In this episode of The Perfect Bite, host Sarah Perkins sits down with Jake Simon, Co-Founder and CEO of ConnectedFresh, a company using IoT sensors and predictive analytics to help restaurants protect their food, save money, and operate more sustainably.

Jake shares how a friend’s spoiled produce sparked the idea for ConnectedFresh and how his background at Deloitte’s smart sensor division inspired him to create a scalable, affordable solution for restaurant operators. From real-time temperature monitoring to predictive maintenance and food waste reduction, ConnectedFresh gives kitchens a smarter, safer way to manage their operations.

He also dives into the human side of hospitality — why tech should serve people, not replace them — and how automation helps chefs and teams focus more on great food and guest experience, not manual tasks.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How ConnectedFresh is redefining food safety for restaurants and QSRs
• What makes IoT sensors so valuable in kitchen operations
• How automation can save restaurants thousands of dollars in lost inventory
• Why building trust is the hardest (and most rewarding) part of food tech
• How ConnectedFresh helps reduce food waste and improve sustainability
• The balance between data, hospitality, and the human touch in restaurant innovation

To learn more about ConnectedFresh, head to www.connectedfresh.com. 

You can follow ConnectedFresh and Jake Simon on LinkedIn. 

Heading to the National Restaurant Association show in Chicago May 17-20, 2025? Make sure to find ConnectedFresh’s booth! 

Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube! 

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