Aloha, Innovation: Why L&L’s Eddie Flores Jr is a must-see at RFIS 2026

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Anyone who knows Eddie knows he brings a witty, frank and refreshingly honest perspective to the table. He's going to talk about the "unconventional…

Smoothie King, Tropical Smoothie Cafe join the 'proteinization' of the fast casual industry

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Both beverage brands join Starbucks, Nekter Juice Bar and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the focus on protein

The 'proteinization' of the fast casual industry: Starbucks, Nekter, Coffee Bean & Tea bulk up winter menus

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

While the "New Year, New Me" resolution season often focuses on restriction, smart brands are leaning into satiety and muscle recovery to drive traffic.

How to amplify your leadership impact by leading with influence

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

Leading with influence focuses on building trust, empathy and a shared vision to inspire teams toward higher engagement and growth, moving beyond traditional…

Speaker Spotlight: Chris Demery, CTO of Blaze Pizza

Chris Demery, CTO of Blaze Pizza, shares a look at his career, his achievements and industry trends ahead of his appearance at the Restaurant Franchising …

Driving traffic in 2026: 4 coffee chain strategies fast casuals should embrace

by Shira Petrack — Content Manager, Placer.ai

Fast casual brands can drive traffic in 2026 without freebies by learning from Scooter's, Starbucks, 7 Brews and Dunkin.

2025 in review: FastCasual’s 10 most-read stories

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Top stories centered on major brand pivots, such as Golden Corral rebranding its fast casual concept, and the return of seasonal events like Starbucks' Red Cup…

From skies to sandwiches: Former pilot opens Capriotti's

Jonathan Heslop explains why he left his helicopter pilot's job to become a Capriotti’s franchisee in St. Louis.

QSR is losing its lunch to monofoods – here's what they can do about it

by George Gottl — Chief Creative Officer, Spatial Design, FutureBrand

Traditional QSRs are losing market share to specialized "monofood outlets" that excel in unique flavor, simplicity and customer experience, and must therefore…

2026's Top 7 food-packaging trends revealed

by Tomia Smith — Vice President, National Account Sales, Sabert Corporation

As margins become tighter and consumers scrutinize their spending more closely, the fast casual segment must ensure that customers feel they are getting real…

The power of why: no budget needed

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

Founders are encouraged to anchor their leadership, decision-making and momentum to their "why," which is presented as their most powerful, zero-cost asset for…

Osmow's brings classic Mediterranean food to Canada, US markets

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

Part 7 in our Founderology Forum's Founders: Take 5 looks at Osmow's, a Mediterranean brand in Canada that is expanding to the U.S.

10 easy ways to increase your holiday catering orders

by Kelly Grogan — Founder, CRUMBS

With the right setup on marketplaces, your brand can move up in rankings, get more attention, win more orders, and build lasting relationships.

How to surpass customer expectations, build brand advocates

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

Businesses can transform satisfied customers into passionate brand advocates by consistently exceeding expectations through a strategy focused on delivering…

The high cost of 'almost accessible:' Why hardware is only half the battle for kiosk compliance

by Katie Kochelek — Senior Marketing Specialist, Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc.

Although many companies using kiosks have some level of accessibility built in -- compliant height, reachable screens or appropriate clearance --- stopping…

From gifting guru to fast casual powerhouse: Edible Brands CEO reveals brand's evolution

Somia Farid Silber, CEO of Edible Brands, discusses how the brand is expanding beyond its traditional gifting niche to deliver new experiences for consumers.

Exploring link between employee engagement, exceptional customer experiences

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

Here's a leadership truth that transcends industries: you can't expect world-class customer experiences from a disengaged team. The energy your people bring to…

Will NYC's added-sugar ruling force national menu reform?

by Michael Schwab — Partner and Head of the Food & Beverage Group, Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP

Given that many municipalities often follow New York City’s lead, restaurant operators should anticipate the possibility of similar regulations being adopted…

How Fazoli’s continues to build traffic amid market uncertainty

Tisha Bartlett, VP of Marketing at Fazoli’s, shares the winning value formula for unrivaled hospitality, quality food offerings, family friendly price point…

Make your guests count to increase your guest counts

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

The economy is shifting, guests spending is changing, and the marketplace continues to be dynamic. One metric that matters the most in this environment is…