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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

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

Steak 'n Shake's owner removes its CEO's pay limits

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 02, 2019

Sardar Biglari, who controls more than 50% of the company’s shares, will no longer have his salary capped at $10 million, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

McDonald’s shift on the minimum wage will have little impact

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 01, 2019

Though the company’s decision to stop lobbying against hikes was notable, increases have had all the momentum for years, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

No more megachains?

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 29, 2019

The days in which a concept can expect to become really big are probably over, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

On Wall Street, Chipotle’s recovery is nearly complete

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 28, 2019

The company’s stock hit $700 a share on Wednesday for the first time since 2015, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Charges against Michael Avenatti engulf the now-defunct Tully's

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 27, 2019

The attorney rescued the coffee chain in 2013. But the company went out of business last year, and now he faces federal charges, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

McDonald’s flexes its financial muscle

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 26, 2019

The company’s planned acquisition of Dynamic Yield is the latest example of big chains using their size to gain an advantage, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

The Shaq deal is a slam dunk for Papa John’s

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 22, 2019

Adding the well-liked personality to the board and its marketing gives the chain positive buzz for the first time in a while, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

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