This week on the Extra Serving podcast, a production of Nation’s Restaurant News, NRN editors Holly Petre, Sam Oches and Leigh Anne Zinsmeister discussed the FAST Act in California.
Signed on Labor Day, the FAST Act was set to be a new California law requiring restaurants with over 100 units and at least one unit in California to follow a set of guidelines including a possible $22 per hour minimum wage. The National Restaurant Association, along with other business leaders, organized a petition with over one million signatures, forcing a vote on the law in 2024. The editors discuss what this will mean during a presidential election year and what it could mean for the future of restaurants both big and small.
Next, the team discussed the purchase of Fuzzy’s Taco Shop by Dine Brands earlier in the week. The three editors talked about what the year in acquisitions has looked like and how this fit into the bunch.
Finally, the team talked about the first of the pandemic-era lawsuits to come to financial fruition. Uber Eats was ordered to pay the city of Chicago and restaurants $10 million in damages for listing restaurants without their permission. The team discussed what this means for the delivery segment and what it could mean if there are more lawsuits that have similar results.
This week’s interview is the president of Applebee’s, John Cywinski. He spoke with Ron Ruggless about the brand’s recent earnings and the future of the casual-dining giant.