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Jonathan Maze

Editor-in-Chief

Articles by
Jonathan Maze

Page 128
Financing

Restaurants are getting more sales and less profit

The Bottom Line: Restaurant sales rose 13% on an annual basis last month and continue to improve. But costs for both labor and food have also taken off. Here’s a look at the data.

Financing

What is the future of restaurant mergers and acquisitions?

A Deeper Dive: Nick Cole, who heads restaurant finance for MUFG, joins this week’s podcast to discuss industry trends and the impact of labor and supply chain costs on M&A.

Food

Analysts expect a broader test of McDonald’s McPlant burger next year

The plant-based sandwich is apparently performing well in a limited, eight-store test. But it could still be some time before the product appears on nationwide menus.

Operations

The Taco Bell of the future will have higher pay, more veggies and more diversity

The fast-food Mexican chain plans to get wages to $15 an hour by 2024. But it is also promising a host of other changes that influence everything from its menu to the diversity of its workforce.

Financing

Sardar Biglari doesn’t want Cracker Barrel to build restaurants

The Bottom Line: The controlling shareholder of the company that owns Steak n Shake wants the family dining chain to stop spending on restaurants.

Operations

In 2021, a surprise recovery is met with a more surprising labor shortage

The year’s biggest story was an unprecedented lack of workers that left operators closing services, reducing hours and dramatically increasing pay.

Marketing

Eager for more digital customers, chains ramp up the holiday giveaways

Numerous fast-food chains are giving away more menu items and contest entries this month as they push to get more customers on their loyalty programs and mobile apps.

Financing

Creditors for bankrupt Old Country Buffet parent target its former owners

A court gave the bankruptcy trustee the go-ahead to sue Fresh Acquisitions and VitaNova brands for $19.8 million in misused loans and unexplained transfers.

Operations

McDonald’s settles one of its discrimination lawsuits

The burger giant has paid $6.5 million to buy out the four restaurants owned by James and Darrell Byrd, who had accused the company of favoring White operators.

Financing

IPOs or Fat Brands: The year in restaurant mergers and acquisitions

The industry continued to consolidate in 2021, while restaurants returned to the public markets with surprising eagerness.

Financing

Why a Del Taco sale was inevitable

The Bottom Line: The fast-food taco chain has been unable to gain traction with investors since it went public seven years ago and industry trends made a sale likely.

Financing

Restaurants are treading more carefully on prices than it seems

Despite a nearly 40-year high in menu price inflation, the industry is giving up profit margins. And consumers are still willing to pay what they’re charging.

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