Features
Haven Hot Chicken wins The Perfect Pitch at the Fast Casual Executive Summit 2023
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group
Haven Hot Chicken won The Perfect Pitch concept competition at the Fast Casual Executive Summit in Louisville, Kentucky on Oct. 9.
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How diversity became Shake Shack's key ingredient
by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator
Shake Shack set big goals for diversity. At the Fast Casual Executive Summit, Idris Stover, director of diversity, equity inclusion and engagement, discussed…
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Scooter's Coffee exec: 'The whole point of innovation is growth'
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group
Nathan Lester, senior director, drive-thru innovations for Scooter’s Coffee, spoke about pairing innovation and growth during the keynote address kicking off…
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Smoothie King outpacing industry growth via menu innovation, franchisee communication
Smoothie King CEO Wan Kim details how the brand is outpacing industry growth projections.
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How White Castle, Clutch Coffee fixing drive-thru issues
by Daniel Brown — Editor, Networld Media Group
With emerging technologies, including AI, changing the look and feel of the drive-thru experience, operators are future-proofing their operations
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AI won't replace restaurant employees, it will make CX better
by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator
A panel at the Interactive Customer Experience Summit in Charlotte from Sept. 11 to 13 tackled AI head on and how its real benefit is to improve the customer…
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Should restaurants enter the Metaverse?
by cooper, Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator
What is the metaverse good for? A panel at the Interactive Customer Experience Summit debated this topic.
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Why Veggie Grill CEO thinks downsizing will fuel growth
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
Veggie Grill's plan for growth includes exploring franchising, menu enhancements and technology upgrades.
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How to cut costs with delivery
by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator
Third party delivery got big during COVID-19 but can also cost restaurants a lot. How can restaurants save money?
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How Dave's Hot Chicken wins with authenticity
by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator
Dave's Hot Chicken went from a parking lot pop-up to a fast casual juggernaut. The opening keynote at the Interactive Customer Experience Summit in Charlotte…
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The evolution of Mazzio's Italian Eatery: Expanded menu, footprint makes brand a standout
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group
Mazzio's Italian Eatery is a 108-unit pizza brand based out of Oklahoma. For the past several years, the brand has been overhauling its existing restaurants…
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How District Taco grew from a food cart to a franchise powerhouse
by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com
District Taco, a fast casual Mexican restaurant brand, began a food cart in 2009. Now it’s a multi-unit restaurant franchise expanding its footprint in…
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'It's a revolution': Jars by Fabio Viviani brings playfulness back to desserts
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group
Jars by Fabio Viviani is a dessert concept that could be coming to a town near you. Though the brand has one unit open in Chicago, it has sold more than a…
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Will Japan-based Pepper Lunch dominate the US?
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
Although the Japanese-based concept has only five restaurants in the U.S., it spans nearly 500 locations in 15 countries and plans to have 100 North American…
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Hawaiian fast casual loses store to wildfires, raises funds for workers
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
L&L's store in Lahaina, Hawaii was lost to flames from the wildfires and its Honokowai location is temporarily closed due to no electricity or water. Nearly 2…
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3 ways Curry Up Now is cooking up change in fast casual industry
Akash Kapoor, founder of Curry Up Now, discusses how he's disrupting the industry.
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Introducing FastCasual's 2023 Perfect Pitchers
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
Founders of Haven Hot Chicken, Mahana Fresh, Pizzawala, Pucci Brothers Fresh Italian and Sankranti Indian Kitchen will take the stage on Oct. 9 to pitch their…
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American consumers in no mood to give up daily coffee
by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times
Americans are still gulping down the coffee despite increasing costs and concerns about inflation.
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Fazoli's exploring AI ordering at drive-thru
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
Doug Bostick, president of Fazoli’s, is testing drive-thru voice AI in 12 company restaurants.
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ICXA to honor Elevate winners at 7th annual summit
by Alicia Lavay — Executive Director, ICX Association
The ICX Association will honor five companies as winners of the 2023 Elevate Awards during a ceremony at its upcoming annual conference, the Interactive…
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