How Big Mamma Went from a Scrapped Idea to 30 Restaurants with Co-founder Victor Lugger

Victor shares the story of Big Mamma’s evolution—from a scrapped concept to a European dining sensation now setting its sights on the U.S. He discusses the brand’s commitment to immersive dining, bold hospitality, and innovative technology, including his latest venture, Sunday.

Key Takeaways
• Big Mamma was initially meant to be a French breakfast café, but after just six weeks, Victor and his team realized the concept lacked excitement and scalability. They pivoted to Italian cuisine, recognizing its universal appeal and their passion for it.
• Victor attributes Big Mamma’s success to his and his co-founder’s decision to step back and empower their team – handing off tasks such as ingredient sourcing led to noticeable improvements in quality and efficiency, proving that growth comes from trust and leadership.
• The goal was always to build an international brand, so Big Mamma expanded quickly beyond France. London became a crucial market, offering a world-class clientele and proving to be their strongest European location.
• To support expansion, Big Mamma brought in McWin as an anchor investor, allowing them to raise capital and secure debt financing without diluting ownership. This move ensured they could scale while maintaining control of their vision.
• Sunday, their payment processing app, started as an in-house solution to improve efficiency. It quickly gained traction, with 70% of guests opting in. Seeing its potential, Victor spun it off as a separate company—much like OpenTable revolutionized reservations.
• After seeing success across Europe, Victor and his co-founder decided it was time to enter the U.S. market, bringing Big Mamma’s signature experience stateside.
• Hot Takes: The fun kicks off with “Food Service Feud”, where Victor Lugger reveals what surprises European servers most about American diners. The heat rises in “Hot or Not”, the laughs roll in “Branded Quickfire”, and the competition gets fierce in “The Feud”.

Thank you for joining us on Hospitality Hangout, powered by Branded Hospitality Ventures. Stay tuned for more insider insights, industry game-changers, and bold moves from the innovators shaping the future of hospitality.

Episode Credits:

• Sponsored by: DirecTV
• Produced by: Branded Hospitality Media
• Hosted by: Michael Schatzberg, JImmy Frischling
• Producer: Julie Zucker
• Creative Director: Adam Levine
• Show Runner: Drewe Raimi
• Post Production: GrodMedia

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