Out To Lunch - New Orleans Business Podcast

It’s New Orleans: Out to Lunch

Hosted ByPeter Ricchiuti

OUT TO LUNCH finds the country's most entertaining finance professor Peter Ricchiuti conducting business New Orleans style: over lunch. Each week Peter invites guests from the New Orleans business world to join him, sometimes for fine dining others for pizza. From CEO's to startups, managers, musicians, biomed needle-movers, Silicon Bayou success stories and entrepreneurs of all stripes put aside the elevator pitch and the talking points and actually enjoy themselves. It's business, New Orleans style.
You can also hear the show on WWNO 89.9FM.

Whole Food Whole New City – Out to Lunch – It’s New Orleans

July 31, 2014 Out to Lunch Comments Off on Whole Food Whole New City – Out to Lunch – It’s New Orleans

Self styled “Emperor of the Universe” entertainer Ernie K-Doe used to say that besides New Orleans being the birthplace of jazz, he was pretty sure everything came from New Orleans. When you tell people that grocery giant Whole Foods started here in New Orleans – on Esplanade Avenue – you generally get the same response you’d expect k-Doe would have gotten with his wild claim. To support the Whole Foods creation story we get to hear it today first hand from one of its creators.

john elstrott

John Elstrott was there on day one and today he is Chairman of Whole Foods Market. John tells Peter Ricchiuti the fascinating tale of the birth of the health food giant and the equally fascinating tales of what’s ahead.

Peter’s other lunch guest today is also on track to become the stuff legends are made of.

michael hecht

Michael Hecht is CEO of GNO Inc. In this role and in his previous tour of duty in post-Katrina State Government in Baton Rouge, Michael Hecht is one of the most significant architects of Louisiana’s recovery and New Orleans’ sensational business resurgence.

peter ricchiuti, michael hecht, john elstrott

 Recorded over lunch at Commander’s Palace this conversation is a true meeting of the minds.