Scott Barnett & Associates

Scott Barnett & Associates SBA is a restaurant consulting firm specializing in "turn arounds". The group is led by Scott Barnett, former restaurant CEO and author of Gumption.

1155 Camino Del Mar
Unit 419
Del Mar, CA 92014

CEOs across the industry are cautious about the broader economy but, maybe not-so-surprisingly, remain bullish on their ...
04/09/2026

CEOs across the industry are cautious about the broader economy but, maybe not-so-surprisingly, remain bullish on their own brands. The widening traffic gap between upper- and lower-income consumers is a major pressure influencing strategy. Expect the value wars to not let up any time soon.

The Bottom Line: On earnings calls, industry chief executives expressed caution about the state of the economy this year, even as they were

CEOs across the industry are cautious about the broader economy but, maybe not-so-surprisingly, remain bullish on their...
03/19/2026

CEOs across the industry are cautious about the broader economy but, maybe not-so-surprisingly, remain bullish on their own brands. The widening traffic gap between upper- and lower-income consumers is a major pressure influencing strategy ( i.e., the value wars are showing no signs of letting up.)

The Bottom Line: On earnings calls, industry chief executives expressed caution about the state of the economy this year, even as they were

Chick-fil-A’s 80th anniversary push is a good example of how major chains are driving traffic without racing to the bott...
02/11/2026

Chick-fil-A’s 80th anniversary push is a good example of how major chains are driving traffic without racing to the bottom on discounts. Here they are leaning into “newstalgia,” collectibles, and limited-time moments to create return visits and conversation. Think heritage storytelling plus scarcity (rotating cups, merch, even a “golden cup” style win) designed to keep people coming back throughout the year.

Chick-fil-A's anniversary campaign gives the chicken chain the opportunity to attract more customers to its restaurants.

Another 2026 trends piece, but more focused on what the economy and consumer could do to business. The insight here is s...
02/05/2026

Another 2026 trends piece, but more focused on what the economy and consumer could do to business. The insight here is scenario planning, building “if gas down / if food up / if traffic flat” playbooks now so you’re not improvising pricing and promos week to week.

While the expectation is modest growth, some factors such as lower gas prices, tax cuts, and the FIFA World Cup could provide a much-needed boost

A clear, operator-first look at what’s shifting inside restaurants this year, including the moves that protect margin, s...
02/03/2026

A clear, operator-first look at what’s shifting inside restaurants this year, including the moves that protect margin, stabilize labor, and keep ex*****on tight. A helpful read in what to prioritize now so growth doesn’t come with chaos.

Restaurants may face cost savings challenges and sales declines amid  continued supply chain disruptions, but can leverage consumer demand for cheaper menu items and experiential meals to stand out.

My most recent blog article is about the across-the-board price gouging happening in Vegas now and how it's driving away...
01/29/2026

My most recent blog article is about the across-the-board price gouging happening in Vegas now and how it's driving away visitors. More generally, it's a cautionary tale about the value gap whereby pricing stretches beyond what guests feel they’re getting. Demand doesn’t just soften, it changes customer behavior - in this case, in the form of shorter stays, fewer add-ons, or skipping the trip entirely. For restaurant operators, the lesson is a slow-motion trust break: once guests feel played, they become price-sensitive in ways that are very challenging to reverse.

Scott Barnett discusses the rising prices and falling traffic to Las Vegas.

Chicken is still the battlefield. Gen Z is a big reason why. Here's the playbook showing up in brand after brand: intern...
01/08/2026

Chicken is still the battlefield. Gen Z is a big reason why. Here's the playbook showing up in brand after brand: internet-native launches, high-velocity LTOs, and products engineered for repeatable content. What are you seeing in the chicken wars?

From extreme spice challenges to quirky menus, chicken brands are tapping directly into Gen Z internet culture.

DoorDash data suggests menu price inflation has been moderating (down materially from early 2024 levels). Operators can ...
01/06/2026

DoorDash data suggests menu price inflation has been moderating (down materially from early 2024 levels). Operators can leverage this to reset pricing strategy and not solve every margin issue with across-the-menu price hikes.

Menu price inflation started 2024 at nearly 6% and has declined to 3.2% as of September 2025

Maybe your operations are doing this - restaurants passing through credit card fees (or use dual pricing)? The operation...
12/30/2025

Maybe your operations are doing this - restaurants passing through credit card fees (or use dual pricing)? The operational takeaway: if you are doing it, the communication matters as much as the math. Transparency, signage, and scripting are critical, or you burn trust at the point of payment.

Beset by higher food and labor costs, more restaurants are starting to pass along their credit card fees.

Worth reading for 2026 planning: performance is diverging hard between winners and everyone else, and price compression ...
12/23/2025

Worth reading for 2026 planning: performance is diverging hard between winners and everyone else, and price compression is pulling segments into closer competition. Who are the winners? The ones who design offers for a bifurcated consumer and not the ones who assume demand returns evenly.

Price compression has intensified competition between restaurant sectors, as executives look back on a bifurcated year.

The practical AI use case in restaurants is not about replacing the team, but spotting issues earlier: real-time alerts ...
12/19/2025

The practical AI use case in restaurants is not about replacing the team, but spotting issues earlier: real-time alerts on service bottlenecks, labor deployment, and ex*****on drift. Managers will spend less of the shift stitching together what went wrong after the fact.

Is this how you see AI shaping labor?

During a panel at RFDC, executives from Taco Bell and Jack in the Box shared their expectations for the technology

This article is a reminder that even legacy names require strategic repositioning. For investors considering cross-borde...
11/18/2025

This article is a reminder that even legacy names require strategic repositioning. For investors considering cross-border roll-outs, the premium is not just brand, but relevance and ex*****on at scale.

The fast-food chain operator is exploring strategic options for its pizza brand after years of sales challenges, including a 6% decline in

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Del Mar, CA
92014

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