Meet the 6 brands taking the stage at the 2026 Perfect Pitch
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
Bronx Burger Co., Dizzy Bird, PLOMO Quesadillas, Griller Bros, Redhead Burger and Tiki Bagel will compete in the 2026 competition.
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Webinar: Order accuracy as the next loyalty battleground
In this “Accuracy is the New Loyalty” webinar, Star Micronics’ Craig Kaliebe discusses how labeling, smart scales and other verification tools help operators reduce mistakes while improving food safety, efficiency and the guest experience across off-premises orders.
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4 fall menu items that have nothing to do with pumpkin spice
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
From lobster-shaped lollipops to Dr Pepper-dusted chicken, these fast-casual brands are taking a different approach to fall menus.
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85°C Bakery Cafe reaches 100 U.S. locations with Colorado debut
85°C Bakery Cafe has entered Colorado with the Sept. 18 opening of its Aurora location, bringing the bakery-cafe brand to 100 locations in the U.S.
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Accuracy is the New Loyalty
Order accuracy directly impacts restaurant profitability, customer trust and repeat business. In this webinar, Star Micronics explored where costly errors happen and how smarter labeling can improve item identification, modifiers, handoff, catering, food safety and traceability while working alongside POS and KDS platforms.
The $10 cocktail: Will it work on fast casual menus?
Bartender and James Beard nominee Ivy Leyenda joins Fast Casual Nation to break down whether cocktails belong on the fast casual menu.
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Momos Guest AI
Momos Guest AI is the leading AI platform built for multi-location brands. We help restaurants, QSRs, retail, and hospitality teams deliver better guest experiences across every location by unifying customer service, operations, and marketing into a single end-to-end platform - turning one-time customers into repeat guests.
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Closing the gap between order ready and order in hand
Why the last mile costs operators more than they think. The gap between order ready and order in hand is part of the operation that affects labor efficiency, food quality, customer satisfaction and profitability.
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.
