Starbucks hired Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol to be its next chief executive, but could it be all bark and no bite? Restaurant Business editor in chief Jonathan Maze and Nation’s Restaurant News editor in chief Sam Oches go toe to toe on the seismic move and whether it makes any sense for Starbucks.
Plus, is Chipotle interim CEO Scott Boatwright the right person for the job long term? He was named interim chief effective Aug. 31 after having served as chief operating officer since 2017. In that role, he’s been instrumental in driving restaurant operations.
And can Subway get out from the shadow that is its $5 Footlong deal? The chain is jumping further into the quick-service deal arena by offering any footlong, including Subway Series builds or custom sandwiches, for $6.99 with smartphone app or online orders. The iconic $5 footlong was originally offered in 2008, before being revived as a two-for-$10 deal in 2020.
