The Bottom Line

Jonathan Maze The Bottom Line

Restaurant Business Executive Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Maze is a longtime industry journalist who writes about restaurant finance, mergers and acquisitions and the economy, with a particular focus on quick-service restaurants. He writes daily about the factors influencing the operating environment, including labor and food costs and various industry trends such as technology and delivery.

Jonathan has been widely quoted in media publications such as the New York Times and the Washington Post and has appeared on CNBC, Yahoo Finance and NPR. He writes a weekly finance-focused newsletter for Restaurant Business, The Bottom Line, and is the host of the weekly podcast “A Deeper Dive.”

Financing

Is this the end of in-house pizza delivery?

The Bottom Line: Two California Pizza Hut operators are getting rid of their own delivery services in advance of the state’s fast-food minimum wage. The potential implications of that move are enormous.

Financing

Restaurant stocks finished 2023 on a high note

The Bottom Line: Industry stocks performed roughly in line with the broader markets last year, with much of the gains coming in the last three months.

The Bottom Line: Restaurant sales increased much faster than prices last month. As much as consumers say they’re frustrated by prices, they continue to dine out.

The Bottom Line: The specialty beverage business generates $100 billion a year worldwide. It’s also profitable and its customers are loyal.

The Bottom Line: Papa Johns, McDonald’s and KFC are so intent on growing in international markets that they’re buying out restaurants.

The Bottom Line: Yum Brands, McDonald’s and Domino’s are all making a big push to accelerate growth. Most of it will come outside the U.S. But they have domestic plans, too.

The Bottom Line: While noting that humans will continue to drive restaurants, the McDonald’s CEO notes that the calculus on automation gets closer as labor costs soar.

The company’s chicken business is “on par” with its beef business as Americans continue to devour more poultry. It plans more chicken products in the coming years.

The Bottom Line: In a world of digital orders and drive-thrus, friendly service actually matters more than speed.

The Bottom Line: Activist investor Blackwells apparently plans to nominate “several directors” to the burger chain’s board, according to Reuters.

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