Jason Osmond: How Aubergine Kitchen Is Turning Real Food Into a Marketing Movement
What if the secret to growing a restaurant empire wasn't selling more food, but building a community that believes in what you're serving? Jason Osmond, Director of Business Development at Aubergine Kitchen, is helping turn a passion for healthy eating into one of the most ambitious restaurant growth stories in Utah. With 15 locations, five more planned, and a long-term vision of 300 restaurants, Aubergine Kitchen is proving that a strong mission, distinctive brand positioning, and an engaged community can be a powerful recipe for growth. In this episode of the Go-To-Market Podcast, host Dr. Amy Osmond Cook, CMO and co-founder of Fullcast, welcomes her cousin, former business partner, and longtime marketing collaborator Jason Osmond for a conversation about entrepreneurship, restaurant marketing, brand differentiation, and the business of making healthy food irresistible. Jason shares how Aubergine Kitchen has built its brand around a simple promise to "change lives with real food." From its made-from-scratch menu and distinctive cooking methods to its community-first marketing strategy, the company is challenging conventional thinking about both healthy eating and restaurant growth. The marketing philosophy is simple too. Stop selling. Start teaching. Feed your community. In this episode, discover: The 300-restaurant ambition: How Aubergine Kitchen is approaching aggressive expansion while maintaining its commitment to quality, wellness, and community. Seven ways to stand out in a crowded market: How the company's food philosophy, ingredients, and preparation methods create a distinctive brand identity. Why great marketing starts with a great product: How Aubergine Kitchen turns its operational choices into meaningful competitive advantages. The power of community over conventional advertising: Why education, local relationships, influencers, and authentic engagement are central to its growth strategy. How to attract 1,200 people to a brand event: What a sold-out nutrition event revealed about the demand for education, connection, and healthy food. Why passion still matters in business: Jason's perspective on maintaining professional performance by investing in personal health, family, and meaningful work. "Build the community, teach the community, and feed the community." Jason's strategy reaches far beyond restaurants. Whether you're launching a startup, scaling a national brand, or rethinking your go-to-market approach, this conversation offers a refreshing reminder that customers respond to companies that give them something worth believing in. And sometimes, the most effective sales strategy is to stop selling. Listen here.