Wingstop investing $50M in tech

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

February 16, 2022

Although Wingstop's Q4 domestic same-store sales increased 7.5%, the Texas-based chain suffered a net income loss of $6.4 million, or 21 cents per share…

Can this untapped labor pool help keep your restaurant open?

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Restaurants all over the U.S. are struggling to stay open due to increased quit rates, but there is one group of people who could help if given the chance.

4 technologies that can help manage labor shortages

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Restaurants hoping to keep up staffing levels must pay more, which means cutting food and labor costs. Automating kitchen tasks, transforming customer phones…

Chipotle CEO open to price increases

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Chipotle's Q4 earnings mostly beat analysts' expectations, despite higher food and labor costs. Its December price increase helped to offset their impact…

Starbucks' Q1 miss triggering price increases

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

February 2, 2022

Starbucks is raising prices thanks to high inflation, supply chain issues, COVID-19 resurgences and labor shortages, CEO Kevin Johnson said Tuesday during the…

Is it time to automate the franchisee process?

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Little Caesars, Qdoba, Juice It Up and Topper's Craft VIPs will reveal how they have automated the franchisee process.

Friendly's getting friendly with fast casual prototype

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Friendly's CEO describes why it was time for the brand to join the fast casual world.

Fast casuals embrace winter with LTOs

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Winter has arrived and brought with it a plethora of limited-time offers.

Slim Chickens, Blaze Pizza among CEOs keynoting RFIS 2022

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

The word "chaotic" may sum up the past year for the restaurant industry, but the most successful leaders have leaned into the chaos, creating a path forward.

Hottest tech trends of 2022

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Restaurants are investing in technology to conquer a plethora of challenges including labor shortages and food safety concerns.

Top 100 gala to honor Excellence in Food Safety winners

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

January 4, 2022

As part of the 2022 FastCasual Top 100 Movers & Shakers list, FastCasual and Steritech, a provider of food safety assessments, will honor two runners up…

Nominations now open for 2022 Top 100 Movers & Shakers

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

January is a time for goal setting and self-reflection, but it's also the first step in a long process of building our annual Fast Casual Top 100 Movers &…

FastCasual's most-read stories of 2021

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

The year's top headlines ranged from stories about robots automating the industry and the growth of Shaq's fast casual brand to updates on COVID-19, menu…

Hooters, Hoots CEO reveals 5 ways he preps teams for holidays blitz

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Sal Melilli, CEO of HOA Brands, the parent company to Hooters and Hoots Wings, shares how he is preparing his team for the holiday rush.

Kum & Go transforming into fast casual brand?

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Kum & Go has created a line of freshly prepared sandwiches, grain bowls, pizzas and blended beverages worthy of any fast casual brand, according to Jac…

At least 1 Starbucks to unionize

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

December 10, 2021

Despite a letter sent this week to Starbucks employees from CEO Kevin Johnson reminding them that they were the "heartbeat of this company," workers at the…

5 restaurant tech trends here to stay in 2022

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Take a look at five technologies that will still be necessary in 2022.

Fusian founders launching chicken concept

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Hunny Bee’s is the third restaurant concept for Ohio-based Paceline Restaurant Partners, which also owns the sushi concept, Fusian, and The Wizard of Za, a…

How Pollo Campero will triple US footprint in 5 years

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Luis Javier Rodas, Pollo Campero's managing director and COO, recently chatted with FastCasual about how he plans to transform the brand into one of the…

Famous Toastery relaunches franchising, doubling presence by 2024

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

After surviving the pandemic, Famous Toastery is poised to grow out of its home market of Charlotte, expanding into Virginia and Tennessee, and two of its…