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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Biscuit Belly acquires 35 Maple Street Biscuit Company locations to triple footprint
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
Co-founder Lauren Coulter opens up about the "once-in-a-lifetime" deal — from how it will reshape the brand's growth strategy to the plan for winning over Maple Street's teams and guests.
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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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Birdcall signs 5-unit franchise deal for Indianapolis
Denver-based Birdcall has signed a franchise agreement to open five restaurants in the Indianapolis area, marking the first step in the chicken chain's Midwest…
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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.
The 'Slutty' Empire: How Pinky Cole turned vegan burgers into a national brand
Slutty Vegan founder and CEO Pinky Cole Hayes joins Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler to share her journey from television producer to restaurant entrepreneur, detailing how she navigated $20 million in debt, bought her company back through an assignment for the benefit of creditors, and rebuilt the brand.
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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.
