How Zaxby’s adapted to the pandemic and thrived

Cofounder and CEO Zach McLeroy joins the RB podcast A Deeper Dive to discuss the chain’s response to the pandemic, as well as its future. By Jonathan Maze on May 27, 2020

Restaurant Business Magazine · How Zaxby’s adapted to the pandemic and thrived

In the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic and its shutdown of dining rooms, Zaxby’s helped its licensees and then its workers. And now the company’s sales are thriving.

This week’s edition of the Restaurant Business podcast A Deeper Dive features Zach McLeroy, the CEO and co-founder of the 910-unit Athens, Ga.-based chicken fingers chain, which has grown quietly but strongly over the years.

McLeroy discusses the chain’s history and its success. He also discusses all the things the chain did to improve operations in the aftermath of the shutdown, as well as the challenges with dine-in service once restaurants were allowed to reopen.

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

Listen on Spotify.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

A Deeper Dive coronavirus News

Restaurant Business 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.

View All Articles by This Author

Korean fried chicken goes glam, Rocco DiSpirito's star power and Mooyah's from-scratch mentality

High-end apartment pop-up dinners, Dan Barber breeds flavor into squash, and how Muchacho infuses salsas with unique personalities

Lettuce Entertain You shares new initiatives, Eggs Up Grill makes menu moves, and the dish on pizza styles and Brooklyn food

Menu trends at RLC, how a St. Louis chef is elevating sushi, and hot sauces and LTOs in the spotlight

Exclusive Content

Emerging Brands

5 pre-emerging restaurant brands ready for takeoff

These small concepts are still proving out their ideas, but each shows promise as a potential candidate for the next generation of emerging chains.

This little-known iPhone feature could change restaurant ordering

Tech Check: Almost every customer has a POS in their pocket. Can mini mobile apps get them to actually use it?

Red Lobster gives private equity another black eye

The Bottom Line: The role a giant sale-leaseback had in the bankruptcy filing of the seafood chain has drawn more criticism of the investment firms' financial engineering. The criticism is well-earned.

CIA names Google foodservice exec Michiel Bakker as president

Here’s how to handle non-compete clauses

'Super Size Me' filmmaker Morgan Spurlock dies at age 53

Benefits Of Moving Order Pickup Lockers Outside

3 secrets to hiring and retention from studying Chick-fil-A

RATIONAL at NRA Show 2024

May Innovation Inspire at the NRA 2024

Barbecue sauces add regional flavor, bold taste to comfort food favorites