News & Media
Carne Asada available as LTO at Chipotle
September 2, 2025
Carne Asada, Chipotle's most-searched menu item on Google, is returning to the menu Thursday at U.S. and Canada locations. Available for a limited time, the…
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Dave's Hot Chicken signs 180-unit European deal
September 2, 2025
Dave's Hot Chicken, a Los Angeles-based fast casual chain, has finalized an agreement with the UK-based Azzurri Group to develop 180 restaurants across 1…
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The Hidden Gold Mine in Your Restaurant Kitchen: Why Back-of-House Technology Is the New Competitive Advantage
Discover why real growth for multi-unit restaurants lies not in flashy front-of-house trends, but in back-of-house tech. AI-powered ops, real-time inventory…
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Jimmy John's continues Canadian expansion
August 29, 2025
Jimmy John's has opened its second Canadian location inside Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls. The opening is part of a rapid expansion plan to open 12 stores…
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Graze Craze's president discusses strategy behind 14 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth
Operating from small 500- to 1,000-square-foot locations, Oklahoma-based Graze Craze has scaled to nearly 100 units in under five years by focusing on…
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How AI can help in operational efficiency, labor productivity, productized compliance
August 28, 2025
In a recent webinar "Labor Forecasting 2.0: Predicting Future Demand and Staffing for Efficient Growth with AI," presented by Deputy and hosted by Networld…
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Dog Haus entering Nashville
August 28, 2025
California-based Dog Haus is expanding to the Nashville area with a three-store deal.
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Loyalty programs: What customers value most
Restaurant loyalty programs work—but only if they deliver value. Explore SMG insights into what customers want and how to overcome common challenges.
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6 ways to inspire your restaurant team
by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker
Just showing up isn't enough in today's fast-paced, hyper-competitive business landscape, where average effort yields average results. What sets…
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Gong cha, Crust Pizza leaders talk franchising in today's modern restaurant world
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group
A session at the Fast Casual Executive Summit will look at franchising dos and don'ts as well as the latest trends and innovations in franchising.
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VIA 313 using AI to manage phone ordering
August 27, 2025
VIA 313, a Detroit-style fast casual concept, has partnered with Kea, a conversational AI company for restaurants, to manage phone orders across its more than…
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Big Dave's rolls out regional LTOs
August 27, 2025
Big Dave's Cheesesteaks is rolling out limited-time and regional menu items this fall, including the "Spicy Jawn" and the permanent regional additions…
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Chef Bobby Flay's Burgers signs 65-unit deal for Canada
August 26, 2025
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay is bringing his fast casual concept, Bobby's Burgers, to Canada, thanks to a multi-year, 65-unit development deal with The Falcon…
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FastCasual's 2024 Perfect Pitch winner inks major expansion deal
August 26, 2025
Co-founders Cassie Ghaffar and Sandy Nguyen, will serve as advisers at this year's Perfect Pitch, a round robin featuring eight founders vying to see which…
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Why Tacomasa's founder built a debt-free company
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
Editor's note: This is the first in a series featuring founders of restaurant concepts answering five questions about building their companies.
read nowLoman AI Raises $3.5 Million to Transform Restaurant Operations with Voice AI
AUSTIN, TX — Loman AI, the leading Voice AI platform for restaurants, today announced that it has raised a $3.5 million seed round led by Next Coast Ventures…
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Mooyah VP of operations talks quality of food, consistency and those milkshakes
Beth Stockmoe, VP of operations for Mooyah, discusses the brand's food and operations in our latest Restaurant Operator Podcast.
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Honeygrow makes Columbus, Ohio debut
August 26, 2025
Following its entry into Ohio last year, Philadelphia-based Honeygrow is expanding into Columbus, with a secured lease at 4784 Morse Road in the Franklin…
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Loman AI raises $3.5M to transform restaurant operations via voice AI
August 26, 2025
Loman AI, a Voice AI platform for the restaurant industry, has raised $3.5 million led by Next Coast Ventures with participation from TenOneTen Ventures and…
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Scheduling Chaos Costs More Than Overtime: Here’s Why
Discover how outdated, spreadsheet-based scheduling silently undermines restaurant profits—with turnover, customer loss, and burned-out managers costing far…
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