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The restaurant industry’s latest merchandise crazeThe restaurant industry’s latest merchandise craze

Why are restaurants suddenly making candles?

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister, Managing Editor

September 27, 2022

 

Welcome to First Bite, a Nation’s Restaurant News podcast, your daily source of news from NRN.

Today, we’re talking about Texas Roadhouse’s new merchandise.

Texas Roadhouse last week introduced merchandise, including Honey Cinnamon Butter candles, which are based on the casual-dining chain’s signature menu item. It’s far from the only restaurant company entering the candle space: Shake Shack and Whataburger also have candles for sale, while Dairy Queen, McDonald’s and KFC have expansive merchandise lines.

Texas Roadhouse’s merchandise, including the 13-ounce candle, has been in the works for years, according to CEO Jerry Morgan.

For more on the subject, we turn to senior editor Ron Ruggless.

Plus, catch up on all the top news of the day with our daily news recap at the beginning of each episode.

Be sure to subscribe to First Bite wherever you get your podcasts or on CastosSpotify, or Apple Podcasts.

About the Author

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister

Managing Editor

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister is a managing editor for Informa’s Foodservices Vertical, specifically Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Hospitality, and Foodservice Director.  Leigh Anne works on all of the brands’ special reports, including Nation’s Restaurant News’ annual Top 500 report and Restaurant Hospitality’s Best Cocktails and Best Sandwiches contests. She also manages the group’s digital engagement team, and was the managing editor for Supermarket News until December 2024.

Leigh Anne lives in New York City, but also claims Phoenix, Dallas and Cleveland as hometowns. Leigh Anne holds a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, where she also studied European history. 

Email Leigh Anne at [email protected] 

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister’s experience: 

  • Group Managing Editor, Informa’s Foodservices Vertical (Aug. 2021-present)

  • Group Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (Feb. 2020-Aug. 2021)

  • Digital Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (April 2018-Feb. 2020)

  • Digital Content Producer, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (June 2016-April 2018)

  • Community Moderator, Mail Online (March 2014-June 2016)

  • Wire Editor, Gannett’s Phoenix Design studio (The Arizona Republic, The Reno Gazette-Journal, The Statesman Journal, The Great Falls Tribune, The Visalia Times-Delta, The Tulare Advance Register, The Salinas Californian, The St. George Spectrum, The Desert Sun, The Coloradoan) (Jan. 2012-March 2014)

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