Contributor
Imani Phelps writes for Restaurant Industry Press. 8 articles published.
As chains race to undercut each other on chicken sandwiches and combo deals, the contribution margin math tells a more complicated story than the press releases admit.
OpenTable's loyalty tier grants frequent diners priority access to scarce reservations. For operators, that scarcity has dollar value they're currently giving away for free.
Scaling a Southern-inspired concept across multiple locations tests whether comfort food pricing holds up. Here is what menu engineering says about making it work.
KFC is piloting table service in select markets. For operators watching margin, the format shift raises real questions about labor cost, check average, and ticket throughput.
Restaurants adding rabbit curry and springtime halibut aren't just following seasonal trends. The real story is what these proteins reveal about food cost strategy in 2025.
As Starbucks and 7 Brew roll out summer menus, the pricing math on cold specialty drinks reveals a growing tension between customization costs and contribution margin.
When a multi-brand operator goes public, menu pricing and contribution margin face new scrutiny. Here's what operators should watch as Inspire moves toward an IPO.
Spike Gjerde's Chesapeake-focused menus at Woodberry Kitchen show how regional terroir commitments change food cost math in ways operators should understand.
