Greg Vojnovic leading franchise expansion at The Melt

February 23, 2026

The Melt, a California-based chain known for its "MeltBurger," has hired industry veteran Greg Vojnovic as head of franchising to lead its expansion beyond the…

6 Signs Your Team Communication Isn't Secure Enough

Here are six signs your team communication isn't as secure as you think. If any of these sound familiar, it's time to rethink how your team communicates at…

Building unity through community

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

By fostering shared experiences and intentional connections, the restaurant industry serves as a vital "community connector" that accelerates growth for…

Speaker Spotlight: Liz Williams, CEO, El Pollo Loco

Liz Williams, CEO of El Pollo Loco, shares a look at her career, her achievements and industry trends ahead of her appearance at the Restaurant Franchising …

La Madeleine eyes accelerated growth following 'Ignite the Joy' turnaround

February 20, 2026

French-inspired bakery-cafe la Madeleine is entering 2026 with its strongest expansion pipeline in nearly a decade, following a year of operational…

Can Dave’s Hot Chicken leaders conjure magic from Mike's Red Tacos?

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Mike's Red Tacos, a beef birria concept born just four years ago, has deals in place to open more than 200 locations. While the rapid expansion is turning…

Family owned Mickey’s Deli opening 2nd location after 70 years

February 19, 2026

Mickey's Deli, a 70-year-old brand in California, has opened a second location North Redondo Beach.

Jeff's Bagel Run sprinting past 30 units

February 19, 2026

Jeff's Bagel Run is leaping past the 30-location milestone this month, announcing a four-shop expansion that pushes the Florida-born brand into the Alabama and…

Scaling sweet success: How Rita’s Italian Ice navigates franchise growth

When Lawrence Brown, Chief Development Officer at Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, joined Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler on Fast Casual Nation, he brought…

Philadelphia-based Spread Bagelry entering Atlanta

February 18, 2026

Philadelphia-based Spread Bagelry is bringing its honey-boiled, wood-fired bagels to Buckhead next month, marking the brand's first entry into the Atlanta…

Wingstop's Q4 earnings: The good, the bad, the X-Factor

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

While 2025 saw the brand’s first same-store sales decline in over two decades, leadership is betting on a transformational operational shift and a new loyalty…

5 ways QR codes help grow restaurant catering

by Kelly Grogan — Founder, CRUMBS

QR codes are one of the most underutilized tools in catering marketing. They're inexpensive, trackable, and they meet your guests exactly where they already…

Jeff's Bagel Run: From garage bagels to 30 and growing

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

On this episode of the Founderology — Built to Breakthrough podcast, I talk with Jeff Perera, co-Founder of Jeff’s Bagel Run and a member of the inaugural…

The 10-25 Unit Playbook: Scale Without Chaos

Unlock the proven systems top restaurant operators use to scale without chaos. If you’re stuck juggling fires across 10–25 locations, this guide shows you the…

Presented by SynergySuite

Las Palapas taps Paytronix for digital overhaul, adds mobile app

February 17, 2026

San Antonio-based Tex-Mex chain Las Palapas is celebrating its 45th anniversary with a digital overhaul, partnering with Paytronix to launch a new mobile app…

Beyond the balance sheet: why the future of franchising is proactive, not passive

At the upcoming Restaurant Innovation and Franchising Summit, industry experts will share strategies for moving beyond passive bookkeeping to maximize…

Reigniting passion in your team: a blueprint for peak performance

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

Cultivating employee passion through purpose, recognition and autonomy is the key to driving superior business performance, innovation and long-term retention…

Pizza vs. Chicken: The ultimate industry 'vibe check' at RFIS

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Executives in the pizza and chicken restaurant fields will answer questions about feedback in a 'Family Feud'-style game at the Restaurant Franchising and…

bb.q Chicken streamlines operations via Deliverect

February 17, 2026

bb.q Chicken, a Korean fried chicken franchise, has implemented Deliverect's digital ordering and menu management platform across its more than 250 U.S.

Capriotti's launches '50-50-50' franchise incentive program

February 16, 2026

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop is marking its 50th anniversary with a major expansion push and a new incentive program for franchise partners following a year of…