This week on the Extra Serving Podcast, a product of Nation’s Restaurant News, NRN editors Holly Petre, Sam Oches, and Leigh Anne Zinsmeister talked about TikTok and its role in the restaurant ecosystem.

 

Earlier in the week, Petre wrote a piece about TikTok’s new role in the restaurant industry and how it’s a place for discoverability — which is good — and sensationalized restaurant reviews — which are bad. The editors discussed what these two trends mean for the industry at large and how overall, TikTok is a meaningful tool for restaurants to use.

 

Next, the three discussed the return of the McRib at McDonald’s. The quick-service chain announced it would be the McRib’s “farewell tour.” A marketing stunt or the real deal? The team discussed this question.

 

Finally, the team talked about Chipotle’s Q3 earnings. The fast-casual chain was up in same-store sales, largely due to price increases. Chipotle’s menu prices are up 13% year-over-year and 20% over 2020 prices. The team discussed what this means for the chain’s customer base amid an impending recession and what it could mean for the restaurant industry as we enter earnings season.

 

This week’s interview is Michael Pereira, the new (and first) chief operating officer at Velvet Taco. He spoke with senior editor Joanna Fantozzi about his goals for the brand, how he went from Snooze an a.m. Eatery to Velvet Taco, and general operations strategies.