Why Smiling Moose is betting on full-service concept

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Smiling Moose Rocky Mountain Deli — based in Colorado with 16 units in seven states — unveiled a prototype last month in Denver for a casual dining version of…

How targeting only lapsed visitors helped HuHot increase sales

HuHot relied on Paytronix scoring tool to entice only its infrequent visitors with freebies.

Garbanzo trucks it to St. Louis

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

The Denver, Colorado-based chain recently opened its 25th brick-and-mortar unit in St. Louis and has also been driving sales there with its first food truck.

Valentine's Day LTOs include $500 Pizza from Firenza, KFC's chicken scratch-and-sniff cards, sweet treats from Starbucks

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Hoping to attract Valentine's Day customers, limited-service brands around the world are offering a variety of sweet deals.

Will the Senate push back menu-labeling law again?

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

The U.S. House passage this week of the so-called "Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act" (H.R. 772) is either an attempt to water down previous menu-labeling…

Leon's founder to reveal how Bruce Lee inspires his leadership strategy

John Vincent, CEO and founder of Leon, will keynote this year's Fast Casual Executive Summit, Oct. 9-11 in Seattle.

Franchise Focus: 2 cousins sink teeth into fast casual pizza business

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

The restaurant business runs in the blood of Artichoke Basille Pizza Owners Francis Garcia and Sal Basille. The cousins grew up in New York working in their…

Slim Chickens leaving mark on UK

The chicken chain joins several western-based brands taking on the UK, which is such a hotbed of action that the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit is…

Wayback Burgers, Juice It Up, Gigi's Cupcakes report solid growth in 2017

Wayback Burgers, Juice it Up and Gigi's Cupcakes may not seem to have much in common, but the three fast casual brands reported solid numbers in 2017, with…

Turkish-American sisters now franchising Flatbread Grill

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Turkish-American Sisters — Arzu, Fusun, and Gonca Esendemir — are now franchising their fast casual concept —  Flatbread Grill.

Digital-only pizza brand makes debut in New York

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Newly opened Long Island City Pizza Factory boasts that it is the world's first "full-digital pizzeria," an accomplishment its owners hope will send it right…

Franchise Focus: Irish burger joint rocketing to success

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Rocket's plans include expansion throughout Europe and beyond.

Freshii CEO, founder keynoting 2018 Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit

Early bird registration ends Friday.

Salsarita's CEO on the secret to growing fast casual brands

Salsarita's will open several locations in 2018.

7 technologies transforming the restaurant industry

by Niall Keane — CEO of SynergySuite, SynergySuite

Now trending: We are in the middle of a tech revolution that has turned once imagined solutions into foodservice necessities, entirely transforming the…

Top 10 stories of 2017 will carry over to 2018

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Stories about Panera, Chipotle and Boloco are among FastCasual's Top 10 most read stories of the year.

11 menu trends going mainstream in 2018

Now trending: Detroit-styled pizza, Vibrantly colored drinks and salads, soft-serve ice cream coming in innovative flavors and a focus on mushroom-centric…

Are ready-to-make meal kits stealing your customers?

by Amanda McNamara — Content Marketing Specialist, Toast Inc.

Now trending: Fast Casuals can learn from the success of ready-to-make meal kits companies.

Dickey's, Freshii, Boloco leaders predict 2018 fast casual trends

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

An increased focus on delivery, the elevation of vegetarian and vegan concepts and finding ways to operate in smaller areas are just a few predictions from 1…

Food truck founder adds a little 'Seoul' to the taco scene

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

A passion for food, combined with a desire to improve his lot in life and a little luck propelled David Choi, the son of Korean immigrants, to launch Seoul…