Continue to Site >>>

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

In the restaurant business, it pays to be big—and fast

 By Jonathan Maze on Nov. 19, 2019

Fast-food chains and larger concepts won the third quarter, leaving smaller, mostly casual-dining chains behind, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

The market turns in Tilman Fertitta’s favor

 By Jonathan Maze on Nov. 18, 2019

With casual-dining chains struggling and few buyers to compete with, the Landry’s owner is on another buying binge, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Can John Chidsey fix Subway?

By Jonathan Maze on Nov. 15, 2019

RB’s The Bottom Line examines Subway’s new CEO, including his tense relationship with Burger King operators and whether the chain could be sold.

Financing

Labor costs and possible recession stoke fear among operators

By Jonathan Maze on Nov. 14, 2019

At the Restaurant Finance & Development Conference, a sense of concern about the state of the economy prevailed, even as technology provides opportunities, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Among McDonald’s franchisees, cautious optimism with a dose of discontent

By Jonathan Maze on Nov. 11, 2019

Operators like what they’ve seen from new U.S. boss Joe Erlinger so far, says RB’s The Bottom Line, but many remain frustrated by the past few years.

Financing

Should pizza chains work with third-party delivery?

By Jonathan Maze on Nov. 08, 2019

RB’s The Bottom Line examines the vastly different strategies deployed by Domino’s Pizza and Papa John’s.

Financing

Sardar Biglari demands documents from Cracker Barrel

By Jonathan Maze on Nov. 05, 2019

The activist investor wants records related to Cracker Barrel's purchase of Maple Street Biscuit Co. and its investment in Punch Bowl Social, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

McDonald’s takes a different route for its new CEO

By Jonathan Maze on Nov. 04, 2019

Chris Kempczinski’s rapid rise to the top job highlights how much the world’s biggest restaurant company has changed, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Want sales? Get your digital house in order

By Jonathan Maze on Nov. 01, 2019

Wingstop and Chipotle both proved that online orders can move the needle in the fast-food business, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Grubhub takes a big hit

By Jonathan Maze on Oct. 29, 2019

The online ordering and delivery provider said competition is hurting order growth, sending shares plummeting and spurring questions on the industry, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

  • Page 67