Extra Serving: A restaurant industry podcast · June 29, 2026 · 47 min

Domino’s CEO’s surprising announcement, LongHorn Steakhouse’s shocking performance, and a bevy of Starbucks news

In this week’s episode of Extra Serving , hosts Alicia Kelso and Leigh Anne Zinsmeister dive into the latest developments shaping the restaurant industry. Domino’s Pizza makes headlines as CEO Russell Weiner announces his retirement, leaving big shoes to fill for successor Joe Jordan. The duo discusses the legacy of bold campaigns and market share dominance that defined Weiner’s tenure. Meanwhile, Darden Restaurants continues to impress with a stellar fourth-quarter performance, driven by Longhorn Steakhouse’s record-breaking sales and Olive Garden’s steady growth. How do they stay so dominant while other casual-dining chains suffer? The conversation also explores Starbucks’ innovative new “coffeehouse coach” role, designed to improve customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. Starbucks also announced a new initiative to encourage employees to promote the brand on TikTok. Will it work, or blow up in the company’s face? In the Quick Fire round,Alicia and Leigh Anne discuss Wendy’s meme-ification, Taco Bell’s gamified emotional support taco program, and the industry’s summer hiring outlook. For more on these stories: • Russell Weiner to retire as Domino’s CEO • Surging LongHorn Steakhouse powers growth for Darden • Starbucks plans to hire thousands of new “coffeehouse coach” roles