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Biography

Lisa Jennings

Executive Editor

 Contact Lisa

Lisa Jennings, executive editor. Lisa Jennings is a veteran restaurant industry reporter and editor who covers the fast-casual sector, independent restaurants and emerging chain concepts. Her experience  includes other industry publications as well as the daily newspaper The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., where she was Food Editor. Her work has been cited in the Los Angeles Times, Business Insider, FoodBeast, The Huffington Post, Time.com and more.

Articles by
Lisa Jennings

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Workforce

Restaurant operators need to keep immigration reform top of mind

It may seem hopeless, with Congress unable to act. But the aggressive deportation policies are hurting restaurants, said panelists at the National Restaurant Show. It's not a partisan issue, it's an economic one.

Leadership

Andre Agassi's journey of resilience as he made peace with a sport he hated

At the National Restaurant Show, the tennis great shared an inspirational look back on a career of highs and lows, and how humility led to greater purpose. Also, he would like restaurants to have better acoustics.

Financing

Why Jack in the Box changed its CEO

The Week in Restaurants: This week’s episode of the restaurant news discussion podcast looks at the change in management at the fast-food chain, Pizza Hut’s lawsuit and the National Restaurant Association Show.

Emerging Brands

Think Chick-fil-A and Raising Cane's are too focused on male diners? This chicken concept is for you

Meet the new Flock & Fresh, launched by Smoothie King CEO Wan Kim. He feels women want better quality—and choice.

Operations

What's new in the Chicago restaurant scene

Heading to the National Restaurant Show? Here are a few places to check out that are brand new and (mostly) ready to be discovered.

Financing

Sweetgreen bets on winning back the bowl-weary guest

After a terrible 1Q, sales for the fast-casual chain began to pick up in April. Will a non-bowl option, fueled by an army of social media creators, save the day?

Financing

Restaurant sales were all over the place last quarter

The Week in Restaurants: This week’s episode of the restaurant news discussion podcast looks at earnings among fast-food, fast-casual and casual-dining chains.

Financing

Noodles & Company's turnaround explained: They're running restaurants better

The fast-casual chain's same-store sales were up more than 9% in the first quarter. Closing bad units helped. But CEO Joe Christina said turnaround efforts really are working.

Beverage

As cocktails hit $30-plus, consumers are opting to drink less—or stay home

Rising costs are pushing prices up at the bar, and consumers are pre-gaming to cut costs. Can restaurants and bars win them back with a more engaging experience?

Emerging Brands

Bread Zeppelin hits pause on franchising to prove out model

Salad stuffed into baguettes is getting a whole lotta love right now. But this fast-casual concept wants to grow more company-owned units to attract the right kind of franchisee down the road.

Emerging Brands

Jinya Ramen's founder leans fine dining with new flagship

Called simply Jinya., the new more-premium concept in Los Angeles has a menu designed around live-fire cooking and dry-aged meats and seafood. And, yes, there's ramen.

Operations

U.K.-based Indian concept Gymkhana brings its CPG line to the U.S.

Indian cuisine is having a moment. In addition to bringing its Michelin-starred restaurants stateside, JKS Restaurants is also launching a well-funded retail line of sauces, marinades and chutneys in Whole Foods Markets.

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