Shake Shack raising funds to add drive-thrus, digital upgrades

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

March 2, 2021

Shake Shack is borrowing $225 million from private investors to pay for drive-thrus and other new store formats. The New York-based chain is offering $22…

Shake Shack migrating third-party delivery orders to own channels

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

With digital sales accounting for 60% of Shake Shack Q4 sales, the chain is hoping to move third-party delivery orders to its own channels.

Making third-party delivery work for your brand

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

February 25, 2021

Although delivery has been available at Alfredo's Pizza since it opened over 20 years ago in West Babylon, New York, owner Rob Tarsio needed to streamline…

Small but mighty: LA sandwich shop surviving pandemic

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Breadlam operates out of a 300-square-foot space, which has helped it stay afloat during the pandemic.

Restaurant operators: 'Not the right time for wage boost'

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

February 16, 2021

Leaders of Dickey's Barbecue, Firehouse Subs, Mooyah, Famous Toastery and Teriyaki Madness discuss when and if it's time to raise the federal minimum wage to…

How Caffe Nero won landlord-tenant lawsuit

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Although Caffe Nero said it failed to pay rent for six months at one of its Boston locations, a judge dismissed the landlord's motion requesting payment.

Virtual experiences + '90s nostalgia = perfect Valentine's Day for Shake Shack, Panera

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Shake Shack and Panera bread are combining virtual experiences with '90s nostalgia to win customers' hearts on Valentine's Day.

Millennial-owned cafe raises nearly $200K in crowdfunding investments

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Citizens Cafe, an Australia-inspired coffee shop based in NYC, hopes to raise $5 million to fuel national expansion.

Chipotle CEO reveals 5 strategies to combat Q4 earnings miss

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Growth in digital sales was the highlight of the quarter, growing 177.2% and accounting for 49% of sales.

Can Everytable's new franchise model cut racial inequality?

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Everytable CEO Sam Polk discusses how his latest operations idea — the Social Equity Franchise —removes barriers to business ownership for Black and Latinx…

Former Bareburger CMO launches NotGrubhub

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

January 27, 2021

Former NYC restaurant operators have launched a website to drive guests to restaurants only offering first-party ordering.

Starbucks on slow path to recovery, COO stepping down

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Although sales fell short of Wall Street's expectations, Q1 earnings of 61 cents per share topped estimates of 55 cents per share but declined 22.8…

Restaurant sales, traffic not so merry during holiday season

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

January 26, 2021

Although restaurants across the world have been doing their best to pivot operations by expanding digital and contactless services, traffic and sales are still…

2 industry leaders looking to invest in the 'next restaurant leader'

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Dave Pace, board member of Red Robin and former CEO of Jamba Inc., and Andy Pforzheimer, a co-founder of the Barcelona and Bartaco brands, have come together…

Fast casuals debuting healthy menu options

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

California-based brands Rubio's and Fatburger are offering vegetarian options, and Freebirds, based in Austin, has debuted cauliflower rice. Juice It Up has…

Capriotti's, Wing Zone execs give us the why behind the merger

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

January 5, 2021

Las Vegas-based Capriotti's Sandwich Shop has acquired Wing Zone, a fast casual brand based in Atlanta.

Schlotzsky’s testing 2 drive-thru formats

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Schlotzsky's has designed two drive-thru models to focus heavily on off-premise orders.

Contactless ordering forcing restaurants to adopt 9 tech strategies in 2021

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Contactless ordering is not only here to stay but is forcing restaurants to embrace nine specific technologies and strategies.

Why NYC's Sweet Chick rebranded to fast casual concept

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Sweet Chick, a full-service brand created seven years ago in Brooklyn by New York native, restaurateur and entrepreneur John Seymour, has a new name and has…

The 2021 menu battle: Comfort food vs healthier options

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Menu trends experts from Panera Bread, Buffalo Wild Wings, Luna Grill, Culinary Tides, Qdoba and Pure Green predict the coming year's top menu trends.