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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

Bigger chains have a larger share of a shrinking full-service market

 By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 26, 2022

The Bottom Line: Large full-service concepts gained market share since the start of the pandemic and are set up for a stronger future.

Financing

The omicron variant interrupts a healthy restaurant sales recovery

 By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 25, 2022

The Bottom Line: Industry sales were surprisingly strong after a second-half surge. But sales slowed in December after the latest spike in infections.

Financing

When Burger King nearly started serving Domino’s Pizza

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 21, 2022

The Bottom Line: In the 1990s, Burger King tested a Domino’s-branded personal pizza that proved remarkably successful, until the suits got in the way.

Financing

Companies are still lining up to go public despite recent volatility

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 20, 2022

The Bottom Line: Tropical Smoothie Café and Coopers Hawk are both reportedly planning upcoming IPOs, adding to a growing list. But some recent offerings haven’t fared well.

Financing

Consumers are increasingly questioning restaurants’ value

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 19, 2022

The Bottom Line: Black Box data suggests diners aren't so sure they're getting their money's worth amid soaring menu prices.

Financing

Del Taco makes a bet on value

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 14, 2022

The Bottom Line: At a time when prices are taking off, the Mexican fast-food chain is pushing value hoping to resonate with customers by “zigging when everybody is zagging.”

Financing

As inflation hits a 40-year high, the Federal Reserve plans rate hikes

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 12, 2022

The Bottom Line: Higher rates will increase companies’ borrowing costs, though they will remain historically low. How long it takes to get inflation under control is anybody’s guess.

Financing

Restaurant chain bankruptcies plunged last year

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 06, 2022

The Bottom Line: After a major surge in industry filings during the pandemic, they all but stopped last April. Here's why.

Financing

Subway tries a new franchising strategy: bigger operators

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 05, 2022

The Bottom Line: The sandwich giant grew into the most prolific franchise in the world with small-scale operators. Now it wants franchisees with more locations.

Financing

Struggling Gameworks finally calls it quits

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 04, 2022

The Bottom Line: The food-and-games chain has declared bankruptcy twice over the past two decades and has struggled for years. It closed its last six units and shut down for good on Christmas Eve.

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