John A. Gordon
@JohnAGordon
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Independent chain restaurant analyst, with a non consensus outlook: we focus on the fundamentals, not the fluff.
San Diego, CA
Joined July 2009
Research now showing that #restaurant guests want good food. Price does not disappear as factor but is generally in the back seat. Some #restaurant chains have already made moves. This sentiment to quality must be a bitter pill for @jonathanmaze to swallow, as he has been the
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Panera Bread goes aggressive with value on new Mix & Match menu
restaurantbusinessonline.com
The fast-casual chain is offering 10 items in half-portions for $4.99 each at participating restaurants. It's the chain's first-ever
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Absolutely @McFranchisee. After doing this for a long time, I'd mention that there are about 18 driver factors, but brand, menu pricing, product mix, distributor costs and store efficiency top the list. Look at your peers first. Some brands use a theoretical food cost
Base Food Cost (%) is such an interesting metric. It’s the lifeblood of any restaurant: the raw cost of a dish divided by the price you charge for it. However, there’s no North Star/corporate standard. If I talk to 10 different operators, I’ll get 10 different answers. It’s
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Base Food Cost (%) is such an interesting metric. It’s the lifeblood of any restaurant: the raw cost of a dish divided by the price you charge for it. However, there’s no North Star/corporate standard. If I talk to 10 different operators, I’ll get 10 different answers. It’s
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So $KURA was able to hold up sales and a price increase at the same time: A secret: tokens and toys. Hat tip to @McFranchisee for pointing out the importance of toys and merch in restaurants Kura Sushi Hangs On to Diners Despite Price Increases - WSJ
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Exclusive: Bain Capital explores sale or IPO of Dessert Holdings, sources say
reuters.com
Bain Capital is considering a sale or initial public offering of its portfolio company Dessert Holdings that could value the maker of cakes, pies and cookies at over $3 billion, according to three...
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Even in "trendy" urban San Diego, too niche and ungrounded financially #restaurants can fail in a flash. Massive amount of capital and some jobs flushed away. Thanks for a good piece, @loriweisberg RT: 2 San Diego dining spots opened by prominent restaurateurs will close after
sandiegouniontribune.com
The vegan restaurants — one a fine dining concept — in University Heights will remain open just a short while longer.
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Peet’s Coffee is closing numerous shops across the Bay Area https://t.co/git3d2a6wt via @sfchronicle
sfchronicle.com
Bay Area-born coffee chain Peet’s is slashing its presence in the region, as its parent company is being acquired by beverage giant Keurig Dr Pepper.
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See @McFranchisee comment on high expense and difficulty of #restaurants getting repairs and maintenance done.
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Dealmakers see more retail mergers and IPOs in 2026 after tariffs sidelined M&A last year.
reuters.com
Dealmakers predict an uptick in mergers and IPOs for retailers and consumer goods companies this year after punishing tariffs on imports to the U.S. had sidelined activity in the industry for the...
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2026 @Wendys lower priced menu platform noted via Biggie Deals https://t.co/egoXRVqgUS via @restaurantdive
restaurantdive.com
The menu offers combos at a $4, $6 and $8 price points and builds off of its Biggie Bag by allowing for more customization.
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Sorry to say, but organic based restaurants have had problems in the past also. RT:
nrn.com
The Rohnert Park, Calif., location opened 10 years ago and will close its doors on March 8 after 10 years
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Commented on $MCD - McDonald's: Franchise Strength Offsets Slowing Demand (Rating Downgrade).
seekingalpha.com
Get the latest McDonald's stock analysis: downgraded to Hold amid slow growth, rising costs, and market pressures. See here for more on MCD.
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PE Karp Reilly takes a hit. Snacky very limited menu places are very difficult and are not #restaurants. RT: Sprinkles Cupcakes permanently closing all stores New Year’s Eve
sandiegouniontribune.com
The store’s private equity owner, which bought the chain in 2012 to help it expand, isn’t saying why it is shutting all stores nationwide.
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Restaurant Media Note: surprised to see @jonathanmaze noting using AI to write massive #restaurant related reports. The scope was not defined. However, in any reputable #consuling firm, using AI to write client facing reports is forbidden. Why: clients demand best human
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Given soft or negative sales and higher cost for CAPEX/cost to open, essential for brands to get the whole site selection and brand enhancements in place before opens #restaurants @davidhenkes
We used to say (pre-pandemic) that there were too many #restaurants chasing too few customers. COVID sort of "right-sized" the industry, but there's been pretty strong location growth (particularly among chains) and it does seem that we're probably oversaturated again.
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Exactly right @davidhenkes . This overstoring has been building since the mid 1990s. With soft sales and increased CAPEX/cost to open, site quality and great store economics are essential to get right. #restaurants
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More @bluebottleroast M&A interest possibly: Its geography is interesting to others even with @Nestle desire to get it divested (think: CAPEX and store ROI as issues.) Is Luckin $ADRN ready to operate 2 brands in the US? Luckin Coffee Reportedly Sets Sights on Nestlé's Blue
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#coffeehouse struggles: @CostaCoffee being shopped by holder $KO. Large international brand with franchising looks to huge write down. Nothing in #restaurants is easy; speaks to pre purchase due diligence required. https://t.co/x1kNgUIUNx
seekingalpha.com
Coca-Cola (KO) will meet private equity firm TDR Capital this weekend as part of one last attempt to salvage its proposed sale of Costa Coffee. Read more here.
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