Speaker Spotlight: Eddie Flores, co-founder L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, chairman of L&L Franchise, Inc.
by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com
In his RFIS keynote Eddie Flores will share "unconventional" strategies that led L&L Hawaiian Barbecuse to eight consecutive #1 Asian food franchise rankings.
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Speaker Spotlight: Seth Larsen, CDO, Cheba Hut Toasted Subs
by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator
Seth Larsen, CDO of Cheba Hut Toasted Subs talks about how stays ahead of the competition while having a blast in today's speaker spotlight.
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2026 State of the Industry: 10 trends redefining the restaurant landscape
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
The 2026 restaurant landscape is more data-rich than ever, but it remains a people-first business. By leveraging technology to remove friction, operators can reclaim the time needed to provide the authentic hospitality that diners crave.
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Peter Piper Pizza truly engrained in the communities it serves
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group
In this podcast episode, Peter Piper Pizza CMO Genaro Perez discusses how the 50-year-old legacy brand drives growth through affordable lunch buffets and a "trans-creation" marketing strategy that prioritizes deep cultural nuances and bilingual outreach over simple translation.
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Labor Forecasting 2.0: Predicting Future Demand and Staffing for Efficient Growth with AI
Labor is your most significant controllable cost—but leveraging labor as a growth driver is more complex than ever. Enter labor forecasting 2.0: an AI-driven approach that helps multi-location units match staffing to real-world demand, while optimizing schedules for labor compliance, operations efficiency, and sales.
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25 Fast Casual Brands to Watch in 2026
FastCasual’s sixth annual report, “25 Brands to Watch,” identifies the trailblazers poised to become the next household names. These concepts are not just keeping pace with the industry; they are actively redefining it. Congratulations to the class of 2026!
2025 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers
This year, the exceptional caliber of leadership across the industry led to a slight adjustment in our numbers—we were compelled to recognize 100 brands and 25 executives instead of our usual 75- 25 split. We also added an extra executive, a testament to the fierce competition and outstanding contributions within the fast-casual arena.
