70 years old and 'restarting': Shakey’s Pizza VP outlines fresh strategy for expansion

In this episode of the Pizza Marketplace podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace, chats with Sonia Barajas-Najera, vice president of…

The 'anti-burger' blueprint: How Teriyaki Madness is out-scaling the giants

In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Jodi Boyce, CMO of Teriyaki Madness, and John Smolen, SVP of Sales…

Presented by Atmosphere

Inside the tech stack: How Mattenga’s Pizzeria mastered SEO, 8-second reordering

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

In this podcast episode, Mattenga’s Pizzeria co-owner Enga Stanfield explains how partnering with owner.com and leveraging technology helped her independent…

Presented by Owner.com

The 1:1 Personalization Playbook: Using AI to send every guest their own offer

In this session, Hang CEO Matt Smolin, whose platform powers millions of AI-personalized offers a month for restaurant brands, will walk through the playbook…

Presented by Hang

AI and the Future of Restaurants: From Foot Traffic to Predictive Insight

In this discussion, Azira’s CEO, Gladys Kong, will explore how AI-powered analytics and mobile location data are transforming the way restaurant brands…

Presented by Azira

How CORE provides financial lifeline for food, beverage workers in crisis

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

This episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast features CORE’s Jill Chapman, who explains how the growing non-profit provides critical financial assistance to…

Presented by CORE

2026 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers

Welcome to the 2026 edition of the Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers. Each year, this report serves as a pulse check for the industry, celebrating the…

Presented by Elo Touch Solutions, Inc.

Mellow Mushroom VP shares secrets to long-term franchise success

In this episode of the Pizza Marketplace podcast, Mellow Mushroom VP of Franchise Development Jamie Cecil discusses the brand's 50-year history of "unicorn…

How R&R Brands scaled from a single brand to a multi-brand platform

I sat down with Scott Taylor, Founder and CEO of R&R Brands, a visionary and an industry icon whose fingerprints are on some of the most important…

Rethinking Peak Performance in the Digital Restaurant Era

Traditional performance metrics such as ticket time and drive-thru speed measure efficiency but fail to capture the full guest experience. Many organizations…

Presented by Service Management Group

Be featured: Help us build the ultimate resource for prospective franchise operators

April 15, 2026

Get your franchise brand in front of qualified leads—on us. We're embarking on a new franchise industry initiative and want your input.

How Tarka Indian Kitchen scaled fast casual Indian cuisine

In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Tinku Saini, CEO and co-founder of Tarka Indian Kitchen, to explore…

The 4:30 am grind: How a cotton-field startup turned into an artisan pizza empire

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

In this episode of the Pizza Marketplace Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace, talks to Joe Carlucci, founder and owner of Valentina's…

Data-driven survival: Unpacking the economic forces reshaping fast casuals

In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Dr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist at the National Restaurant…

Presented by direct2you

How Velvet Taco avoids 'Starbucks-style' drift

Chris Schultz, CEO of Velvet Taco, joins Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler on Fast Casual Nation to break down the operational blueprint behind one of the…

Presented by Momos

The legacy glow-up: How Paul Damico is tech-enabling Perkins, Huddle House

Strategic sizzle: Why Houston TX Hot Chicken prioritizes smart growth over rapid expansion

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Houston TX Hot Chicken is leveraging its "electric" brand energy and massive social media following to drive organic franchise leads and fuel a strategic…

Jeff's Bagel Run: From garage bagels to 30 and growing

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

On this episode of the Founderology — Built to Breakthrough podcast, I talk with Jeff Perera, co-Founder of Jeff’s Bagel Run and a member of the inaugural…

25 Fast Casual Brands to Watch in 2026

FastCasual’s sixth annual report, “25 Brands to Watch,” identifies the trailblazers poised to become the next household names. These concepts are not just…

Presented by Elo Touch Solutions, Inc.

Zenzap helps restaurateurs control IP, communication in house

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Zenzap, a communication app for restaurants, can help operators control intellectual properties and notifications.

Presented by Zenzap