What the data says about restaurant catering today
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media
As corporate catering transforms into a critical growth engine for the restaurant industry, top brands will share their battle-tested, data-driven playbooks for scaling high-volume operations at the upcoming Restaurant Catering Workshop.
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Nominations open for Top Women in Retail Technology awards
by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media
Connect Media is honoring the brightest and best women in retail technology leadership roles who are driving innovation. Get those nominations in! Deadline is September 11.
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Why franchises must rethink growth in a digital-first world
Somia Farid Silber, CEO of Edible Brands, discusses how success in franchising is no longer equated growth only unit expansion. Territory optimization is emerging as a more disciplined approach. Instead of asking how many stores can be opened, systems are asking how many a market can actually support.
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Newk's Eatery names 20-year company veteran Matt Wilson as COO
Newk's Eatery has promoted Matt Wilson, a 20-year veteran of the fast-casual chain, to chief operating officer, the company announced Monday.
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The 1:1 Personalization Playbook: Using AI to send every guest their own offer
In this session, Hang CEO Matt Smolin, whose platform powers millions of AI-personalized offers a month for restaurant brands, and Rev Ciancio, CMO of Salad House & Handcraft Burgers and Brew, walked through the playbook to start personalizing your own offers right away.
Toastique Founder Brianna Keefe details growth from single toast bar to national franchise
Toastique founder Brianna Keefe opened her first location at 24 with no investors, a personal guarantee, and a vision for a concept that didn't yet exist. In this episode of Founderology - Built to Breakthrough, she shares how she built a fast-growing franchise and the leadership decisions that made scaling possible.
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AI and the Future of Restaurants: From Foot Traffic to Predictive Insight
As consumer behavior and privacy expectations evolve, restaurants need smarter ways to understand diners and drive growth. Gladys Kong of Azira and Isabelle Soriano of Goodway Group explore how AI and location intelligence can inform site selection, media strategy, audience engagement, and faster, more informed decisions.
2026 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers
Welcome to the 2026 edition of the Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers. Each year, this report serves as a pulse check for the industry, celebrating the brands and leaders who aren’t just keeping pace with the market—they are redefining it.
