The No. 1 issue behind the spread of foodborne illnesses is food handling and handwashing practices, making up 89% of outbreaks, PathSpot CEO and cofounder Christine Schindler tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Schindler sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss what restaurant chains can do to protect their employees and customers. She also comments on the importance of tracking food temperatures...

Cava’s brand awareness has gotten a boost from the 2023 IPO, social media and its growing consumer packaged goods business, Chief Experience Officer Andy Rebhun tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Rebhun sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how the chain’s marketing strategy is boosting same-store sales. He also comments on the success of its grilled steak and how the connected kitchen initiative can...

Shake Shack’s food speaks for itself, but marketing can help reinforce the qualities that make it special like brisket in the burgers and shakes made with custard, CEO Rob Lynch tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Lynch sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how changes to the company’s marketing program -- including plans to highlight its premium ingredients, create a strategic calendar for limited-time...

Guests are very willing to adopt kiosks as a part of their ordering process, and the technology can boost check averages 20% or more for some restaurants, Bite CEO Brandon Barton tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Barton sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how kiosks are being used for upselling and can ease staffing challenges. He also comments on voice AI, facial recognition and McDonald’s new...

The US presidential race is between Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump and the couch, according to Bloomberg Intelligence senior policy analyst Nathan Dean. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Dean sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss why strong voter turnout may help Harris. He also comments on how turnout could decide which party controls the US House of Representatives, why Republicans have an inside...

It’s a battle for restaurants to become top of mind with consumers, so generating cultural relevance is imperative, Chili’s Chief Marketing Officer George Felix tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Felix sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how ad campaigns with Brian McKnight, Boyz II Men and Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey from The Office, as well as investments in TikTok and influencer marketing, are...

Restaurants can’t just raise prices, they need to use data to make real-time decisions to cut waste and excess costs, says Craftable CEO and co-founder Samuel Zats. In this episode of Bloomberg Intelligence’s Choppin’ It Up podcast, Zats sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how artificial intelligence can help project sales, reduce costs and help inform labor and purchasing decisions. He also comments on digital sales, commodity inflation and...

More and more ranchers are transitioning to regenerative practices, Hibar Hospitality CEO Jeff Chandler tells Bloomberg Intelligence, and he is hoping 100% of the beef Hopdoddy sells will be raised this way in the next couple of years. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Chandler sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss why the decision to source the burger chain’s ingredients from regenerative farms and ranches was a no-brainer. He...

American consumers are getting squeezed and spending their restaurant dollars on indulgent snack times and value plays, Savory Fund Managing Partner and Co-Founder Andrew Smith tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Smith sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss what’s working and what isn’t in a difficult economic environment. He also comments on hot culinary trends, restaurant tech, CosMc’s and his bullish...

Many restaurant companies could cut guidance this year as low-income consumers and industry sales remain challenged, Guggenheim Partners Director and Lead Restaurant Analyst Greg Francfort, tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Francfort sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss aggressive US coffe- shop development, quick-service discounting and strong demand for chicken brands. He also shared which companies...

It is becoming clear that delivery in the US isn’t working for anyone, Empower Delivery CEO Meredith Sandland, tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Sandland sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss why consumers, restaurant owners and drivers are unhappy with the current state of delivery and what can be done to improve the experience for all parties. She also comments on the state of ghost kitchens and...

Restaurant real estate is expensive and vacancy is low, motivating chains to pivot to alternative formats and omni-channel development including nontraditional units, Full Course Founder and CEO Lauren Fernandez tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Fernandez sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss smart growth strategies for emerging brands. She also comments on lending weakness, opportunities in the...

Cultivated meat can give customers a product they love without the negative impact to the environment, Meatable Founder and Chief Technical Officer Daan Luining tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Luining sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how cultivated meat is produced and why it may be more attractive to consumers than plant-based options. He also comments on adoption rates, distribution models and...

The volume of restaurant mergers and acquisitions remains well below 2019-21 levels, but private-market activity is starting to pick up, Harrington Park Advisors Founder and Managing Director Ashish Seth tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Seth sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss the state of the M&A market, including investors’ preference for franchised brands over company-owned ones. He also...

No-shows remain in the 20% range in the fine-dining industry, Head of Tock Matt Tucker tells Bloomberg Intelligence, despite demand that far outstrips supply, hurting unit profitability. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Tucker sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how the prepayment of reservations can help fine-dining establishments maximize revenue. He also comments on the shift to earlier dinner reservations, the state of the...

Puttshack owns a global concept patent on automatic scoring in miniature golf, CEO Joe Vrankin, tells Bloomberg Intelligence, creating a barrier to entry for its competitors. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Vrankin sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how the company has used technology to reinvent the game and paired it with a food and cocktail menu to attract the coveted 21-39 year-old demographic. He also comments on...

Foodservice distribution capacity is very tight, Datum FS Founder and President David Maloni tells Bloomberg Intelligence, contributing to higher prices for their restaurant customers. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Maloni sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how higher distribution and labor expenses are contributing to inflation in the restaurant supply chain. He also comments on feed costs, Section 204 of the the FDA Food...

Global bubble-tea sales could double or triple to more than $5 billion in the next 5-6 years, Gong cha Global President of the Americas Geoff Henry tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Henry sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to explain how the company is capitalizing on shifts in the global beverage landscape. He comments on Gong cha’s customer demographics and unit economics, as well as its shift to a direct...

The Israel-Hamas war is a bigger issue for McDonald’s and Starbucks than many other food chains due to reputational risk, deeper sales declines and greater exposure to high-impact countries like Jordan, Egypt and Morocco, Shatranj Capital Partners co-founder and general partner Brandon Guthrie tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Guthrie sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to explain how the war has affected sales...

Restaurant chains are revamping loyalty programs this year because they aren’t working, Thanx CEO and Founder Zach Goldstein tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Goldstein sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to explain what loyalty programs must accomplish to successfully drive traffic. He also comments on AI, dynamic pricing and the cycles of all-in-one tech.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Salad and Go’s mission -- to make fresh, nutritious food affordable and convenient for all -- is unique in the restaurant industry, CEO Charlie Morrison tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Morrison sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to explain how the company’s vertically integrated approach allows it to sell salads and wraps for under $7. He also comments on this year’s plans to boost brand awareness as well as...

Collaboration and alignment between restaurant operations and marketing teams is critical to driving traffic without hurting the guest experience, Ray Johnson, Founder of ReCee’s Leadership Consulting Group, tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Johnson sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how better employee retention and ease of execution can generate long-term, sustainable sales growth. He also...

Fogo de Chao doesn’t build a site pipeline until it has three years of visibility into the development of general managers, CEO Barry McGowan tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, McGowan sits down with Michael Halen, BI’s senior restaurant and food service analyst, to explain how the company’s investments in its employees are fueling strong sales and traffic growth. McGowan also comments on Fogo de Chao’s acquisition by Bain Capital and explains how a...

Mexican fast casual is the only dining category that doesn’t have a list of 20 mature competitors slugging it out for market share, CEO of Modern Restaurant Concepts John Cywinski tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Cywinski sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss Qdoba Mexican Eats’ growth opportunity and plans to accelerate new-store development to 100 restaurants a year. He also comments on Qdoba’s move...