Choppin’ It Up by Bloomberg Intelligence

Custom packaging is a brand impression at scale and quality equates to retention for restaurant chains, SupplyCaddy co-founder and CEO Zachary Stein says on this episode of Bloomberg Intelligence’s Choppin’ It Up podcast. Stein sits down with BI senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how marketing, operations, price and predictability factor into purchasing decisions for foodservice packaging. He also comments on innovation, sustainability and the hidden labor costs restaurants face when managing a fragmented supplier base. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The way diners are discovering restaurants has shifted away from reviews and to social media, Loop’s co-founder Anand Tumuluru tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Tumuluru sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss changing trends in the restaurant industry, particularly the delivery channel. He also comments on the importance of right-sizing delivery marketing spending and maximizing flow-through on those sales. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three out of 10 restaurant customers believe food quality is deteriorating and stores are understaffed, Lisa Miller, founder and president of Lisa W. Miller & Associates tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Miller sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen discuss the state of restaurant spending in the US. Miller also comments on attracting Gen Z customers and getting the most out of Gen Z employees. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a lot of talk about how soft the consumer is, but our third-party delivery same-store sales are up 50% year over year, Brooklyn Dumpling Shop CEO Jeff Galletly tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Galletly sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and food-service analyst Michael Halen to discuss how the company is performing amid soft spending by fast-casual customers, particularly millennial and Gen Z consumers. He also comments on Brooklyn Dumpling Shop’s packaged-food business, value approach and a planned reverse takeover. Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If a leader wants to run a business that’s more focused on taking care of its people, he or she has to reflect on their own values and how they embody them, Liberty Ventures Founder and CEO Alexander McCobin tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, McCobin sits down with BI senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how the principles of conscious capitalism can help restaurant leaders leverage their values and company culture to achieve greater success. He also comments on the benefits of community, collaboration and creating value for all stakeholders. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Value is more than just price — you have to give the guests an experience that exceeds their expectations, Golden Corral CEO Lance Trenary tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Trenary sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how the buffet chain is growing same-store sales in a difficult consumer environment. He also covers operational improvements, managing food costs and weak spending by Hispanic and Gen Z consumers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Survey data show third-party delivery ads are hitting a saturation point and 45% of chains expect to invest less in the channel in 2026, Bikky Co-Founder Abhinav Kapur tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of Choppin’ It Up, Kapur sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst, Michael Halen, to discuss the findings of Bikky’s chief marketing officer survey. He also comments on US consumer spending, loyalty promotions, personalization and shrinking marketing budgets. Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A significant challenge of allergen disclosure is that ingredient information is fragmented and frequently changing, while supply-chain tracking isn’t where it needs to be, Foodini cofounder and COO Erica Anderman tells Bloomberg Intelligence in this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast. Anderman and cofounder and CEO Dylan McDonnell sit down with BI senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss the impact of California’s new law requiring restaurant chains to disclose major food allergens and how technology can help ease the transition. They also comment on the size of the food-allergy problem, differing regulations around the globe and which states are expected to pass allergy-disclosure legislation next. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rubber meets the road in Chipotle restaurants and the whole company is focused on improving operations, Chief Brand Officer Chris Brandt tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Brandt sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss the company’s plans to increase traffic and same-store sales. He comments on limited-time offers, Chipotle Rewards, international expansion and the power of influencer marketing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The majority of full-time servers and bartenders should see more money in their pockets due to the recently enacted US tax law, TipHaus’ Chief Operating Officer and co-founder Kirk Grogan tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Grogan sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how the legislation might affect employees, employers and service models. He also comments on so-called tipflation, fraud and the elimination of the tipped wage in Washington, DC. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re not paying attention to catering, your restaurants are missing a huge opportunity to drive revenue, Costa Vida President Wade Allen tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Allen sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how the fast-casual chain is driving top-line growth. He also comments on technology improvements and the roles that AI and agentic AI are best suited to fill at the restaurant level. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The great brands open up the throttle at their busiest times, Fred LeFranc, Results Thru Strategy founder, managing partner and chaos strategist, tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, LeFranc sits down with BI senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss the logo controversy surrounding Cracker Barrel and how the company can return to same-store sales and profit growth. The two discuss remodels, nostalgia, branding and the company’s upcoming earnings report. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pizza Inn is a massive sleeping giant with latent equity, Rave Restaurant Group CEO Brandon Solano tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Solano sits down with BI’s senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss why the chain’s buffet format is its biggest growth opportunity while weighing in on fast-casual pizza weakness, the rise of “Build-Your-Own Chipotle,” and Pizza Inn’s “Bambi & Friends” pie. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US restaurant spending has been resilient, and guests are looking for a better sit-down experience, SPB Hospitality CEO Josh Kern tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast, Kern sits down with BI senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how the company’s brands, including J. Alexander’s and Krystal, are performing this year. He also comments on M&A and refranchising opportunities as well as dirty sodas and the impact of GLP-1s. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What other restaurant can you go to and get a chicken-fried oyster taco? Velvet Taco CEO Clay Dover sits down with Bloomberg Intelligence senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen in this episode of the Choppin’ It Up podcast to discuss the chain’s unique menu and fun, irreverent culture. He also comments on the chain’s opportunities for top-line growth, including US and international development, as well as its new bowl launch. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 discerning consumers mean for top-line growth, as well as BI’s outlook for several companies, including Chipotle, Cracker Barrel, McDonald’s and Starbucks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 also comments on franchisee health, everyday value and the refranchising of Fazoli’s. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SignalFlare.ai’s Lukianoff on Data Analytics, AI: Choppin’ It Up See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss how the company’s offerings, including order and pay on demand, are helping restaurant chains improve their restaurant operations and marketing. He also comments on AI and his vision of the smart-table experience of the future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 company’s plans to grow organically and via acquisitions. He also comments on the new e-commerce platform, competition from Sysco and the impact of tariffs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.