3 restaurant growth deals, and what the new SBA rules change about each

A capital provider walks through three anonymized deals: A partner buyout, a franchisee whose tax return shows a loss and a ground-up build to show what SOP 5…

Starbucks puts the brakes on Chipotle takeover rumors

Count me among those who aren't the least bit shocked to learn that the Starbucks-Chipotle acquisition talk was nothing more than a rumor.

Why restaurants need a different labor playbook

by John Dorer — CEO, eb3.work

For years, restaurants have treated labor shortages as a hiring problem. When the applicant pool gets thin, the answer is usually to recruit harder or lean on…

Smaller menus may not be the growth hack restaurants thought they were

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

As restaurants continue to balance operational simplicity with the need to give guests reasons to visit, the menu-size debate is unlikely to disappear. The…

Starbucks says sugar-free lawsuit allegations have no merit

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Starbucks said the lawsuit filed against it this week over the labeling of its sugar-free protein beverages have no merit.

Who's the MVP of your restaurant? Nominate them for Workforce Warriors

Nominations are open through Nov. 10.

The people behind restaurants need care, too

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

The deaths of Traveler’s Cart’s Thy and Matthew Mitchell and the loss of their two young children are a painful reminder that behind every restaurant are…

Stop taking so long: 5 lessons from Bar Rescue's Jon Taffer

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Here are five takeaways from Jon Taffer's keynote International Franchise Association event this week.

Perfect Pitch winner TAP joins 9 brands in 2026 'Fast Casual Frontrunners'

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

There are plenty of restaurant brands trying to be the next big thing, but discovering those that could actually shape where fast casual goes next is a…

4 fall menu items that have nothing to do with pumpkin spice

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

From lobster-shaped lollipops to Dr Pepper-dusted chicken, these fast-casual brands are taking a different approach to fall menus.

Beyond the algorithm: Don’t follow AI off a cliff

by Suzy Badaracco — President, Culinary Tides Inc

Artificial intelligence can analyze trends but cannot predict the future.

Your drive-thru isn’t broken; it’s invisible

by Michael MacLennan — Co-CEO & Co-Founder, Arc

Mike MacLennan, co-founder and co-CEO of Arc, a voice AI platform that helps restaurant operators measure and optimize the drive-thru, explains how to upsell…

Revealed: The 2026 Top 30 Movers & Shakers: Catering

In 2026, catering has become one of the fastest-growing engines of brand loyalty and scale in the restaurant industry, and a new class of leaders is rewriting…

Nominations are open: Is your fast casual brand one to watch in 2027?

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Nominations close Oct. 5, 2026.

Pita Pit's Crispy Donair raises a question: Isn't this just a sandwich?

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

A sandwich by any other name would taste as sweet?

Me, Ted Lasso and something in common

by Valerie Gritton — Editor, Connect Food

Twenty years ago, I started my career in restaurant journalism. Now, I’m back where it all began as the editor of QSRWeb and Pizza Marketplace.

Why most AI-powered drive-thru displays fail — And how to fix yours

by Tom Bingham — Senior Director, LG Electronics USA

Integration, not automation alone, is what separates effective menu boards from expensive screens.

Tenderloins lead the way in the handheld chicken boom

Handheld chicken concepts are having a moment, or rather a movement.

Presented by Mountaire Farms

4 reasons (and a raccoon) why you can't miss the Fast Casual Executive Summit

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Keynoters, Perfect Pitch contestants and a trash panda walk into Arlington; here's your Fast Casual Executive Summit October 4–6 game plan.

Inflation, labor and AI: 5 things fast casual operators need to know

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Toast’s latest industry survey reveals why restaurant operators are still betting on growth despite rising costs and hiring challenges.