How to deliver fast casual quality at 'QSR speeds'
by Bradley Cooper — Editor, Connect Media
Customers expect QSR speeds with fast casual quality. A panel at the Fast Casual Executive Summit will share how restaurants can keep up.
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How 1 Penn Station franchise is turning teen hires into tomorrow's leaders
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
Restaurants seeing a shortage in young workers may want to take a page out of Genral Manager Taylar Richardson's book.
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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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Robotic food kiosk market projected to top $1.75B by 2036
The global market for robotic food kiosks and vending systems is projected to grow from $188 million in 2026 to $1.75 billion by 2036, representing a compound…
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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.
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.
