Fast Casual Hall of Fame honoring Geoff Alexander, Mark Brezinski, Darden Coors at Executive Summit
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
The 2026 Fast Casual Hall of Fame will recognize three restaurant executives whose leadership has shaped innovation, technology adoption and growth across the fast casual industry during the Fast Casual Executive Summit in Arlington, Texas.
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How Latitude Food Group CEO James O’Reilly is scaling &pizza, Tijuana Flats
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media
As CEO of Latitude Food Group, industry veteran James O'Reilly is leveraging a centralized backend support model and rigorous operational discipline to strategically scale vibrant fast-casual brands like &pizza and Tijuana Flats without sacrificing their unique cultural identities.
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3 ways restaurants can reduce employee burnout during peak demand
by Paula Allen — Global Leader of Research and Insights, TELUS Health
The FIFA World Cup drove record traffic for many restaurants, but it also exposed the hidden costs of burnout. Here's what operators can learn before the next surge.
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Star Micronics, Operandio partner for digital food safety labeling
Star Micronics, a global provider of point-of-sale hardware and printing solutions, integrated with Operandio, an AI-powered operations platform for franchise…
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Why Taco Cabana is expanding its franchise beyond the Lone Star State
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media
In this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler chats with Taco Cabana's director of franchise sales and development, John Ramsay, about the brand's growth and operations as it competes in the crowded fast casual market.
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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.
