---
title: "How Mendocino Farms is winning the 'Sandwich Wars'"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/843589c8-4435-4b0c-912f-76d364967cb0
source: "FastCasual"
original_url: https://www.fastcasual.com/podcasts/how-mendocino-farms-is-winning-the-sandwich-wars/
category: "Fast casual"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Fast casual"
published: 2026-07-16T10:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-07-16T10:15:15.239Z
image: https://nmgprod.s3.amazonaws.com/media/file/1b/e3/cf40b3558b04ab520eb2c7c55f45/cover_image__x5jU91zv__mendocino-sandwich-wars.jpg
---

# How Mendocino Farms is winning the 'Sandwich Wars'

**TL;DR:** Mendocino Farms has hit its 100th location while staying true to its chef-driven quality and elevated hospitality, thanks in part to a private-equity partnership. The chain's CMO, Alicia Mowder, discusses its strategies, including its sandwich-versus-salad menu and intentional slow adoption of kiosks and AI ordering tech.

*originally published in FastCasual on 2026-07-16. [Read the original](https://www.fastcasual.com/podcasts/how-mendocino-farms-is-winning-the-sandwich-wars/).*

## Story

Test Link CONTINUE TO SITE » or wait 15 seconds Operations How Mendocino Farms is winning the 'Sandwich Wars' Mendocino Farms CMO Alicia Mowder joins Fast Casual Nation to break down how the fast-casual chain hit its 100th location while staying true to chef-driven quality, elevated hospitality, and a private-equity partnership that hasn't compromised its brand. presented by [](https://www.fastcasual.

com/companies/loopai/media/) July 16, 2026 Winning the Fast-Casual Sandwich Wars - Fast Casual Nation Restaurant Podcast \| Spotify Play on Spotify Winning the Fast-Casual Sandwich Wars Jul 14· Fast Casual Nation Restaurant Podcast Save on Spotify Change progress -0:00:001:00:14 Something went wrong - Play on Spotify - Follow on Spotify - Copy link Privacy Policy· Terms & Conditions Mendocino Farms CMO Alicia Mowder joins Fast Casual Nation to break down how the fast-casual chain hit its 100th location while staying true to chef-driven quality, elevated hospitality and a private-equity partnership that hasn't compromised its brand. Hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler dig into the brand's sandwich-versus-salad menu strategy, its guest-survey feedback loop, catering trends and why the chain is intentionally slow-walking kiosks and AI ordering tech. The episode closes with Loop AI's Casey Hilder unpacking how restaurant operators can separate real AI value from industry hype.

Winning the Fast-Casual Sandwich Wars - YouTube Tap to unmute Winning the Fast-Casual Sandwich Wars Savorfm Savorfm488K subscribers Business Strategy and Profitability Operations LoopAI FastCasual.com Mendocino Farms Related Media Podcast\\ \\ From kitchens to tech hubs: Inside fast casual’s digital revolution\\ \\ Presented by LoopAI Podcast\\ \\ How Dig Inn maintains quality at scale: A CMO's Guide to brand, loyalty, AI\\ \\ Presented by LoopAI Podcast\\ \\ Fast casual's global growth, innovation, labor shifts: A deep dive\\ \\ Presented by LoopAI Podcast\\ \\ Fast casual tech trends: Roam, DoorDash leaders share predictions\\ \\ Presented by LoopAI Podcast\\ \\ Multi-brand mastery meets AI innovation: Inside Conscious Hospitality Group's growth strategy\\ \\ Presented by LoopAI Podcast\\ \\ The 'anti-burger' blueprint: How Teriyaki Madness is out-scaling the giants\\ \\ Presented by LoopAI ©2026 Connect Media, All rights reserved. Visit Other Connect SitesATM MarketplaceDigital Signage TodayFast CasualFood Truck OperatorKiosk MarketplacePizza MarketplaceQSR WebRetail Customer ExperienceVending Times b'S1-NEW' COOKIE NOTICE We use cookies to enhance user experience and measure traffic on our site, as detailed in our privacy policy.

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## Entities

- unit expansion (topic)
- QSR (sector)
- private equity (topic)
- FastCasual (publication)
- Cherryh Cansler (person)
- menu strategy (topic)
- Paul Barron (person)
- Mendocino Farms (company)
- Alicia Mowder (person)
- LoopAI (company)
- Casey Hilder (person)
- kiosk tech (topic)

---
Originally reported by FastCasual (https://www.fastcasual.com/podcasts/how-mendocino-farms-is-winning-the-sandwich-wars/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/843589c8-4435-4b0c-912f-76d364967cb0).