Dutch Bros to acquire Clutch Coffee Bar

January 13, 2026

Dutch Bros Coffee has reached an agreement to acquire Clutch Coffee Bar, according to an open letter from Darren Spicer, the founder and CEO of Clutch Coffee…

Black Bear Diner partners with HonorBuilt to deploy KDS Across 120 Locations with QSR Automations by Crunchtime

HonorBuilt’s staging and configuration logistics are creating a win for Black Bear Diner’s brand-wide Kitchen Display System (QSR…

How Dave’s Hot Chicken went from a parking lot to a $1 billion sale

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

Dave's Hot Chicken began in a parking lot. It recently sold for $1 billion. The leaders behind the brand will speak at the Founderology Growth Summit on Feb. …

Coffee margins under pressure: Menu prices up 3.4%

January 13, 2026

Restaurant operators continued to adjust caffeine margins in late 2025, with coffee prices outrunning other menu categories in year-over-year growth, according…

Heinz introduces fry box with built-in ketchup dipping compartment

January 13, 2026

Heinz is taking its condiments on the road with the launch of the "Heinz Dipper," a French fry box featuring a built-in compartment specifically designed for…

Hawaiian Bros hires Shannon Scott as CMO

January 13, 2026

Hawaiian Bros has named Shannon Scott as its chief marketing officer, the company announced Tuesday, as the island-inspired restaurant chain prepares for a…

“Engagement That Rocks” reveals the amplifier behind culture, retention, guest loyalty

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

"Engagement That Rocks: Enhance Employee Experience and Retain Chart-Topping Talent," the third book in the “Culture That Rocks” trilogy, written by Jim…

Dave's Hot Chicken hires Joshua Liggins as VP of franchise development

January 12, 2026

Dave's Hot Chicken announced Monday the appointment of Joshua Liggins as vice president of franchise development, a move intended to accelerate the brand's…

Qdoba names chief legal officer

January 12, 2026

Qdoba has hired Cathy Tang as chief legal officer, a move intended to bolster the restaurant chain's aggressive plan to double its footprint over the next…

Do Americans prefer bagels or doughnuts?

January 9, 2026

Over half of Americans believe bagels are superior to doughnuts, according to a report by Einstein Bros. Bagels ahead of National Bagel Day, which is Jan. 15.

Aloha, Innovation: Why L&L’s Eddie Flores Jr is a must-see at RFIS 2026

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Anyone who knows Eddie knows he brings a witty, frank and refreshingly honest perspective to the table. He's going to talk about the "unconventional…

Massachusetts welcomes Big Chicken

January 9, 2026

Big Chicken, the fast casual restaurant chain founded by NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, opened its newest Massachusetts location Friday at the Wrentham…

Fast Casual Nation reveals top 2026 restaurant trends

Join Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler as they sit down with industry expert Suzy Badaracco from Culinary Tides to forecast the biggest restaurant trends for…

Shipley Do-Nuts names Bill Leibengood as CMO

January 8, 2026

Shipley Do-Nuts has named restaurant industry veteran Bill Leibengood as chief marketing officer. He joins the Houston-based brand with more than 25 years of…

Dave’s Hot Chicken promotes Jim Bitticks to CEO

January 8, 2026

Bitticks will join the founders of Dave's Hot Chicken as the keynote speakers at the Founderology Growth Summit, Feb. 2-4 in Austin.

Smoothie King, Tropical Smoothie Cafe join the 'proteinization' of the fast casual industry

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Both beverage brands join Starbucks, Nekter Juice Bar and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the focus on protein

Hot Head Burritos marks 2025 with record growth

January 7, 2026

Hot Head Burritos enters 2026 with sustained momentum following a year of steady expansion, product breakthroughs and digital investments designed to help…

NCR Voyix unveils AI-powered microservices suite for retail, restaurants

January 7, 2026

NCR Voyix Corp. has launched its next-generation portfolio of microservices-based applications, marking a definitive shift in its software modernization…

FastCasual opens nominations for 2026 Top 100 Movers & Shakers

January 7, 2026

Nominations close Feb. 8.

Clay Dover named CEO of Savory Fund

January 7, 2026

Savory Fund, a private equity firm specializing in emerging restaurant concepts, announced a major leadership restructuring Wednesday, promoting Co-Founder…