In this week’s episode of Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam and executive editor Alicia Kelso recap the CREATE and Investment Summit events, which brought emerging restaurateurs together in Nashville to network, exchange ideas, and explore financing opportunities. Plus, the McDonald’s/Krispy Kreme partnership is expanding to Chicago this week with a goal of becoming nationwide by the end of 2026. The partnership began in Alicia’s home market of Louisville, Ky., and she has thoughts on the bigger rollout. The two editors discuss some silver linings appearing in the restaurant industry amid an otherwise challenging year, including the pricing gap between grocery stores and restaurant menus shrinking a bit and a robust jobs report. Finally, senior food and beverage editor Bret Thorn joins the discussion to explain why there are suddenly so many restaurants featuring SpongeBob SquarePants-themed menu items. 

For more on the Investment Summit, check out this recap. For more on the Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s partnership, click here. And to understand the SpongeBob menu proliferation, click here.

On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss McDonald’s announcement that it would offer the Chicken Big Mac for a limited time. Will it resonate with younger guests and find a place on the permanent menu? They also dig into Subway’s goal to open 10,000 locations internationally and whether a company that has closed thousands of locations in just a few years domestically can successfully reverse its fortunes and build momentum overseas. And managing editor Leigh Anne Zinsmeister joins for this week’s extra serving to discuss value meals, how fast-casual and casual chains may be winning the value wars, and whether slashing prices can successfully kick-start traffic and revenue growth.

In this week’s episode of Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss Raising Cane’s recent team event in Cancun, Mexico, where founder Todd Graves outlined his goal for Raising Cane’s to become a top 10 restaurant chain with more than $10 billion in sales. Plus, Sam and Alicia discuss their visit to Texas Roadhouse’s support center in Louisville, Ky., where they were reporting for the upcoming Brand Icon story. Then senior editor Joanna Fantozzi joins for this week’s extra serving to dive deeper into the recent Third-Party Delivery Study, discussing the difference in performance among the third-party platforms, the opportunity for the platforms to improve, and how chains, independents, and c-stores compare in delivery speed of service, order accuracy, and more. 

For more on the Third-Party Delivery Study, check out Joanna’s story on the report’s clear winner and Alicia’s feature on the difference in experience among chains, indies, and c-stores. 

If you want attend the CREATE event for emerging restaurateurs in Nashville for free, click here.

On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss Chipotle’s investment in automated kitchen equipment, including the Autocado and Augmented Makeline. How does this equipment improve the Chipotle operation and help it achieve its goal of 7,000 restaurants? Plus, they discuss Olive Garden’s decision to finally use third-party delivery and the results of Intouch Insight’s Third-Party Delivery Study. Then senior editor Joanna Fantozzi joins for this week’s extra serving to discuss her insights from the FSTEC conference in Dallas. Finally, senior editor Bret Thorn interviews Carissa Newton, vice president of marketing at Cunningham Restaurant Group, one of the 125 groups recently featured on NRN’s Top Restaurant Groups report. 

On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the fact that restaurant menu prices are still inching upward even as supermarket prices are essentially flat. That leads them to discuss McDonald’s $5 meal deal and the risk that major chains take when discounting their way out of negative traffic trends. Plus, Brian Niccol is officially the CEO of Starbucks and he outlined his first priorities in an open letter. Will this blueprint work for the coffee giant? And senior editor Ron Ruggless joins for this week’s extra serving to discuss the recent news that Kevin Hart’s plant-based concept, Hart House, has closed up shop.

On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss all of the NFL players who have gone on to become restaurateurs, plus the recent news from Topgolf and Pinstripes that suggests the eatertainment category may not be riding as high as it once was. Then senior food and beverage editor Bret Thorn joins to talk about this year’s fall menu trends — which, of course, includes pumpkin spice everything, but also apple, smoke, and much more.

On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the recent Prosper Forum in Amelia Island, Fla., plus the several CEO changes from across the restaurant industry. They also cover Shake Shack’s store closures, whether the better-burger trend has hit a bump in the road, and how Subway is clawing back from the $5 Footlong deal. Finally, for this week’s extra serving, senior editor Joanna Fantozzi joins to share her thoughts on dynamic pricing and whether it has a future in the restaurant space.

Welcome to a new and improved Extra Serving! This week, we’re introducing a new format where NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso talk about the biggest headlines of the week before rolling into the “extra serving” portion of the episode, where they welcome a colleague to the show to go deeper on a story. 

This week, Sam and Alicia talk about Chick-fil-A’s new elevated drive thru, KFC’s struggles, Burger King’s deal with Walmart, and CAVA’s incredible second quarter. Plus, in this week’s extra serving, managing editor Leigh Anne Zinsmeister joins to talk about one of the fastest growing restaurant chains in the U.S.: KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot. Finally, don’t miss Alicia’s interview with Chick-fil-A’s executive director of restaurant design Jonathan Reed, who offers more details on the chain’s incredible new drive thru.

This week on Extra Serving, editors Alicia Kelso, Joanna Fantozzi, and Sam Oches discuss the shocking news from last week that Starbucks would hire Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol for its chief executive role. What does this mean for the future at Starbucks? Find out in this conversation. Then, NRN's senior food and beverage editor Bret Thorn sits down with brothers Zane and Brandon Hunt of fast-casual pizza chain Via 313.

This week on Extra Serving, a podcast from Nation’s Restaurant News, managing editor Leigh Anne Zinsmeister sat down with Mahesh Sadarangani and Andi Trindle Mersch of Philz Coffee. 

Philz Coffee has been thriving in California for more than 20 years, and now it’s ready for more. With 70 locations as of the end of 2023, 64 of which are in the chain’s home state (the other six are in Chicago), the company wants to take its cult following and custom coffee blends to even more consumers.

Sadarangani, CEO, and Trindle Mersch, vice president of coffee operations and sustainability, talked about what makes Philz special, from the coffee itself to the hospitality from not only baristas but also executives. They also hint at special things in the brand’s future, including a possible expansion. 

Listen to this episode of Extra Serving above.