Features
Shake Shack shares tumble despite record openings, revenue growth
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
Shake Shack hits a record-breaking development streak in Q1, but stock dropped after missing Wall Street's revenue and profit estimates. Explore how the brand…
read now
Smoothie King CEO launches dual-lane chicken concept in Dallas
by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media
Smoothie King's CEO is offering crispy and light chicken options through his fast-casual Flock & Fresh brand in Dallas.
read now
Disposable cameras and raw reactions: Why 'imperfect' social media content is winning in 2026
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media
Marketing leaders from Via 313, ATL Wing Spot, and Hook + Ladder explain how multi-unit restaurant brands can drive sustained foot traffic in 2026 by balancing…
read now
Diving deeper: Looking beyond sales for improved restaurant marketing
by Bradley Cooper — Editor, Connect Media
At the Restaurant Marketing Workshop in Boston from June 2 to 3, panelists will discuss how to do a deep dive into your brand's marketing and menu decisions.
read now
Chipotle's Q1 earnings: Tech, sauce innovation drive transaction growth
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
The company's return to positive transaction growth was due to a focus on four pillars -- efficiency, innovative sauces attracting new guests, gamification and…
read now
Starbucks' shine is back: 3 lessons from the Brian Niccol playbook
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
Simplifying metrics, focusing on incrementality and protecting turnover rates are part of the Starbucks turnaround plan.
read now
More than a post: Turning influencers into content engines for your restaurant
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media
At the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit, marketing experts discussed the evolution of influencer marketing from a secondary tactic into a core…
read now
How 1 fast casual founder aims to build AI bridge between wearables, wellness
by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media
SUMMITS launched a new AI platform that bridges the gap between what wearable data tells people to eat and what ends up on their plates.
read now
Blaze Pizza, Farmer Boys, Mike's Red Tacos, HigherMe experts discuss recruitment, retention
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media
Industry experts at the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit emphasized that sustainable restaurant profitability and successful scaling depend on…
read now
Meet the Top 30 Movers & Shakers: Restaurant Marketing
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
We’re proud to honor the 2026 Restaurant Marketing Top 30 Movers & Shakers, who will be recognized at the Restaurant Marketing Workshop on June 2–3 in Boston.
read now
Resilient but restless: Fast casuals outpace industry as 2026 competition heats up
by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media
In 2025, fast-casual brands outperformed despite challenges. Predictions for 2026 include sector expansion with a focus on health, pricing, and competition.
read now
Starbucks revamps partner incentives: 3 lessons for the fast casual industry
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
The initiative, part of the company’s "Back to Starbucks" transformation, introduces quarterly bonuses, expanded digital tipping, and a transition to weekly…
read now
How going digital helped Hawaiian Bros increase catering revenue
by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media
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…
read now
Cicis Pizza takes No. 1 spot on Pizza Marketplace's 2026 Top 100 Movers & Shakers list
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media
Cicis Pizza took home the top honors as Pizza Marketplace's annual event in Las Vegas; Moto Pizza won a tech award from XRobotics and Pizza Nova's Domenic…
read now
How San Pedro Fish Market built a $30M legacy
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, 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 …
read now
Professor Green teams with Hero Brands to launch PG in UK
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
PG Fast Food is shunning the traditional burger-and-fries blueprint in favor of a "naughty but nice" menu that emphasizes choice. Offerings include the "UFO" …
read now
Secret Burger Kitchen targets 'institutional-grade' scaling with trio of industry heavyweights
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
Dave Bloom will oversee development discipline and governance; Douglas Fry is in charge of menu discipline, throughput, training systems, decision architecture…
read now
Speaker Spotlight: Jay Jhun, senior director, loyalty and digital, Church's Texas Chicken
by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media
Jay Jhun, senior director, loyalty and digital, at Church's Texas Chicken, shares insight on his career, achievements and industry trends ahead of his…
read now
Tips, advice for selecting the right franchise location
by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media
The oldest, and most known, saying when it comes to real estate is location, location, location. It holds true when it comes to restaurant franchising success.
read now
Can Dave’s Hot Chicken leaders conjure magic from Mike's Red Tacos?
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
Mike's Red Tacos, a beef birria concept born just four years ago, has deals in place to open more than 200 locations. While the rapid expansion is turning…
read nowSubscribe
Get the latest news and resources from Fast Casual.
