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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

A deeper look at Popeyes’ historic quarter

 By Jonathan Maze on Feb. 11, 2020

The chain’s 38% same-store sales growth was one of the strongest numbers in industry history, proving the chicken sandwich was a black swan event, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Why Yum Brands is buying Habit Burger

 By Jonathan Maze on Feb. 07, 2020

The company wasn't interested in something large, and Habit will give the company U.S. unit growth, says RB's The Bottom Line.

Financing

Another ghost kitchen provider raises millions

By Jonathan Maze on Feb. 04, 2020

Kitopi nabbed $60 million to expand in the U.S. as delivery-focused kitchens continue to gain steam, says RB’s The Bottom Line. But is it too much, too fast?

Financing

A short seller questions Luckin Coffee’s growth

By Jonathan Maze on Feb. 03, 2020

The fast-growing chain defended its numbers after an anonymous report questioned the company’s model, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Restaurant CFOs are bracing for a recession

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 31, 2020

A BDO survey says 70% of industry financial chiefs expect a downturn in the next year or two even as they’re optimistic for their own companies, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

McDonald’s perplexing traffic problem

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 30, 2020

The burger chain has lost 13% of its same-store customer count over the past seven years, even as store count has shrunk, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Is the plant-based meat trend overheating?

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 29, 2020

More chains are pushing fake meat even as sales at other chains falter, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Restaurant chains have no room for error

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 27, 2020

Bankruptcy filings by Bar Louie, Krystal and American Blue Ribbon all reflect the industry’s competitive and operational challenges, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Here come the small chain mergers

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 24, 2020

This week’s Chopt-Dos Toros deal is the latest to combine multiple growth concepts, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Why struggling chains turn to franchising

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 22, 2020

As chains such as Steak ‘n Shake and Krystal faced mounting financial problems, they looked to refranchising as a solution, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

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