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NRN editors discuss Denny’s hiring push, Starbucks’ latest union battle, Kevin Hart’s new restaurantNRN editors discuss Denny’s hiring push, Starbucks’ latest union battle, Kevin Hart’s new restaurant

Plus hear from Scott Rodriguez, SVP menu strategy & product innovation for Papa Johns

Holly Petre, Assistant Digital Editor

August 19, 2022

1 Min Read
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This week on Extra Serving, a podcast by Nation’s Restaurant News, NRN editors Holly Petre, Sam Oches and Leigh Anne Zinsmeister spoke about Kevin Hart’s foray into the restaurant world and the future of plant-based restaurants.

Hart’s restaurant, Hart House, is set to open in late August in Southern California and will be plant-based, joining many other restaurants in the plant-based restaurant wars. But how does Hart House stack up against its competitors? The team discussed that along with the entire plant-based movement in comparison to the restaurant industry at large.

Also, the team discussed Starbucks’ latest scuffle with its union. This time, it was Starbucks accusing the National Labor Relations Board of tampering with union elections. The team discussed what this means for the union movement as a whole and the future of the movement at Starbucks.

Lastly, the team talked about hiring practices at places like Denny’s where a hiring push involving a referral program is causing a stir. The returning program is successful with its “bring your bestie” premise at the all-day breakfast chain. The team talked about other hiring practices, including at Chick-fil-A, and how this is helping to solve the labor crunch.

Plus, hear from Scott Rodriguez, SVP menu strategy & product innovation at Papa Johns. He spoke with Bret Thorn about packaging for the chain’s new Papa Bowls, menu development and much more.

About the Author

Holly Petre

Assistant Digital Editor

Holly Petre is a digital editor for Nation’s Restaurant News as well as the host of NRN’s podcast, Extra Serving, and producer for Informa Restaurant and Food Group’s other three podcasts, One On One by Food Management, Off the Shelf with SN and In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn. Holly holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Sculpture, fibers and Material Studies and Ceramics from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A native New Yorker, Holly enjoys her place on staff as the resident pop-culture expert and millennial with a sassy attitude and great sense of style.

Holly Petre’s work on Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality often covers marketing and trends, either aimed-at or examined-through the millennial mindset. Holly is responsible for introducing TikTok and Twitch to NRN and RH readers as well as explaining terms like “Karen” to staff and readers alike. She also spends her time on staff trying not to make every headline a pun.

Holly Petre hasn’t spoken at any events or on panels, but she is readily available with a killer shoe wardrobe and several witty quips.

 

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