Following COVID-19: How the virus is affecting the fast casual industry

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

FastCasual is doing its best to track how restaurants are handling the crisis and will update this story as we gather more information.

With dine-in permitted at more US restaurants, transactions improve

June 1, 2020

Out of the more than 1 million restaurants that were in business as of this year in the U.S,, the NPD Group estimated Monday that nearly 320,000 were now…

Muscle Maker Grill opening 4 on-campus locations

June 1, 2020

Muscle Maker Grill is opening four locations at Northern Virginia Community College. The menu will vary from campus to campus and include traditional Muscle…

Torchy's Tacos reopens nearly all dining rooms

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

CEO of Torchy's Tacos GJ Hart said he is seeing promising numbers in stores where the company has reopened dining rooms in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado and…

Fat Brands reports wider Q1 loss amid COVID-19

June 1, 2020

Fat Brands Inc., the owner of eight fast casual restaurant brands, including Fatburger and Elevation Burger, reported a wider loss in the first quarter as the…

&pizza gives employees involved in activism paid time off

&pizza takes an active stance on employee activism during a time of national protests around George Floyd's death in Minneapolis.

Digital Advertising Trends: Taking your Brand’s Message to the Streets

A new, innovative and patented digital Out-Of-Home (DOOH) media promises to reshape the way brands deliver marketing messages within the urban landscape.

Dickey's rolls out catering options for large groups

May 29, 2020

As COVID-19 restrictions are slowly easing, Dickey's Barbecue Pit is launching an expanded variety of boxed meals, packaged individually, boasting new item…

House approves bill to loosen PPP loan requirements

May 29, 2020

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill designed to loosen requirements on hundreds of billions of dollars in small-business loans to help companies…

FastCasual reveals '20 Brands to Watch'

The list, which is in its second year, focuses on 20 brands that are less than six years old but have the potential to become future industry leaders.

Whataburger rolls out delivery

May 29, 2020

Whataburger, based in San Antonio, with more than 830 locations in 10 states and sales of more than $2 billion annually, has rolled out delivery in most of its…

Blaze Pizza names supply chain, development leaders

May 29, 2020

Pasadena, California-based Blaze Pizza is making some changes in its executive ranks, announcing this week that Marie Zhang is joining the company as its chief…

'Converting to Curbside and Delivery' webinar is lesson in pandemic-era adaptability

When the pandemic flipped the operational model for a Texas taco brand to totally off-premise, Crush Taco and POS provider, Revention, responded, exemplifying…

Pandemic speeds up operational changes at Sweetgreen

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Like so many other restaurants around the world, Sweetgreen shifted into crisis mode COVID-19 hit but is now preparing for its version of the "new normal."

Former Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Johnny Rockets CEO tapped to lead Wahlburgers

May 28, 2020

Wahlburgers, a Boston-based fast casual restaurant with 37 locations in North America, the U.K. and Europe, has hired John Fuller as president and CEO.

Dave's Hot Chicken opening in San Diego

May 28, 2020

Dave's Hot Chicken, an LA-based fast casual is opening in Pacific Beach, marking its first location in San Diego. 

Peet's Coffee reopens 13 stores

May 28, 2020

Peet's Coffee has fully reopened 13 more locations as of today in California, Colorado, Maryland, and Virginia. Aside from those stores, other locations are…

Le Pain Quotidien selling for $3M

May 28, 2020

Le Pain Quotidien in the U.S. has filed for bankruptcy in Delaware, but Aurify Brands LLC is hoping to buy it for $3 million, pending court approval, according…

Blaze opens third Tampa-area store

May 28, 2020

Blaze is opening a new Florida location on Monday at the University of South Florida at Fowler Avenue and North 51st St., a news release said.

Panera hires chief concept officer

May 28, 2020

Eduardo Luz has joined Panera Bread as chief brand and concept officer and will be overseeing marketing, digital, strategy/insights and culinary teams…