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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

PizzaRev and the folly of the 'Chipotle of Pizza' era

 By Jonathan Maze on Sep. 07, 2021

A lot of companies made overly aggressive bets on unproven fast-casual concepts. PizzaRev was one of them, says RB's The Bottom Line.

Financing

Is Andy Wiederhorn overpaying for Twin Peaks?

 By Jonathan Maze on Sep. 02, 2021

The multiple Fat Brands is paying for the casual dining chain has raised some eyebrows. But it is indicative of a deal that is different from the company’s other acquisitions, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Why the future is probably not plant-based

By Jonathan Maze on Sep. 01, 2021

For all the focus on alternative meats and vegetarian lifestyles, there’s little evidence to suggest people are actually consuming less meat, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

The SPAC boom comes to a merciful end

By Jonathan Maze on Aug. 31, 2021

The explosion in public blank-check companies have subsided, replaced by traditional IPOs. RB’s The Bottom Line says that’s good for those that are still in the game.

Financing

Dirty Bird Fried Chxx, with one unit, gets a $20M investment

By Jonathan Maze on Aug. 31, 2021

The hot chicken concept, created by the McHenry Group and opened just before the pandemic, has won an expansion investment deal from Wags Capital, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Operations

The delta variant is interrupting McDonald’s dining-room reopening plans

By Jonathan Maze on Aug. 30, 2021

The burger giant told operators they should consider closing interior seating again as cases surge in many markets.

Financing

Former Burgerim operators show the limits of franchising

By Jonathan Maze on Aug. 27, 2021

The franchisees who’ve started their own locations have made changes to help them make money, which they couldn’t do as part of a franchise, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

The restaurant recovery is top-heavy

By Jonathan Maze on Aug. 26, 2021

The very largest chains performed best in the pandemic-hurt year of 2020. And they’re coming out of it better, too, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Ghost kitchens hit the bigtime with Wendy’s deal

By Jonathan Maze on Aug. 25, 2021

The chain’s 700-unit deal with Reef Kitchens signals that delivery-only locations could be the next big battleground for big concepts, said RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Will there be a fall applicant rush? It’s complicated

By Jonathan Maze on Aug. 24, 2021

Evidence remains mixed on whether ending excess unemployment benefits would lead to a rush of applicants, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

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