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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

How will McDonald’s respond to Wendy’s breakfast move?

 Oct. 24, 2019

The traditional fast-food breakfast leader has plenty of lead time to prepare its plan, but don’t expect discounts, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

As plant-based menu items grow, so do questions

 By Jonathan Maze on Oct. 23, 2019

More big chains, including Domino’s and Pizza Hut, are considering plant-based proteins, but big uncertainties about the products remain, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Sweetgreen has raised a ton of money

By Jonathan Maze on Oct. 21, 2019

The fast-casual salad chain has raised nearly $480 million since 2009. RB’s The Bottom Line looks at the numbers.

Financing

CFO departure sends delivery company Waitr’s stock plunging

By Jonathan Maze on Oct. 17, 2019

The departure comes as the delivery provider faces a lawsuit, a boycott, financial losses and is for sale, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Why Wendy’s believes this breakfast attempt will work

By Jonathan Maze on Oct. 11, 2019

The company says that it can quickly generate up to 10% of its sales via the morning daypart. RB’s The Bottom Line examines how.

Financing

Why franchisee debt levels are a big problem

By Jonathan Maze on Oct. 08, 2019

Operators’ rate of leverage has soared in recent years, which may become a burden in an economic downturn, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Higher labor costs keep restaurant menu prices soaring

By Jonathan Maze on Oct. 07, 2019

Restaurant prices are up 11% since 2015 and 3.2% over the past year, making up much of the industry’s growth, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Big Mac promo reveals the consumer cost of delivery

By Jonathan Maze on Oct. 03, 2019

A surprising controversy regarding the McDonald’s-DoorDash offer shows that consumers will be the ones who pay for delivery, says RB’s The Botton Line.

Financing

Are restaurants becoming wholesalers?

By Jonathan Maze on Oct. 02, 2019

It’s not as far-fetched as you think. Shifting dynamics in the industry could well push more of the industry toward third-party sellers, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Landry’s and Inspire Brands continue the consolidation trend

By Jonathan Maze on Sep. 30, 2019

The presence of growing operating companies will continue to put pressure on stand-alone chains to get larger, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

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