McDonald’s E. coli outbreak and Mo’Bettahs’ acquisitionMcDonald’s E. coli outbreak and Mo’Bettahs’ acquisition

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 the E. coli outbreak at McDonald’s, which was traced to the onions on its Quarter Pounders. As the fallout reverberates around the restaurant industry, Sam and Alicia recount how past food-borne illnesses have affected companies like Jack in the Box, Chipotle, and Chi-Chi’s.

Plus, Sam and Alicia talk about the acquisition of Mo’Bettahs by a partnership between two separate private equity groups — and what it says about how emerging brands can leverage private equity for growth. As part of the deal for Mo’Bettahs, its founders and previous owner, Savory Fund, will retain minority stakes.

And senior editor Joanna Fantozzi joins for this week’s extra serving to discuss Starbucks’ announcement ahead of its earnings report that both same-store sales and traffic are down significantly. How will CEO Brian Niccol get the company back on track?