/our... Discover Investment Opportunities with Craveworthy: https://invest.profitandsense.com/cra... Sign up to Receive Updates from Craveworthy: https://www.craveworthybrands.com/con... Connect with Room for Seconds Subscribe on YouTube:    / @craveworthybrands   Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4ioMIq0... Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... View Past Episodes on Craveworthy Website: https://media.craveworthybrands.com/b... Nominate a Guest Do you know someone who would be great on this show? Let us know by emailing us EMAIL or sending a DM on social media @craveworthybrands