The Bottom Line

Jonathan Maze The Bottom Line

Restaurant Business Executive 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.”

Financing

Here's how much Wall Street loves Brian Niccol

The Bottom Line: When Starbucks announced its hiring of the Chipotle Mexican Grill CEO to lead the company, investors poured money into the coffee brand—and hammered the burrito chain’s stock.

Financing

This earnings season has been brought to you by the word 'challenging'

The Bottom Line: Restaurant executives have talked frequently about the “challenging” or “tough” macro environment so far this earnings season. They have good reason.

The Bottom Line: The year is filled with some odd results, with companies trading share, fast food considered a luxury and otherworldly results at wing chains.

The Bottom Line: The company’s flagship brand is struggling in its domestic market as it loses ground to competitors. But it warranted barely a mention on the company’s earnings call.

The Bottom Line: Too many franchised restaurant chains desperately sell franchises to anyone in their bid for growth and are critical of them when things go south.

The Bottom Line: The Chicago-based burger giant says the offer is generating incremental cash flow for operators as it reverses the company’s sagging reputation for value.

The Bottom Line: The company has acknowledged that it is talking with activist Elliott Management. But it also has an activist shareholder named Howard Schultz.

The Bottom Line: Restaurant companies are losing customers at the moment. But some are still thriving. Those with more lower-income consumers are having the biggest challenges.

The Bottom Line: The parent company of Tender Greens, which filed for bankruptcy this week, is laying part of the blame on its heavier reliance on delivery orders.

The Bottom Line: Paul Mangiamele has vowed to bring the venerable casual-dining chain back for more than a decade. He finally fulfilled that promise. Here’s a look inside.

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