In this week’s episode of Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss Chipotle’s latest investments from its $100 million Cultivate Next fund, which included an AI supply chain firm as well as the fast-casual Mediterranean concept Brassica. Find out why they’re bullish on the Brassica investment despite Chipotle’s spotty history developing other concepts.
Plus, KFC debuted new Original Recipe Tenders in a bid to compete with rising chicken competitors like Raising Cane’s, and Sam and Alicia talk about whether this will help KFC or if there are bigger issues that are hurting the company’s performance.
Then, managing editor Leigh Anne Zinsmeister joins for this week’s extra serving to discuss the two activist investors who recently bought into Red Robin, and how they might influence the company that is in the midst of a comeback plan.
Finally, we share an interview senior food and beverage editor Bret Thorn recently did with Dickey’s Barbecue R&D director Matt Burton.
