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A Deeper Dive

“A Deeper Dive”  is a weekly podcast from Restaurant Business dedicated to going in-depth on the most pressing challenges and opportunities restaurant operators face today. Each Wednesday, our audience will hear from restaurant industry leaders – from Chipotle to Pincho Factory and Firehouse Subs to McDonald’s. Deep dives into hot topics, from delivery to discounting and marketing to menu, will give operators the latest information and solutions to drive their businesses. Restaurant Business will also bring you expert industry trends and sales analysis from data partner Technomic, and debates and expertise from RB editors.

Financing

How AI may, or may not, change the drive-thru

 By Jonathan Maze and Joe Guszkowski on Nov. 19, 2025

A Deeper Dive: This week’s episode of the restaurant finance podcast examines voice-activated AI in the drive-thru, the most visible use of the technology in retail. But it has its flaws.

Financing

AI is everywhere, but how can it help restaurants?

 By Jonathan Maze and Joe Guszkowski on Nov. 12, 2025

A Deeper Dive: In the first episode of a six-part series on AI in restaurants, the restaurant finance podcast delves into the big and small ways companies are using artificial intelligence.

Financing

How El Pollo Loco is winning the value-profitability battle

By Jonathan Maze on Nov. 05, 2025

A Deeper Dive: Liz Williams, CEO of the chicken chain, joins the weekly restaurant finance podcast to talk about the fast-food brand’s plans for beverages, value and growth outside of California.

Financing

What is driving consumer weakness right now

By Jonathan Maze on Oct. 30, 2025

A Deeper Dive: Robert Byrne, director of consumer and industry insights with Technomic, joins this week’s episode of the restaurant finance podcast to discuss why sales-building efforts aren’t working.

Financing

Why so many consumers are dining on a deal right now

By Jonathan Maze on Oct. 22, 2025

A Deeper Dive: This week’s episode of the restaurant finance podcast features a conversation with David Portalatin, food industry advisor for the data firm Circana.

Financing

Why PJ's Coffee cut hundreds of food items from its menu

By Jonathan Maze on Oct. 15, 2025

A Deeper Dive: David Mesa, president of the New Orleans-based coffee shop chain, joins the restaurant finance podcast to discuss the state of beverage restaurants and its menu optimization.

Financing

The outlook for the restaurant industry the rest of this year

By Jonathan Maze on Oct. 08, 2025

A Deeper Dive: This week’s episode of the restaurant finance podcast features Technomic Senior Principal Rich Shank on the state of restaurant sales and traffic and Starbucks’ woes.

Financing

Why a choosy investor opted to invest in a major 7 Brew franchisee

By Jonathan Maze on Oct. 01, 2025

A Deeper Dive: Scott Romanoff, cofounder of Franchise Equity Partners, joins the restaurant finance podcast to discuss its investment in the beverage chain’s second-largest operator.

Financing

Why restaurants may be missing an opportunity on delivery

By Jonathan Maze on Sep. 24, 2025

A Deeper Dive: Cameron Watt, CEO of Intouch Insight, joins the restaurant finance podcast to talk about a study on delivery services and what it says about the industry.

Financing

On McDonald's head-scratching stand on the tip credit

By Jonathan Maze on Sep. 17, 2025

A Deeper Dive: A special episode of the restaurant finance podcast explores the tip credit, and why the fast-food giant opted to leave the National Restaurant Association over the issue.

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