Strategic employee scheduling boosts consumer experience, bottom line

by Fast Casual

It may not sound as sexy as emerging technologies like mobile pay or cutting-edge digital signage, but workforce scheduling delivers just as much value.

Why you should never listen to your customers

by Jon Smith — Founder, Owner, Jon Smith Subs

"Sometimes I think the perfect restaurant would say “Mother Nature's Health Food” in big letters on the outside, but inside only serve burgers, cokes and…

Construction costs on the rise: How to mitigate the risk

by Steven Starr — President, starrdesign

The current construction climate, especially in the fast casual restaurant world, is very different than even in the pre-recession boom.

Menus shift to reflect transparency

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

While larger chains like Noodles and Company and Panera Bread have taken great measures to provide transparent menu items, other chains are following suit.

9 must-know menu trends of 2016

From consumers eating in food halls to ordering on-demand delivery services and burnt food, 2016 will feature a few unusual food trends.

Dessert destinations: 4 trends that will inspire customers to indulge

by Mindy Armstrong — Insights Manager, FoodIQ

Regardless of the path chosen, keeping an eye to flavor trends and offering a fast casual spin to these trends is the way to approach the opportunity.

Year in review: Top 10 headlines of 2015

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

In no particular order, here are 10 headlines that received the most attention from our readers.

Now trending: Restaurants will continue to make 'cage-free egg' pledges in 2016

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Restaurants serving cage-free eggs turned out to be one of this year’s top trends, and it will also be a popular move in the coming year.

Business intelligence spurs 'future lab' innovation at McDonald's Corner Café

by Lon Southerland — Executive Vice President, GuestMetrics, LLC.

The latest data trends continue to show a consistent and predictable migration to, "better for you" healthier meal options. These trends are on McDonald's…

Catering checklist: 4 must-dos before serving customers offsite

by erle dardick — CEO, MonkeyMedia Software

Before any restaurant brand jumps into catering, there are a many thoughts to consider in order to ensure success.

Food fight: Industry responds to NYC sodium mandate

by Betsy Craig — CEO and Founder, MenuTrinfo

As restaurants in New York City prepare themselves to label menu items that contain more than 2,300 mg of salt (the recommended daily limit), the National…

Fast Casual's top execs revealed

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

This year's Top 25 list turned into the Top 26 after judges couldn't bring themselves to make a final cut.

Street Value: The real economics of launching a food truck

The food truck bubble hasn’t burst yet.

Supply Chain: How Millennials have changed everything

by Vishy Visweswaran — Chief Technology Officer, SCA Technologies

The latest generation of food lovers, millennials, have brought a unique perspective to the industry with greater demand for fresh and organic products and…

Payroll pains: The mistakes killing your restaurant’s bottom line

When payroll mistakes happen, you can’t see the dent in your revenue until later.

5 reasons to love menu labeling

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

While it's easy for restaurant operators and their franchisees to intuitively look for reasons to fear menu labeling, there are actually many positive…

Why mobile payments matter to EMV compliance

by Tal Nathanel — Co-Founder and U.S. CEO, MyCheck

Many merchants have been hesitant about mobile payments, but with the EMV compliance mandate at our doorstep in the U.S., the time for business owners to put…

How managing expectations leads to better return-to-work outcomes

Healthy employees are good for business, however, the path from injury to resuming work duties is not always as smooth or efficient as your ordering process.

How outdoor seating can increase your revenues by 30%

No matter what kind of establishment you run, a simple deck or patio can increase revenue by up to 30 percent, according to Jeff Caldwell of Superior Shade.

YUM! struggling to create fast casual winner

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Taco Bell’s fast casual concept, U.S. Taco Company, is closing just 14 months after it opened in Huntington Beach.