Craveworthy CEO denies wrongdoing in franchise lawsuit

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

August 19, 2025

A franchise development company has filed a lawsuit against Craveworthy Brands and Dirty Dough, alleging breach of contract.

Cava invests in Hyphen's automated makelines

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

August 18, 2025

Hyphen, a company that provides automated meal production for restaurants, has secured $25 million in Series B financing to expand its operations. The funding…

Noodles CEO leaves 3-step turnaround plan with successor

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

As part of the broader turnaround, the company is closing up to 32 underperforming restaurants by year's end and 12 to 17 in 2026.

From Nigeria to DC: A founder's quest to take African food mainstream

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Nigerian-native Ada Osakwe, an angel investor and former banker, is bringing her African fast casual concept, Nuli, to Washington, D.C.

Innovate, don't react: 12 reasons your competitors are heading to Fast Casual Executive Summit

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Your competition will be there; will you?

How Shake Shack CEO is tackling 3 industry challenges

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

To drive traffic in a "value-oriented market," Shake Shack is moving beyond its traditional word-of-mouth marketing. The company has embarked on a paid media…

Starbucks CEO reveals 5-step recovery plan

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Despite a 2% decline in global comparable store sales and a 45% year-over-year decrease in EPS, CEO Brian Niccol is spearheading a turnaround strategy…

Criminal charges dropped against Wiederhorn, FAT Brands

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

July 29, 2025

While the criminal charges brought by the U.S. Department of Justice against Wiederhorn and FAT Brands have been dismissed, the SEC's civil fraud charges are…

Nominations open for Top 30 Movers & Shakers: Catering

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

July 28, 2025

Nominations close on Aug. 17

Coffee, beer, burger prices inch up; wings, burritos hold steady

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Toast's Menu Price Monitor aggregates sales data from approximately 140,000 restaurants on the Toast platform, offering a granular look at menu inflation as of…

Guzman y Gomez dominates Taco Bell Down Under, eyes US takeover

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

New Yorker Steven Marks, who opened his fast casual Mexican concept in 2006 in Australia, has grown it to over 250 locations and is ready to take on the U.S.

Fast casual restaurants see June sales dip

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

July 2, 2025

Sales at small business restaurants, including many fast casual concepts, saw a slight year-over-year increase of 0.4% in June, but experienced a sharper 2.6…

Jamba CBO: Snacking is becoming the main course

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Nathan Louer, chief brand officer of Jamba, reveals the brand's 'snackification' strategy.

Shake Shack: 'Home of the Braves'

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

The location, which is the chain's second-largest unit, features seating for over 100, its first bar, a wall of free arcade games, kiosks and over a dozen TVs…

Fast casuals tapping into alcohol to boost profits

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Margaritas, in particular, have been a key driver in Taco Cabana's growth, proving that even in a fast casual setting, customers are eager for a refreshing…

From Naya's simplicity to Hook & Reel's scaled hospitality: Unpacking catering success at leadership summit

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

The free summit features industry experts, including Alexis Ortiz, senior catering manager at Naya, and Margaret Monahan, of Vertex Hospitality Group, offering…

KYU igniting NYC lunch scene with to-go concept

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Featuring a walk-up window offering a selection of sandwich versions of the upscale restaurant's most popular dishes, desserts and custom-crafted beverages…

Snacking: The death of the daypart?

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Snacking is driving morning sales for Juice It Up and late-night sales for Zaxby's.

Socializing for success: 13 takeaways from Restaurant Marketing Workshop

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Restaurant marketers spent an hour swapping social media trips, tricks and no-nos when crafting social media plans.

Dave's Hot Chicken lands majority investment from Roark

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

June 2, 2025

The company's valuation is $1 billion.