Reality Check

Peter Romeo

The blog from award-winning journalist, RB Editor-at-Large Peter Romeo. Peter taps into his decades of experience covering the restaurant business at a variety of publications to discuss any number of issues related to the operations and general direction of restaurants.

Leadership

Yum’s leadership change signals a tweak in style

By Peter Romeo on Aug. 14, 2019

Incoming CEO David Gibbs and outgoing chief Greg Creed are, by their own admissions, very different sorts of business leaders. Here’s how they differ.

Marketing

5 restaurant publicity stunts aimed at holding late-summer traffic

By Peter Romeo on Aug. 13, 2019

Are they likely to succeed in snagging attention and sales? Decide for yourself.

Operations

Making sense of the Cheesecake-Fox Restaurant deal

By Peter Romeo on Aug. 01, 2019

The partners say they’re creating a new model for developing and growing restaurant concepts. Here’s why they’re giving that new approach a try.

Leadership

How does Texas Roadhouse stay a front-runner?

By Peter Romeo on Jul. 30, 2019

The chain has been a habitual top performer in casual dining, a segment with far more downs than ups in recent years. What is it doing that competitors don’t?

Workforce

Why I’m writing to you alleged bigots

By Peter Romeo on Jul. 16, 2019

I should be participating in a press event that intends to tie use of the tip credit to slavery. But it wouldn't have me.

Operations

Trends shaping the restaurant industry so far in 2019

By Peter Romeo on Jun. 25, 2019

At the six-month mark, critical forces have clearly emerged. Here’s a sampling.

Workforce

McDonald’s weathers a week of nonstop union pressure

By Peter Romeo on May 29, 2019

Fight for $15 and its deep-pocketed backer pummeled the giant with accusations, damning research and celebrity endorsements.

Financing

Delivery is growing up, becoming incremental and profitable in the process

By Peter Romeo on May 23, 2019

Is it generating a net gain in transactions for the restaurant industry? Maybe not. But the chains doing it are seeing their sales, profits and transactions rise.

Workforce