Ovation, Tap leaders share tips on crafting a guest feedback strategy

by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

A panel talk at the upcoming Restaurant Marketing Workshop will deliver insight on not only getting a guest feedback approach up and running but tips and advice on making it a success.

Killer Burger eyes national growth with Houston debut, doubles down on ‘no shortcuts’ strategy

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Killer Burger opens its first Houston location, expanding in Texas with a franchise-led strategy focused on operations, consistency and scalable growth.

Innovation in every sip: How Tractor Beverage Co. is changing the beverage landscape

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

John Murphy, chief revenue officer of Tractor Beverage Co., discusses the company's award-winning revival of the 17th-century "switchel" and how its organic, flexible beverage formats are meeting the 2026 demand for transparency and functional variety in the restaurant industry.

Mo’ Bettahs to open second Arizona location

Bountiful, Utah-based Mo' Bettahs Hawaiian Style Food will open its second Arizona restaurant May 18 at 50 W. Jefferson St., in downtown Phoenix.

Mellow Mushroom VP shares secrets to long-term franchise success

In this episode of the Pizza Marketplace podcast, Mellow Mushroom VP of Franchise Development Jamie Cecil discusses the brand's 50-year history of "unicorn" store designs and explains why modern franchise success relies on operational simplicity, rigorous real estate selection and transparent relationships between executives and investors.

Rethinking Peak Performance in the Digital Restaurant Era

Traditional performance metrics such as ticket time and drive-thru speed measure efficiency but fail to capture the full guest experience. Many organizations detect problems only after they begin affecting customer loyalty. Leading restaurant brands are adopting a new approach: Unified Experience Management® (UXM).

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.