The Entrepreneur: Peter Mammas, CEO, Foodtastic

In only its tenth year, Foodtastic has become one of Canada's dominant restaurant conglomerates, with 27 brands and over 1,200 locations. It all began in a small Greek family restaurant in Montréal's Parc Extension.

Peter Mammas discusses his long journey in the restaurant business and Foodtastic's meteoric rise with the help of private equity partners. The company owns three different rotisserie chicken chains, and familiar brands like Second Cup, Milestones, Pita Pit, Quesada and the newly announced return of Dunkin' to Canada.

Mammas looks back on his early hits, including co-founding the retro diner chain Nickels with Céline Dion and her late husband René Angélil. He also offers wisdom for entrepreneurs on quick decision-making and how he turned the crisis of the pandemic into an opportunity to help modernize the industry.

Join us for conversations with founders, innovators and leaders who embody Canada's entrepreneurial spirit. Since 2009, we are Canada's longest-running broadcast profiling entrepreneurs, now in your podcast feed. To support the show, please subscribe, rate us or share an episode.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs is a TNKR Media original production.

The Panelists: Ian Lee, Associate Professor, Sprott School of Business, Carleton University + Charmaine Goddeeris, Director of Customs & International Trade, BDO Canada

As trade tensions persist and geopolitical instability adds fresh uncertainty to global markets, Dan and Michael bring together two of Canada's sharpest voices on tariffs, cross-border strategy and the shifting economic relationship with the US.

Ian Lee and Charmaine Goddeeris offer a candid, high-level discussion on what Canadian business leaders should be watching heading into Q2: the likely shape of the next USMCA/CUSMA negotiation, the limits of trade diversification, the growing importance of natural resources and critical minerals, and the need for Canadian firms to make harder pivots for resilience, competitiveness and risk management. It is a wide-ranging discussion about negotiation, economic realism and the policy choices that will shape Canada's position in a more volatile world.

Join us for conversations with founders, innovators and leaders who embody Canada's entrepreneurial spirit. Since 2009, we are Canada's longest-running broadcast profiling entrepreneurs, now in your podcast feed. To support the show, please subscribe, rate us or share an episode.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs is a TNKR Media Original Production.

The Entrepreneur: Pino Di Ioia, CEO, BeaverTails

As Canada's political and business class unpack the Prime Minister's dramatic speech at Davos amid ongoing trade negotiations, Dan and Mike profile one of the most "elbows up" Canadian brands imaginable, the iconic BeaverTail.

Though it's discussed, this isn't an episode about the fried doughnut-like delicacy but about one man's pure entrepreneurial journey from summer job to CEO. Pino, who went to college with Mike in Montréal, explains how his first real job became his career, and how to find meaning and growth in all work.

Join us about every other Sunday for stories of founders, innovators and leaders of all sorts who embody Canada's entrepreneurial spirit. Since 2009, we are Canada's longest-running broadcast profiling entrepreneurs, now in your podcast feed. To support the show, please subscribe, rate us or share an episode.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs is a TNKR Media Original Production.