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Biography

Jonathan Maze

Editor-in-Chief

 Contact Jonathan

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. 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.”

Articles by
Jonathan Maze

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Financing

El Pollo Loco declares itself ready to grow again

The fast-food chicken chain’s sales increased last quarter, as did profits. The company is now ramping up new unit development to its highest rate in years.

Financing

The oil price problem

The Bottom Line: Economists are expecting a better year for restaurants in 2026. But that changes if oil prices remain too high for too long.

Financing

Burger King appears to come out on top of the burger wars

The fast-food chain received a spike in visits last week after the brand’s president went viral for taking a bite of the Whopper, according to data from the food traffic tracking firm Placer.ai.

Financing

Papa Johns is reportedly weighing a buyout offer, again

The Bottom Line: The pizza chain is reportedly weighing an offer from Irth Capital Management that would take the company private, the latest in a long line of buyout rumors and reports.

Financing

McDonald's is again doubling down on value

The fast-food giant is reportedly planning a $3 menu in April along with $4 breakfast meals as it works to lure more lower-income consumers.

Financing

Why beef costs are increasing so much

A Deeper Dive: David Maloni, senior director of commodities with Arrowstream, joins the restaurant finance podcast to discuss the rise in beef costs and the potential impact of gas prices on restaurants.

Marketing

The drive-thru coffee war is coming to the grocery store

7 Brew just launched ready-to-drink coffee in Walmart stores across the country, while burgeoning rival Dutch Bros has been selling creamers and other items in retail shops for months.

Marketing

Here's everything Taco Bell revealed at Live Mas Live

The fast-food Mexican chain highlighted 19 different menu items, including caffeine-laced eye patches, beverages, drinks and snacks. And it did so in a made-for-streaming event packed with celebrities.

Financing

Inside Omer Gajial's plans for Auntie Anne's owner GoTo Foods

The new CEO of the fast-food chain operator wants to build unit economics, improve the customer experience and build on its technology capabilities.

Financing

How will high gas prices affect restaurants?

The Bottom Line: Oil prices have soared and gas prices are following, which could affect restaurant sales at an otherwise sensitive time. But other issues may be more concerning.

Financing

Stop talking about price, start talking about food

The Bottom Line: Want to win customers over the long term? Focus on your food. A lot of restaurant chains are just now figuring that out.

Financing

Why the social media burger wars are good for the industry

The Week in Restaurants: This week’s episode of the weekly restaurant news discussion podcast looks at the McDonald’s-Burger King rivalry, the coffee market and what’s wrong with Sweetgreen.

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