NRA: Menu trends beckon return to simpler times

For those of us who want to return to "the good old days," that time is here, at least in the world of restaurant trends, according to mega-trends analyst…

NRA: Is marijuana the next menu trend?

Will marijuana soon be on your menu? Steve Fox, director of VS Strategies, counsel at Vicente Sederberg LLC, and panelist for the 2015 National Restaurant…

Industry gears up for NRA show

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

The restaurant industry’s biggest show of the year is kicking off Saturday when tens of thousands of restaurant operators and vendors meet in Chicago for the…

Freshii CEO: Why I called out McDonald’s

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Freshii CEO Matthew Corrin explains why he thinks McDonald's would find success by partnering with his brand.

Big Data’s Last Crusade: Restaurants still slow to embrace smart technology

Smart devices are only as intelligent as the data they rely on, and no industry has had more difficulty capturing data than the restaurant industry.

Restaurants hitting home runs in baseball stadiums

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Peanuts and Crackerjacks have always been staples at baseball stadiums around the country, but restaurants are trying to add other cuisines to baseball fans…

Building brands: Pie Five's CEO shares strategies

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Pie Five's parent company, Rave Restaurant Group, is looking to build and expand the concepts under the brand.

The un-red meat: Restaurants embracing new proteins

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Restaurants are trying to meet Americans' desires to eat healthier by giving them a variety of protein options.

Millennials blazing trends trail as franchisees

Millennials are crazy about fast casuals, healthy menu options and the independence restaurant technology affords, but are they a generation likely to be…

Why Group Purchasing Organizations are good for manufacturers and members

by John Krebs — President, Axis Purchasing

By working through a GPO, the manufacture of food or supplies can "speak" directly to decision-makers in the purchasing arena, thus saving time, money and the…

Baltimore restaurants calling for peace

As clean-up efforts continue after the riots in Baltimore, several area restaurants are providing free food and coffee for firefighters, police, the Maryland…

3 lessons restaurants can learn from ad agencies

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Retailers, marketers and business owners can learn a lot from ad agencies.

Lock it up: 5 ways to protect customers using mobile payments

There are plenty of cost-efficient mobile payment processors designed to fit the budget needs of small businesses, but ensuring sensitive data customers that…

5 eco-friendly trends radically transforming foodservice

Restaurants are going green and implementing sustainable practices to conserve energy and provide healthier offerings. As restaurants race toward trends the…

Can digital ordering bridge gap between fast casuals, QSRs?

Digital touch points can offer competitive data as well as personalize a customer's order. It's a race to the top for both fast casuals and QSRs latching on to…

Catering to success with menu labeling

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

Menu labeling goes beyond in-store menu boards to include catering programs as well as banquet dishes.

6 tips to reduce costs and build a healthy savings for your restaurant

Making six easy changes to existing restaurant business practices could save thousands of dollars per year.

The 'Fight for 15': Workers and restaurants battle for minimum wage

by Nicole Troxell — Associate Editor, Networld Media Group

An already contentious issue, organizations including the International Franchise Association, the Service Employees International Union and others drafted…

Back to the future: 6 innovative technologies saving restaurants money and changing the industry

by Nicole Troxell — Associate Editor, Networld Media Group

The restaurant of the future is here, with technological innovations that enable faster, more efficient and more profitable operations than ever.

Why digital ordering is a 'must have' for your restaurant

by Nicole Troxell — Associate Editor, Networld Media Group

It's a race to the top for both fast casuals and QSRs latching on to the potential digital ordering can offer.