Sam Oches

3 days ago | nrn.com | Sam Oches

The pizza category had a tough year in 2024. According to Technomic’s Top 500, 61% of pizza chains experienced declining sales last year, including two of the four biggest chains: Pizza Hut (year-over-year sales down 0.5%) and Papa Johns (down 4%). Mountain Mike’s Pizza was one of the few bright spots. The California-based brand with more than 300 locations in 10 states enjoyed sales growth of 5% in 2024, while its unit count grew by 7%.

5 days ago | nrn.com | Sam Oches |Alicia Kelso

On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss McDonald’s announcement that it would shutter its CosMc’s locations after barely a year and a half in business. Is CosMc’s a massive failure for the company, or did McDonald’s get everything it needed out of its sister concept? Sam and Alicia debate. Then they discuss Red Robin’s surprising first-quarter results, which saw the casual-dining burger chain’s sales grow by 3.1%.

1 week ago | nrn.com | Sam Oches

Denny’s CEO Kelli Valade recently sat down with NRN editor-in-chief Sam Oches for the latest episode of the Signature Series, which are conversations with some of the biggest CEOs in the restaurant industry, powered by The Coca-Cola Company. Earlier this week, we shared the first part of the entire interview, in which Valade shares about her leadership lessons over her nearly three-decade career in foodservice.

1 week ago | nrn.com | Sam Oches

As CEO of Denny’s — the 37th largest restaurant chain by sales, according to the Technomic Top 500, with $2.65 billion in sales in 2024 — Kelli Valade holds one of the most powerful positions in the restaurant industry and influence over one of the most iconic concepts. It’s the culmination of a career almost entirely in foodservice, one that began at a Big Boy in New York State, where Valade started working as a hostess at age 16.

1 week ago | nrn.com | Sam Oches |Alicia Kelso

Plus, a recap of the National Restaurant Association ShowOn this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso share their thoughts on the recent National Restaurant Association Show, the biggest restaurant event in the world that’s held each year in Chicago. Their perspective? Expect more innovation around beverages, personalization, and AI.