Sponsored By

NRN editors discuss Cava’s IPO, digital games, MrBeast and the Top 500NRN editors discuss Cava’s IPO, digital games, MrBeast and the Top 500

Plus, hear from Tom Krouse, CEO of Donatos

Holly Petre, Assistant Digital Editor

June 23, 2023

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

On this week’s episode of Extra Serving, a product of Nation’s Restaurant News, NRN editors Holly Petre, Sam Oches and Alicia Kelso talked about Cava’s IPO.

A full week after the brand’s initial public offering, where does Cava stand? What does this first IPO of the year portend for the several other brands that have made it clear they will be filing soon?

Next, the NRN editors talked about the future of gaming in the restaurant space. Marketing is getting smarter, and the latest marketing trend is proprietary games. Chick-fil-A came out with the brand’s own game just this week. Is this the next frontier for restaurant marketing?

Then the editors talked about virtual brands and their future. The hosts talked last week about the downfall of Nextbite and virtual brands, but this week, news broke that MrBeast may be stepping away from his namesake virtual brand due to lack of quality control. Does this mean virtual brands don’t have a future now that the golden child is stepping down?

Plus, the NRN editors talked about the Top 500! NRN launched its signature annual report in partnership with Datassential on Thursday. Hear exclusive insights from the NRN editors here.

This week’s guest is Tom Krouse, CEO of Donatos.

 

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.