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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

The slam that stoked David Brandon's fire at Domino's

By Peter Romeo on Mar. 02, 2022

Reality Check: The public had issues with the pizza. But the withering criticism was aimed at an incoming exec who's now been named executive chairman.

Financing

How Lone Star Steakhouse fell off its horse

By Peter Romeo on Feb. 28, 2022

Reality Check: Once a worthy rival of Texas Roadhouse, LongHorn and Logan's, the brand is no longer around. Here's why.

Leadership

How a quiet warrior shut industry bigots' mouths

By Peter Romeo on Feb. 22, 2022

Reality Check: You may not know the name of JP Rama, but the industry is a less discriminatory place because of him.

Marketing

What's in a name? Often not restaurants' most impressive work

By Peter Romeo on Feb. 11, 2022

Reality Check: Emerging markets tend to cycle through some clunker IDs until a label sticks.

Operations

Why Dave Thomas chose square burgers for Wendy's

By Peter Romeo on Feb. 07, 2022

Reality Check: McDonald's is going to give that shape a try, but for a radically different reason.

Operations

Look for big changes in to-go packaging—including the price

By Peter Romeo on Feb. 04, 2022

Reality Check: New environmental rules are coming in a flurry. Is the industry ready?

Operations

Ingredients for today’s frog soup special

By Peter Romeo on Jan. 26, 2022

Reality Check: Keep an eye on these one-off government developments. They could be an issue in your market tomorrow.

Financing

Will Congress open the spigot this time on more restaurant aid?

By Peter Romeo on Jan. 24, 2022

Reality Check: The National Restaurant Association is stepping up its efforts to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, citing a new opportunity. But it's far from a slam-dunk.

Workforce

Another union setback may not be the worst of Starbucks' labor problems

By Peter Romeo on Jan. 18, 2022

Reality Check: Units aren't using the sophisticated tech that's been installed to alleviate GM's personnel burdens.

Workforce

Why the Supreme Court’s vaccine decision is bad for restaurants

By Peter Romeo on Jan. 14, 2022

Reality Check: Sure, complying with Biden's mandate would have cost time, money and aggravation. But might the alternative be even worse?

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