How Lee's Famous Recipe overcame hiring crisis with Conversational AI

Although many QSRs have reported that drive-thru traffic is now making up 80% of business thanks to the pandemic, unemployment packages have made it…

Presented by FastCasual.com

BurgerFi tops FastCasual's Top 100 Movers & Shakers

May 19, 2021

After seven straight years of being named to Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers & Shakers, BurgerFi took the No.1 spot on the 2021 list.

2021 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers

Since its creation 16 years ago, the Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers list has recognized the industry’s most successful brands. We are honored to feature…

Presented by FastCasual.com

2021 Excellence in Food Safety

In its third year, the Excellence in Food Safety Award celebrates those organizations that have fully committed to ensuring food safety. These restaurants…

Panda Express named winner of FastCasual's Excellence in Food Safety award

May 19, 2021

Panda Express, which has over 2,000 locations, is the winner of the 2021 Excellence in Food Safety Award, presented Wednesday by FastCasual.com and Steritech.

Brands get own order/delivery option with Menuu, Onfleet partnership

May 19, 2021

Restaurants seeking delivery and online ordering solutions got a new option this week when online ordering and marketing engine, Menuu, began a partnership…

Russo's signs deal for Texas stores

May 19, 2021

Houston-based Russo's New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen has closed a multi-unit franchise agreement to grow the brand's presence in the Lone Star State…

Customers ready to dine at mobile-savvy restaurants

May 19, 2021

About 71% of U.S. diners are ready to eat out again and 42% feel comfortable being seated indoors, according to a study published Wednesday by Oracle Food and…

Qdoba inks NYC-Florida deal

May 19, 2021

Qdoba Mexican Eats, which has 740 locations, has signed a multi-unit franchise development agreement with TIG Queso LLC to open 10 units in the New York…

Jon Smith Subs debuting rebranding

May 19, 2021

South Florida-based Jon Smith Subs is debuting its new look next month when it opens its first Canadian location.

Chipotle launching virtual wellness app for employees

May 19, 2021

Chipotle Mexican Grill is launching a wellness platform — Strive — in hopes of improving mental health among its employees.

Quiznos ghosting Canada

May 18, 2021

Rego Restaurants, which owns Taco Del Mar and Quiznos, is partnering with Ghost Kitchen Brands to bring 70 non-traditional locations to the U.S. and 30 to…

Wing It On makes food-safety commitment

May 18, 2021

As North Carolina's Wing It On expands across the U.S., it is working with Steritech to help ensure it keeps its cleanliness and food safety standards.

Cowboy Chicken enhances mobile app

May 18, 2021

Dallas-based Cowboy Chicken has enhanced its mobile app, which first made its debut in 2017. The update includes a new design as well as a loyalty program with…

Masks 'not optional' for restaurant workers

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Although Americans all over the country are ditching their masks, restaurant employees can't throw them out any time soon.

Chicken Salad Chick signs 5-unit Florida deal

May 18, 2021

Alabama-baed Chicken Salad Chick has signed a five-unit development deal in Florida for the Fort Myers and Naples areas, which will grow its statewide presence…

FAT Brands beefs up management team

May 18, 2021

Los Angeles-based FAT Brands Inc., the parent company of Fatburger, Johnny Rockets and seven other restaurant concepts, has added three executives to its…

Starbird adding 9th location

May 18, 2021

Starbird Chicken is opening its ninth location this month, nearly five years after debuting its first Bay-area restaurant in Sunnyvale, California.

Ike's kicking off California growth spurt

May 18, 2021

Marking its 75th brand overall, Ike's Love & Sandwiches is making its Templeton, California, debut in June a part of a major California expansion.

Muscle Maker Grill acquires poke concept

May 18, 2021

New Jersey-based Muscle Maker Inc. has acquired Pokemoto, a 13-unit Hawaiian poke concept with locations in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and…