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2 early trends for 2025 and the potential in breakfast2 early trends for 2025 and the potential in breakfast

Plus, a look at Noodles & Company’s struggles

On this week’s episode of Extra Serving, a podcast from Nation’s Restaurant News, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss two trends that have already made themselves known in the early days of 2025: value menus and beverage innovation. How might these two trends influence the restaurant industry in the year ahead? And how can restaurants put value menus to work for them without getting stuck with discounted prices? 

Plus the editors discuss Noodles & Company, which received a warning from NASDAQ that it would be delisted if it could not get its stock price above $1 per share. Find out what Alicia and Sam think is the brand’s biggest problem.

Finally, senior editor Joanna Fantozzi joins for this week’s extra serving to discuss White Castle’s French Toast Sliders and what role breakfast might play in restaurant growth this year. 

For more on these stories:  

About the Authors

Alicia Kelso

Executive Editor, Nation's Restaurant News

Alicia Kelso is the executive editor of Nation's Restaurant News. She began covering the restaurant industry in 2010 for QSRweb.com, FastCasual.com and PizzaMarketplace.com. When her son was born, she left the industry to pursue a role in higher education, but swiftly returned after realizing how much she missed the space. In filling that void, Alicia added a contributor role at Restaurant Dive and a senior contributor role at Forbes.
Her work has appeared in publications around the world, including Forbes Asia, NPR, Bloomberg, The Seattle Times, Crain's Chicago, Good Morning America and Franchise Asia Magazine.
Alicia holds a degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University, where she competed on the women's swim team. In addition to cheering for the BGSU Falcons, Alicia is a rabid Michigan fan and will talk about college football with anyone willing to engage. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her wife and son.

Sam Oches

Editor in Chief

Sam Oches is an award-winning Editorial Director with Informa Connect Foodservice and editor in chief of Nation's Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. A graduate of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, Sam previously served as Editorial Director of Food News Media, publisher of QSR and FSR magazines. He’s a past president of the International Foodservice Editorial Council (IFEC) and a past board member with the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE). His foodservice insights have been shared in national media outlets such as the New York Times, USA Today, National Public Radio, and CNBC. He lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife and three kids.

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