Sponsored By

NRN editors discuss RBI earnings and that viral Popeyes chicken sandwichNRN editors discuss RBI earnings and that viral Popeyes chicken sandwich

Plus, an interview with Amy Alarcon, vice president of culinary innovation at Popeyes, and a video with the NRN editors

Holly Petre, Assistant Digital Editor

February 19, 2022

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

This week on the Extra Serving podcast, a production of Nation’s Restaurant News’ Last Bite Network, NRN editors Holly Petre, Sam Oches and Bret Thorn discussed Popeyes’ year-over-year sales decline after an epic 2020.

“Even though the headline is that their sales were down, I have to imagine they’re not too disappointed because it seems like there were a lot of external factors like labor that’s primarily at fault here,” Oches said on the podcast.

The team, meeting in person at NRN’s New York City headquarters, sampled the famous chicken sandwich (as seen below on video) and discussed its merits while also analyzing Popeyes’ massive 2020 in comparison to 2021 following the brand’s fourth quarter earnings.

The big headline from all of Restaurant Brands International’s earnings, however, was that Burger King is raising menu prices. The team discusses how rising menu prices at quick-service versus fast-casual restaurants during this time of inflation will impact customer expectations for these segments.

Plus, Thorn interviewed Amy Alarcon, the vice president of culinary innovation at Popeyes about that sandwich and new menu innovations at the chicken chain.

 

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.

 

Subscribe Nation's Restaurant News Newsletters
Get the latest breaking news in the industry, analysis, research, recipes, consumer trends, the latest products and more.