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

Jimmy John’s and Papa John’s have different responses to the delivery threat

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 21, 2019

The chains show the restaurant industry’s uncertain answer to third-party aggregators, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

In the delivery race, DoorDash and Uber Eats are charging hard

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 19, 2019

The companies, with Grubhub, are forming a "big three" in the delivery and online ordering space, and that has implications for restaurants, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Low unemployment poses a sales problem for restaurants

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 18, 2019

Operators’ inability to fully staff restaurants can hurt same-store sales, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Can the multiple brand approach turn struggling chains around?

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 12, 2019

RB’s The Bottom Line examines why investors are suddenly flocking to distressed restaurant concepts.

Financing

Should Darden buy BJ’s?

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 11, 2019

The casual-dining operator plans to make more acquisitions, says RB’s The Bottom Line. One analyst says BJ’s Restaurants would make a good target.

Financing

Sales challenges take root at Freshii

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 04, 2019

The healthy fast-casual chain’s stock has lost 80% of its value since its 2017 IPO, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Restaurant chains have a dine-in problem

By Jonathan Maze on Feb. 27, 2019

Some casual-dining chains and fast-casual restaurants are navigating consumers’ shift to takeout, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing

Are consumers trading their burgers for steak?

By Jonathan Maze on Feb. 25, 2019

The diverging performances of chains such as Outback Steakhouse and Steak ‘n Shake show an economy heading in two directions, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Financing