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

Why is restaurant traffic falling? Blame millennials

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 26, 2019

According to Technomic data, the generation has been shrinking its visits for the past year, especially in casual dining, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Do the delivery economics work?

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 24, 2019

Domino’s is the latest company to question the sustainability of the current model. RB’s The Bottom Line takes a look.

Topics

Why do struggling chains always turn to franchising?

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 23, 2019

Companies with steeply falling sales frequently turn to franchisees to turn stores around. RB’s The Bottom Line examines whether this is a good idea.

Financing

Fast-growing Chinese chain Luckin Coffee files for a U.S. IPO

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 22, 2019

The Starbucks competitor wants to raise $100 million, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

S&P downgrades a huge Pizza Hut, Wendy’s franchisee

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 19, 2019

The credit downgrade for NPC International is another sign of the financial pressure franchisees are under, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Kona Grill and its former CEO go to war

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 18, 2019

Lawsuits between the chain and former Chief Executive Jim Kuhn paint a picture of a company that grew too fast, then cut too many costs to survive, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing