Discussion by NRN editors on the diversity, equity, and inclusion pipeline within the restaurant industry

This week on the Extra Serving podcast, produced by Nation’s Restaurant News, NRN editors Holly Petre, Leigh Anne Zinsmeister, and Alicia Kelso discussed the recent appointments of several female CEOs in the industry. With a majority of CEOs being white males, the presence of multiple female leaders in one week is quite exceptional. Despite this, some companies like Yum Brands and Starbucks are scaling back on diversity, equity, and inclusion goals due to pressure from conservative groups. Are we witnessing a setback for women and people of color in reaching the C-suite in the restaurant industry?

In a throwback to the past, the editors revisited the topic of the metaverse. Just two years ago, discussions about the metaverse dominated headlines, but interest seems to have waned in recent months. Starbucks recently announced the end of its beta test of Odyssey, marking the conclusion of one of the most extensive metaverse experiments in the restaurant industry. What new marketing and technology trends will emerge now that the metaverse craze has passed?

Lastly, the editors examined the current focus on wings in the restaurant industry. Chains like Applebee’s and Popeyes are ramping up their wing offerings, likely in response to the enduring popularity of wings among Americans. Are these larger chains simply following Wingstop’s lead, or do they have aspirations to compete directly in the wing market?

This week’s guest interview features Marshall Scarborough, the vice president of menu and culinary innovation at Bojangles’.