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NRN editors discuss inflation, the 2-year COVID anniversary, Howard Schultz’s stance on unionsNRN editors discuss inflation, the 2-year COVID anniversary, Howard Schultz’s stance on unions

Plus, hear from Bill Crooks, chief experience officer for Chicken N Pickle, about the growing eatertainment brand

Holly Petre, Assistant Digital Editor

April 15, 2022

1 Min Read
Nation's Restaurant News logo in a gray background | Nation's Restaurant News

This week on the Extra Serving podcast, Nation’s Restaurant News editors Holly Petre, Sam Oches, Leigh Anne Zinsmeister and Ron Ruggless spoke about Howard Schultz’s stance on unions.

Since taking over the reins – albeit temporarily – at Starbucks last month, Schultz has held several meetings to declare his dislike of unions. He’s called them things like “disruptive,” accused them of “assaulting” the company with the “threat” of unionization and more. The team discusses the vocal thoughts of the founder and now-CEO and the implications it could have for the union movement at-large as well as Starbucks as a company.

Also, the team discusses inflation, which increased to 8.5% for the year ending in March. For restaurants, the 6.9% year-over-year increase in March was the highest since the year ending in December 1981. The team discusses what it could mean for the industry that inflation keeps rising and what an impending recession could mean.

Plus, the team covers the recent feature on NRN.com looking back at the past two years during COVID.

This week’s interview is Bill Crooks, chief experience officer for eatertainment concept Chicken N’ Pickle, the concept known for its pickleball courts. Ruggless speaks with Crooks about the concept and what the brand means to diners.

 

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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