We recently caught up with Bar & Restaurant Expo's opening keynote sponsor, Blaze, an AI tool for better marketing. We spoke with Adam Nathan, Founder & CEO, about what Blaze offers to the industry, challenges in hospitality, trends in the industry, and more!
1. Tell our readers more about Blaze and what it offers to the hospitality industry.
Blaze exists to solve a fundamental problem for independent bar and restaurant owners: you need marketing to grow, but you don't have time to do it well.
We've built an AI marketing platform specifically for entrepreneurs who wear ten hats but still need to create consistent, high-quality content. For restaurants, that means easily crafting menus, promotions, social posts, email newsletters, and website copy that all feel like your unique brand.
What makes us different is our focus on personalization. We don't just spit out generic marketing that sounds like "the internet." We learn your voice, your visual style, and your business goals to create content that actually sounds like you and resonates with your customers.
And since time is your most precious resource, we've designed Blaze to save you 10+ hours per week on marketing. You can create a month's worth of social media posts, emails, and special promotions in just minutes – time you can spend actually running your restaurant. At <$100/month, it's like adding a virtual marketing team to your staff for less than the cost of a good bottle of wine.
2. Marketing is often at the bottom of the to-do list for independent operators, who wear many hats, including the promotions one. What are some of the ways Blaze simplifies the marketing process for operators and improves their strategy?
As restaurant owners, you're probably spending your days juggling inventory, staff management, and customer service – all before you even think about marketing. I get it. My parents ran their own small business, and marketing was always the task that got pushed to "someday."
Blaze simplifies your marketing in three critical ways:
First, we eliminate the blank page problem. Instead of staring at your phone wondering what to post, Blaze generates dozens of content ideas tailored to your restaurant – from seasonal specials to behind-the-scenes content that humanizes your brand.
Second, we compress the time it takes to execute. You can create a full month of coordinated content across platforms in a single session. Take 20 minutes on Monday morning to set up your entire month of social posts, email newsletters, and website updates – then get back to running your restaurant.
Third, we help you stay consistent. Our scheduling tools ensure your content gets published automatically, even during your busiest times. Consistency is what builds audience and loyalty online, and Blaze makes it effortless.
The result? A cohesive marketing strategy that works while you sleep, bringing in new customers and keeping regulars engaged without consuming your limited time and mental energy.
3. Where do you recommend operators start on creating marketing with Blaze?
Our tool makes it easy to get started in just a few minutes.
When you first sign up for Blaze, we'll help you create a Brand Voice profile. This is crucial – we'll analyze what makes your restaurant's personality distinct, whether that's your family history, your chef's approach, or the unique atmosphere you've created. All you have to do is write a few sentences about what makes your restaurant special.
Next, focus on your visual Brand Style. Upload photos of your space, your food, and your team. Blaze will learn your aesthetic and generate images and designs that match it consistently.
Then, I recommend starting with a simple content calendar focused on three things:
1. Weekly specials or events to drive immediate traffic
2. Behind-the-scenes content that tells your story
3. Customer spotlights that build community
Use Blaze to create a month's worth of content for these three categories in a single session. Blaze can publish it all automatically, then track which posts get the most engagement for you to make future posts better.
The restaurants seeing the most success with Blaze aren't trying to do everything – they're doing a few things consistently well like developing a blog audience or building an Instagram following. Start small, establish the habit, and expand your marketing from there.
4. What other challenges do you see operators facing in 2025, and how can your product/service help them overcome these obstacles?
The biggest challenge I see for independent restaurants in 2025 is standing out in an increasingly crowded digital landscape while operating with limited resources.
Large restaurant groups have dedicated marketing teams and technology budgets that independent operators simply can't match. Meanwhile, third-party delivery apps are taking larger cuts of your revenue while controlling the customer relationship.
Blaze helps level this playing field in several ways:
First, we give you the tools to build direct customer relationships. By creating compelling content for your own channels – email lists, social accounts, and website – you reduce dependency on third-party platforms and their fees.
Second, we help you showcase what chains can't match: your authentic story and personality. Our AI learns what makes your restaurant special and amplifies it consistently across all touchpoints.
Third, we're adding features specifically for hospitality businesses to optimize your digital presence for local search with SEO, making it easier for nearby customers to find you organically instead of through paid channels.
The restaurants thriving right now are those that have built strong, direct relationships with their communities. Blaze gives you enterprise-level marketing capabilities to do this at a fraction of the cost, keeping you competitive against bigger players with deeper pockets.
5. What trends are you seeing in the bar and restaurant industry?
The most successful restaurants I'm seeing are those embracing what I call "community-centered commerce" – building a loyal local following through genuine connection rather than just transactions.
Three specific trends stand out:
First, restaurants are becoming content creators. Your customers want to know the stories behind your dishes, meet your staff, and see behind the scenes. The restaurants seeing the most growth are those sharing these stories consistently across channels.
Second, there's a shift toward owning your audience. Smart operators are building direct communication channels – email lists, SMS, and even private communities – rather than relying solely on Instagram or third-party delivery apps where algorithms control who sees your content.
Third, personalization is becoming essential. Customers expect you to remember their preferences and communicate with them accordingly. The restaurants excelling here are using data to segment their marketing, sending different messages to first-timers versus regulars.
What's interesting is that none of these trends require massive budgets – they require consistency and authenticity, which independent restaurants naturally have. The challenge has been finding the time to execute, which is exactly the problem we're solving at Blaze.
6. What would you tell people who are intimidated by using AI or think it's too complicated to learn?
If you can use a smartphone, you can use Blaze. We've specifically designed our platform for busy entrepreneurs who don't have time to learn complicated tech.
I understand the hesitation – my own parents run a small business and were initially skeptical about adopting new technology. But here's what I tell people who are intimidated by AI: it's not about replacing your creativity or expertise; it's about amplifying what you already do well.
Think of Blaze like having a very smart assistant who knows your business inside and out. You're still the chef making the decisions about your restaurant's direction – Blaze just helps you communicate those decisions more effectively and efficiently.
The learning curve is intentionally minimal. Most restaurant owners are creating their first piece of content within 5 minutes of signing up. And we offer free webinars twice a week where you can see the product in action and ask questions directly.
The restaurant owners getting the most value from Blaze didn't start as tech experts – they just took that first small step. Try our free Brand Kit generator with no commitment, and you'll see how intuitive it can be. Your future customers will thank you for it.
Check out Blaze at blaze.ai.
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Plan to Attend or Participate in Our Events:
- 2025 Bar & Restaurant Expo Colorado, October 26-28, 2025, Denver, Colorado
- 2026 Bar & Restaurant Expo, March 23-25, 2026, Las Vegas, Nevada.
To book your sponsorship or exhibit space at our events, fill out our form.
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