Navigating Change: Growth and Transition in the Restaurant Industry

Zaxbys is ready to fulfill its destiny.

This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast A Deeper Dive features a discussion with Bernard Acoca, the CEO of the fast-casual chicken chain.

Acoca was hired as CEO three years ago and was the first non-founder to lead the Atlanta-based chain.

He has spent that time “bunkering” and working to fix the brand’s operations. Now he’s ready to talk and agreed to come on the podcast to detail everything being done at Zaxbys over that time. 

Zaxbys has what it takes to be a major player in the chicken business but its sales have not reflected that more recently. System sales grew just more than 4%, according to Technomic, well under rivals like Raising Cane’s and Dave’s Hot Chicken. We talk about why that is.

We also talk about new management, unit economics, drive-thru speed, digital sales and, because it’s 2025, AI. 

We’re talking Zaxbys on the podcast this week, so check it out.