Top Journalists in Ice Cream, Yogurt, and Smoothie Shops
Danny Klein QSR (WTWH Media)
VP Editorial Director over QSR/FSR at WTWH Media; a go-to voice on limited-service trends, including beverage and dessert-shop growth and drive-thru innovation. Specialties: QSR strategy and growth; franchising; drive-thru; beverage/snack concepts including smoothie and frozen treat chains.
author page | editorial contact (QSR)
Ben Coley QSR
Editor at QSR who covers chain growth, operations, and menu moves—frequently reporting on smoothie and frozen-dessert concepts alongside broader fast-food news. Specialties: Chain news; development; menu innovation; smoothie/juice and frozen-dessert brands within QSR.
author page | editorial contact (QSR)
Callie Evergreen FSR / QSR
Editor of FSR and Senior Editor at QSR; profiles operators and trends that often overlap with beverage-and-dessert-forward concepts. Specialties: Full-service and QSR menu trends; leadership; brand storytelling; coverage of dessert and beverage spin-offs crossing segments.
author page | editorial contact (FSR/QSR)
Lisa Jennings Nation’s Restaurant News
Executive Editor at Nation’s Restaurant News; long-time chain reporter whose beat includes major QSR brands and treat concepts like shakes, ice cream, and beverage chains. Specialties: National chain coverage; marketing; West Coast brands; QSR/fast casual including frozen desserts and beverage-led chains.
Joanna Fantozzi Nation’s Restaurant News
Senior Editor at NRN reporting daily on big-brand moves—regularly covering Smoothie King, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, and frozen-treat players as part of the QSR beat. Specialties: Breaking chain news; technology; franchising; frequent coverage of smoothie/coffee/dessert brands.
Bret Thorn Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality
Senior Food & Beverage Editor at NRN and Restaurant Hospitality; tracks national menu trends and dessert/beverage innovation across chains. Specialties: Menu and flavor trends; beverages; desserts; product launches across chains, including shakes, frozen custard and soft serve.
Ron Ruggless Nation’s Restaurant News
Senior Editor at NRN with decades on the chain beat; reports on development, deals, and concept growth including frozen-dessert and drink brands. Specialties: M&A; franchise growth; chain operations; Southwest brands—including frequent coverage of treat and beverage-focused concepts.
Sam Oches Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality
Editorial Director and Editor in Chief at NRN/Restaurant Hospitality; leads coverage and offers analysis on nationwide chain trends spanning smoothies, coffee, and frozen treats. Specialties: Industry analysis; executive interviews; cross-segment trends, including beverage-led and dessert-first chains.
Jonathan Maze Restaurant Business
Editor-in-Chief at Restaurant Business; a leading voice on chain economics and consolidation affecting smoothie, yogurt, and ice cream brands. Specialties: Restaurant finance; M&A; franchise systems; QSR leaders including beverage and dessert chains.
email | staff page | X/Twitter
Heather Lalley Restaurant Business
Managing Editor at Restaurant Business; covers menu innovation and brand strategy, often highlighting dessert and beverage categories in QSR/fast casual. Specialties: Menu and product trends; operations; emerging brands; coverage of treats, shakes, and beverage platforms within chains.
Patricia Cobe Restaurant Business
Senior Editor at Restaurant Business and host of Menu Talk; spotlights menu innovation across chains, including frozen desserts and specialty drinks. Specialties: Menu R&D; dessert/beverage launches; chef/operator interviews.
Julie Littman Restaurant Dive
Senior Reporter at Restaurant Dive with deep coverage of chain growth, franchising and financing that frequently includes beverage and dessert concepts. Specialties: Franchising; financing; store development; national chain moves across QSR and fast casual, including treat and smoothie brands.
Aneurin Canham-Clyne Restaurant Dive
Reporter at Restaurant Dive covering regulation and chain strategy—recently writing on Smoothie King and wider beverage category trends. Specialties: Policy and labor; ghost kitchens; loyalty; frequent reporting on beverage/dessert promotions and smoothie/coffee chains.
Nancy Luna Business Insider (Insider)
Correspondent (restaurants/food tech) formerly at NRN; reports on chain innovation, delivery and virtual brands impacting smoothie and frozen-dessert players. Specialties: Food tech; delivery; QSR disruption; national chain coverage including dessert and beverage-led brands.
Amelia Lucas CNBC
CNBC restaurant reporter covering earnings and strategy for major chains—from coffee and smoothies to frozen treats—shaping the category’s investment narrative. Specialties: Publicly traded restaurant companies; menu and product launches; national beverage and treat trends within large chains.
Heather Haddon The Wall Street Journal
Restaurants reporter at The Wall Street Journal; tracks boardroom decisions and category shifts affecting smoothie, yogurt, and ice cream chains. Specialties: National restaurant industry; corporate strategy; policy; brand turnarounds including beverage and dessert-focused initiatives.
Beth Ewen Franchise Times
Senior Editor at Franchise Times; long-time analyst of franchise growth and deals that shape dessert and smoothie shop expansion. Specialties: Franchising; M&A; legal/policy; chain dealmaking across QSR including frozen-dessert and beverage brands.
Nicholas Upton Franchise Times
Technology Editor at Franchise Times; covers franchising and tech adoption by chains, including smoothie and dessert brands scaling through multi-unit operators. Specialties: Restaurant/retail tech; franchising; growth strategy for multi-unit operators including treat and beverage concepts.
Amy McCarthy Eater (Vox Media)
Reporter at Eater’s national desk; writes about chains and culture, including viral dessert items, shakes, and drink trends across brands. Specialties: National dining/culture; chain news; labor/policy; frequent coverage of beverage and dessert promotions and trends.
Jelisa Castrodale Food & Wine
Staff writer at Food & Wine who regularly covers national chain news, including ice cream and doughnut launches, limited-time shakes, and frozen dessert collabs. Specialties: Food/culture news; national chain items; dessert launches and collaborations; brand promotions.
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