Features
Gong cha, Crust Pizza leaders talk franchising in today's modern restaurant world
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media
A session at the Fast Casual Executive Summit will look at franchising dos and don'ts as well as the latest trends and innovations in franchising.
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Why Tacomasa's founder built a debt-free company
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
Editor's note: This is the first in a series featuring founders of restaurant concepts answering five questions about building their companies.
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GoTo Foods takes to skies with multi-brand drone delivery in partnership with DoorDash, Wing
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media
GoTo Foods is partnering with DoorDash and Wing on a multi-brand drone delivery pilot in three Texas markets to explore how the technology can improve…
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Speaker Spotlight: Claudia Lezcano, Fuku CEO
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media
Claudia Lezcano, CEO of Fuku, shares a look at her career, her achievements and industry trends ahead of her appearance at Fast Casual Executive Summit 2025.
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Speaker Spotlight: Sawsan Abublan, CEO and co-founder, Shawarma Press
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
As CEO of Shawarma Press, Sawsan Abublan discusses her journey from pharmacist to fast casual leader, sharing insights on the power of hands-on experience and…
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Noodles CEO leaves 3-step turnaround plan with successor
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
As part of the broader turnaround, the company is closing up to 32 underperforming restaurants by year's end and 12 to 17 in 2026.
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From Nigeria to DC: A founder's quest to take African food mainstream
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
Nigerian-native Ada Osakwe, an angel investor and former banker, is bringing her African fast casual concept, Nuli, to Washington, D.C.
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How AI turning labor from cost center into growth driver for QSRs
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media
In a free webinar titled "Labor Forecasting 2.0: Predicting Future Demand and Staffing for Efficient Growth with AI" viewers will learn how AI is powering…
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Speaker Spotlight: Filippo Fiori, Due Cucini Italiana head chef, CEO
by Bradley Cooper — Editor, Connect Media
From Italy to China to the U.S., Filippo Fiori has gained a lot of wisdom from his travels, which he plans to share at the Fast Casual Executive Summit.
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Scaling fast casual: Cava's depth vs. Sweetgreen's breadth in Q2 2025
by Shira Petrack — Content Manager, Placer.ai
Cava's overall visits grew year-over-year n Q2 '25 while average visits per location remained relatively stable (-1.0%). Sweetgreen also experienced overall…
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Innovate, don't react: 12 reasons your competitors are heading to Fast Casual Executive Summit
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
Your competition will be there; will you?
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Star Micronics leads the way in smart labeling for growing restaurants
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media
Smart labeling is a necessity in today's restaurants. Learn how Star Micronics is leading the charge in labeling technology.
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How Shake Shack CEO is tackling 3 industry challenges
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
To drive traffic in a "value-oriented market," Shake Shack is moving beyond its traditional word-of-mouth marketing. The company has embarked on a paid media…
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Starbucks CEO reveals 5-step recovery plan
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
Despite a 2% decline in global comparable store sales and a 45% year-over-year decrease in EPS, CEO Brian Niccol is spearheading a turnaround strategy…
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Velvet Taco, Salad House, &pizza, Erik's DeliCafe leaders talk online engagement, smart promotions
by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media
Top restaurant leaders share insight on fueling growth through online engagement and smart promotions at the upcoming Fast Casual Executive Summit.
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Speaker Spotlight: Andy Huang, VP/COO, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media
Andy Huang, VP/COO, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is one of dozens of panelists participating in the upcoming Fast Casual Executive Summit.
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How Starbird, Dillas Quesadillas founders rely on AI
by Sandra Carpenter — Editor, Networld Media Group
Two of this year's Fast Casual Executive Summit panelists, Aaron Noveshen, founder and CEO of Starbird Chicken, and Kyle Gordon, co-founder and CEO of Dillas…
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How Fusian Sushi mastered automation to empower staff, not replace them
by https://my.networldmediagroup.com/site-admin/media/mediaitem/370643/change/, Sandra Carpenter — Editor, Networld Media Group
"Too many operators see robotics as a shortcut to cut labor. But the real ROI comes when automation enhances consistency and frees up your team to elevate the…
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Speaker Spotlight: Susan Taylor, Juice It Up CEO and president
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media
Susan Taylor, CEO and president of Juice It Up, shares a look at her career, achievements and industry trends ahead of her appearance at Fast Casual Executive…
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How to navigate the drive-thru landscape
by Bradley Cooper — Editor, Connect Media
How can drive-thrus navigate long waits, order accuracy and innovative tech? A panel at the Fast Casual Executive Summit will take a deep dive into the…
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