Owen Li Mercado is a food-business reporter who has spent more than a decade covering restaurant expansions, closures, and shifting labor economics across North America and Asia. Before joining Matpple, he analyzed market data for a hospitality-focused research firm, translating trends in menu innovation and supply-chain volatility into insights for operators and investors. At Matpple, he specializes in breaking news on funding rounds, ghost-kitchen strategies, and regulatory moves that reshape how restaurants compete.
