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Is the plant-based meat trend dead?

The Week in Restaurants: This week’s episode of the restaurant news discussion podcast looks at the Planta bankruptcy, McDonald’s chicken strips, Cava’s sales and Wingstop. By Jonathan Maze and Lisa Jennings on May 16, 2025

A plant-based chain has filed for bankruptcy. Is it time to put this whole plant-based meat thing to rest for good?

On this episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants, we talk about the bankruptcy filing of the upscale chain Planta, and what that bankruptcy means for the plant-based meat trend.

We also discuss Wingstop’s new “smart kitchen” plan and sales at Cava. We also talk about the National Restaurant Show and McDonald’s McCrispy Strips. Also, Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski talks super apps.

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News  The Week in Restaurants  Bankruptcy 
Restaurant Business 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.
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