Choppin’ It Up by Bloomberg Intelligence

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...

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...

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 a...

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 i...

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 s...

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...

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 developmen...

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...

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 s...

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 t...

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 ma...

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 m...

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...

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 i...

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 com...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...