BONUS: How to work with social media influencers in 2026
Take-Away with Sam Oches
Nation's Restaurant News
4.9 • 17 Ratings
🗓️ 6 February 2026
⏱️ 41 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In today’s bonus episode, Sam talks with a social media influencer and a marketing expert about the latest trends in restaurant influencer marketing — and what restaurant operators should and shouldn’t do when working with influencers.
Kate Finley is the founder and CEO of Belle Communication, a foodservice PR agency with expertise in earned media, influencer relations, creative strategy, and consumer insights. NRN is a partner with Belle on their Brilli platform, which offers unique insights into food influencers and how to leverage them for your business. Kate recruited Jordan Posner, a social media influencer who can be found @midwest_foodfest, to join the podcast to talk about influencer trends that are in the rearview mirror, and trends we should expect to see in 2026.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to Takeaway with Sam Okas, a podcast for leaders of growing restaurant companies who are looking to take their businesses to the next level. |
| 0:16.5 | In nearly two decades covering restaurants, I've gained access to some of this industry's most influential decision makers, and I'm letting you in on the conversations. |
| 0:24.7 | In today's bonus episode, you'll hear from a social media influencer and a marketing |
| 0:29.0 | expert about the latest trends in restaurant influencer marketing and what restaurant operators |
| 0:34.6 | should and should not do when working with influencers. |
| 0:38.3 | Kate Finley is the founder and CEO of Bell Communication, a food service PR agency with expertise in earned media, |
| 0:45.3 | influencer relations, creative strategy, and consumer insights. |
| 0:49.3 | NRN is a partner with Bell on their brilli platform, which offers unique insights into food |
| 0:55.7 | influencers and how to leverage them for your business. |
| 0:59.1 | Kate recruited Jordan Posner, a social media influencer who can be found at Midwest FoodFest |
| 1:04.6 | that's at Midwest underscore Food Fest to join us on the podcast to talk about influencer trends |
| 1:10.7 | that are in the rearview |
| 1:11.6 | mirror and trends we should expect to see in 2026. If you learn something from this episode, |
| 1:16.6 | go follow takeaway wherever you're listening and leave some feedback. It's the best way to get |
| 1:20.5 | that lesson to a fellow restaurant leader. Jumping now into my interview with Bell founder Kate |
| 1:24.8 | Finley and social media influencer Jordan Posner. |
| 1:27.8 | Enjoy the conversation. |
| 1:29.8 | All right. |
| 1:30.6 | I am sitting down once again with Kate Finley of Bell Communication. |
| 1:33.9 | And this time we are joined by Jordan Posner, who is at Midwest Food Fest on Instagram and TikTok. |
| 1:41.5 | Jordan is a resident influencer here to talk to us about the state of |
| 1:45.4 | influencer marketing in 26. Kate and Jordan, thanks so much for joining me today. |
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