How San Pedro Fish Market built a $30M legacy

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Speaking at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit Tuesday in San Diego, Michael Ungaro shared the gritty, tenacious history of his family's brand — a journey that began in 1956 as a 200-square-foot seafood shop and evolved into a destination serving 2 million customers a year.

How going digital helped Hawaiian Bros increase catering revenue

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Networld Media Group

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill turned to Lunchbox's digital catering platform to meet the growing demand for group orders. The move also allowed the Hawaiian comfort-food brand to expand to a new audience.

The protein pivot: How customizable fast casuals win without reinventing the menu

By Peter Wiley, Vice President of Marketing and IT at Hot Head Burritos, explains fast casual brands don't have to build something new when it comes to pushing protein. Menus that prioritize flexibility and are built on systems designed for consistency are well aligned with evolving consumer behavior.

Whitepaper details how digital signage drives drive-thru success

The quick service restaurant industry, after having to pivot from COVID-19, is increasingly turning to digital signage for the drive-thru as it's become a…

How Juice It Up leads the modern beverage boom

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

In this podcast episode, Juice It Up CEO Susan Taylor discusses how the brand has maintained its leadership in the booming beverage franchise market by evolving to meet the sophisticated, nutrition-focused demands of Gen Z and millennial consumers.

Jeff's Bagel Run

Jeff’s Bagel Run is a scratch bakery with a simple and delicious menu of bagels, spreads and a full coffee program. The shops are open daily from 6:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., allowing operators to schedule on a single-shift model. The simple menu enables the brand to keep excellent and consistent products while maximizing revenue.

Digital in the Drive-Thru: Designing Outdoor Experiences for QSR Brands

Digital menu boards at the drive-thru are no longer a luxury. In today’s competitive QSR landscape, they’ve become a requirement.

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.