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

McDonald’s cuts its Signature Crafted line

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 17, 2019

The company’s decision to drop its semicustomizable sandwiches comes as the chain focuses more on speed, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Why Papa Murphy’s is shrinking

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 16, 2019

A shift to convenience, and too much debt, made it tough for the pizza chain to thrive, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

5 takeaways from the Uber IPO filing

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 12, 2019

RB’s The Bottom Line takes a look inside the parent company of delivery service Uber Eats and finds profitability challenges.

Financing

Another activist investor wants J. Alexander’s to be sold

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 11, 2019

Mario Gabelli puts his support behind a sale, saying that it’s too small to be public and hasn’t performed well, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Are fast-food chains in a discount trap?

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 10, 2019

Some companies could struggle evolving past low prices, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Red Robin’s lesson: Cut labor at your own risk

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 04, 2019

Overreactions to profit challenges can sometimes cause more problems than they're worth, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Chains face a potential avocado shortage

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 03, 2019

Prices have spiked following President Trump’s threat to close the Mexican border, says RB’s The Bottom Line. That’s bad news for Chipotle and others.

Financing