Choppin’ It Up by Bloomberg Intelligence

The restaurant industry could post a 1-2% same-store sales increase for 2025, BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen tells Bloomberg’s restaurants reporter Daniela Sirtori. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Halen and Sirtori discuss BI’s views on 2H same-store sales and margins. They also talk about what economic indicators and more discer...

Sales almost double when Smokey Bones restaurants are converted to the Twin Peaks chain, FAT Brands’ Chairman Andy Wiederhorn said on this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast. Wiederhorn joins Michael Halen, Bloomberg Intelligence’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst, to discuss FAT Brands’ growth opportunities, including Twin Peaks, and plans to repay debt. He als...

US restaurant development is outpacing population growth by about 5x, according to SignalFlare.ai Founder and CEO Michael Lukianoff. In this episode of Choppin’ It Up, Lukianoff sits down with Bloomberg Intelligence’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst, Michael Halen, to discuss how chains can use data analytics and AI to compete in a difficult environment. He also comments on s...

Establishing a digital relationship with the 75% of a chain’s patrons that aren’t loyalty customers will be the growth engine for full-service restaurant traffic going forward, Ziosk Cofounder and Chief Revenue and Growth Officer Raymond Howard tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Howard sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foods...

M&A is a great opportunity for HF Foods Group because Asian specialty foodservice distribution is primarily made up of smaller competitors and HF is the only national player in the US, CEO and President Felix Lin tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Lin sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss the...

Voice AI at the drive-thru is one or two years away from being ready to be rolled out to hundreds of thousands of locations, Checkmate CEO and founder Vishal Agarwal tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Agarwal sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss the rapid evolution of voice AI technology. He als...

Every Just Salad employee is trained in culture, connecting with customers and the consistency of product and hospitality, according to founder and CEO Nick Kenner. In this episode of Choppin’ It Up, Kenner sits down with Bloomberg Intelligence’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst, Michael Halen, to discuss how the chain’s operations help set it apart from competitors. He...

Where we were with trade talks six weeks ago and where we are now are very different and that trajectory will continue over the next six weeks to six months, Align Public Strategies’ Founding Partner Joe Kefauver tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Kefauver sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to disc...

Poor order accuracy is a fast way to lose customers and gain one-star reviews, Ovation’s CEO and Founder Zack Oates tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Oates sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss why even though most customer complaints are about food, it’s more important for restauran...

Authentic Restaurant Brands wants to be national, but it’s going to get there by being regional across the country, CEO Alex Macedo tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Macedo sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss the company’s unique strategy of acquiring strong regional brands and hel...

Chili’s accelerated sales growth is sustainable because the company is working with the fundamentals of casual dining — the food, service and atmosphere are all better and team members are having more fun and making more money — Brinker’s CEO Kevin Hochman tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Hochman sits down with BI’s se...

El Pollo Loco has some of the lowest turnover in the industry, CEO Liz Williams tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Williams sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and food-service analyst Michael Halen to discuss the company’s plans to implement technology to improve the employee and customer experience. She also comments on El Pollo Loco&...

It’s imperative for restaurant brands to use guest data to become more efficient with their marketing and drive profitable traffic, Olo’s CEO and Founder Noah Glass tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Glass sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss the company’s plans to grow with ne...

Consumers need to be able to count on restaurant brands for a great value proposition, Denny’s CEO Kelli Valade tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Valade sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss the importance of everyday value amid some US consumer weakness to start the year. She also comment...

Dairy Queen’s international development team seeks to expand into countries where they can quickly grow market share, the customers can afford the product, a sizable limited-service market already exists and strong potential franchisee partners operate, Chief Operating Officer Nicolas Boudet tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Boudet sits down w...

Any time you go through a disaster, the first thing you want to do is find your family and hug them, Main + Main’s CEO and Los Angeles resident Kyle Kavanaugh tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Kavanaugh sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how the wildfires will affect Californians and th...

Twin Peaks’ first conversion of a Smokey Bones restaurant is generating run rate sales of $8.3 million, up from $3 million before the switch, CEO Joe Hummel tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Hummel sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss the company’s unit-growth strategy, including pl...

At its core Tom’s Watch Bar is a “super sports bar,” cofounder and co-CEO Brooks Schaden tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Schaden sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how hundreds of screens and an upscale menu separate its sports-entertainment venues from the competition. He...

Cracker Barrel’s innovation team is “on fire” and just getting started, CEO Julie Masino tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Masino sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss the company’s approach to menu enhancement. She also comments on Cracker Barrel’s value, changes t...

Leaning into the wood fired grills, bringing fine-dining elements to a more casual environment and an affinity for families are points of differentiation for Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, CEO Steve Kislow tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Kislow sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss the drivers of the chain’s...

Fast-food chains have lost their value and convenience advantages over competitors, Restaurant Insight Monitor Founder and Partner Tom Wagner tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Wagner sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how lower cost of goods sold and the proliferation of mobile apps have hurt quick-servi...

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 emp...

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...

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 -- in...

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 ea...