The real cost of a broken customer experience (CX): Revenue loss, operational drag, and brand damage

The true cost of a broken CX extends far beyond a single transaction. It compounds over time, affecting revenue, operational efficiency, employee engagement…

Jimmy John’s gets lit with celeb-built 4/20 menu

April 14, 2026

Jimmy John's will tap into cannabis culture through the launch of its "Dream Rotation," a limited-time menu celebrating the April 20 holiday. The Champaign…

How Tarka Indian Kitchen scaled fast casual Indian cuisine

In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Tinku Saini, CEO and co-founder of Tarka Indian Kitchen, to explore…

Toast launches integrated drive-thru platform for quick-service restaurant chains

April 14, 2026

Toast has launched Toast Drive-Thru, a digital platform designed for quick-service restaurants to manage order accuracy and labor efficiency through a single…

Slice Factory launches wood-fired Mexican street concept Leñasada

April 14, 2026

Slice Factory, a Chicago-based pizza franchise, has launched Leñasada, a wood-fired Mexican street food concept. Leñasada will debut inside the Slice Factory…

Built to Breakthrough Playbook: How to go from stuck to scale

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

To help founders overcome the "Stuck Zone" where business complexity stalls momentum, this playbook introduces the Power of One System and its Six Factors of…

John Montgomery returns as MAD Greens CEO amid menu overhaul

April 13, 2026

Salad Collective has rehired John Montgomery as CEO of MAD Greens, bringing back the former president as it revamps its menu.

Bubbakoo’s Burritos taps Bikky to power data strategy, fuel growth

April 13, 2026

Bubbakoo's Burritos has partnered with Bikky to centralize customer data and strengthen its technology as a foundation for growth.

Chipotle relaunches loyalty program to capture younger, rewards-driven diners

April 13, 2026

Less than a month after Starbucks announced changes to its loyalty program, Chipotle Mexican Grill shared similar news.

Teriyaki Madness ups protein game with Two-By-Two Bowl

April 10, 2026

Denver-based Teriyaki Madness has boosted the protein presence on its menu by adding the Two-By-Two Bowl, a limited-time offering that builds on the…

Blaze Pizza, Farmer Boys, Mike's Red Tacos, HigherMe experts discuss recruitment, retention

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Industry experts at the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit emphasized that sustainable restaurant profitability and successful scaling depend on…

Phoenix heats up with 2nd Houston TX Hot Chicken location

April 10, 2026

Houston TX Hot Chicken is doubling its Arizona presence.

Meet the Top 30 Movers & Shakers: Restaurant Marketing

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

We’re proud to honor the 2026 Restaurant Marketing Top 30 Movers & Shakers, who will be recognized at the Restaurant Marketing Workshop on June 2–3 in Boston.

Chicken Salad Chick franchisees prep for 2 Florida openings

April 9, 2026

Chicken Salad Chick will open two Florida locationson on April 21 — one at 1206 Solaris Dr., in Cape Coral on the state's southern Gulf Coast and another at…

'Stuff it': Panera Bread introduces bread rolls filled with salads

April 9, 2026

Panera Bread has introduced Salad Stuffers, a handheld version of the brand's green offerings. The item features a specially made, hollowed-out Italian roll…

Deliverect AI debuts autonomous workforce to manage menus, protect digital revenue

April 9, 2026

Deliverect, a global restaurant technology platform serving more than 95,000 locations across 78 countries, has launched Deliverect AI: a digital workforce of…

Deliverect launches AI agents and smart assistants to supercharge restaurant sales

The intelligent engine for digital revenue, now available to UK clients, with Australia, New Zealand and North America to follow.

Saucy by KFC adds Drips by Pepsi beverages to menu

April 8, 2026

Saucy by KFC, KFC's fast casual brand, has upped its beverage offerings with the addition of Drips by Pepsi to the menu. The 16-ounce drinks combine PepsiCo…

Fluffy Fluffy Cafe launching US growth plans

April 8, 2026

Toronto-based franchisor Fuwa Labs LLC has partnered with Boston-based Franchisor Advisory Partners to expand Fluffy Fluffy Café's Japanese soufflé fast-casual…

PAR Technology launches PAR Intelligence AI Platform for multi-unit operators

April 8, 2026

PAR Technology Corp. has launched PAR Intelligence, an artificial intelligence layer designed to automate operational tasks for multi-unit restaurant and…