Chipotle: 'Robust ingredient traceability system' flagged jalapeños tied to salmonella probe

August 5, 2026

Chipotle Mexican Grill has reiterated that jalapeños identified from a common lot remain the focus of its internal investigation into a salmonella outbreak…

How Tony Roma's is using fast-casual strategies to reinvent itself

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

CEO Mina Haque explains how the 54-year-old brand is adapting to changing consumer habits without abandoning its casual-dining roots.

HTeaO names former Freddy's executive Brian Wise as CEO

August 5, 2026

Iced tea franchise HTeaO has named Brian Wise as its chief executive officer as the company prepares for further national expansion.

Savvy Sliders, Fat Boy's Pizza announce co-branded Florida locations

August 5, 2026

Savvy Sliders and Fat Boy's Pizza will open co-branded restaurants in Florida later this year, marking the state debut for Louisiana-based Fat Boy's Pizza…

7 Brew launches 1st mobile app with order-ahead, expanded rewards

August 5, 2026

7 Brew will launch its first mobile app next week, giving customers access to mobile ordering, over 20,000 customizable drink combinations and an enhanced…

Rōti Modern Mediterranean launches franchise incentive program with first-year royalty waiver

August 5, 2026

Rōti Modern Mediterranean is offering financial incentives to franchisees as it looks to accelerate development across the U.S.

Crisp & Green opens 3rd Omaha-area restaurant

August 5, 2026

Crisp & Green has opened its third Omaha-area restaurant in Papillion, Nebraska, as the Minneapolis-based fast-casual brand continues to expand its…

Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café to open first North Carolina location

August 5, 2026

Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café will debut in North Carolina with a Cary restaurant, expanding the Houston-based fast casual brand's presence in the Southeast.

Salad and Go unexpectedly closes all locations

August 5, 2026

Two weeks after launching a menu upgrade featuring recipe enhancements to signature salads, refreshed ingredient combinations and upgraded flavor profiles…

Chipotle pulls jalapenos from some restaurants amid salmonella outbreak investigation

August 4, 2026

After a weeks of worrying about lettuce being contaminated, customers may now need to avoid jalapenos.

Portillo's names Kevin Kalicak CFO

August 4, 2026

Portillo's has appointed restaurant finance veteran Kevin Kalicak as its chief financial officer and treasurer, effective Sept. 7.

How Urban Bird Hot Chicken turned a bad lease into a fast-growing brand

Brandon and Chantel Gawthorp built 32 Wingstop franchises across three states over 20 years, then let it all go to bet on themselves. They opened the first…

Second Cup names former Wingstop executive Joe Walker CEO

August 4, 2026

Joe Walker, Courtesy of Second Cup Coffee Company, Inc Toronto-based Second Cup Coffee Co. has named former Wingstop executive Joe Walker as its CEO.

5 menu localization myths that could hurt your restaurant brand

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

August 4, 2026

Michael Magerl, Joel Bulger, John Iannucci and Sarah Rooney are the panelists for "From Trend to Table: Operationalizing Regional Promotions in a Multi-Unit…

Savory Fund invests in Zao Asian Grill, targets national growth

August 4, 2026

Savory Fund co-founder Shauna Smith and CEO Clay Dover are keynoting the Fast Casual Executive Summit, Oct. 4-6, where attendees can learn more about the deal.

JEFF’S BAGEL RUN PLANS 10 LOCATIONS ACROSS EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA

Jeff’s Bagel Run, the fast-growing bagel brand known for making its bagels from scratch in every shop throughout the day, has awarded a 10-unit franchise…

Traffic counts show signs of recovery post Cyclospora

August 3, 2026

Restaurant chains that experienced sharp declines in foot traffic following the recent Cyclospora outbreak are beginning to recover, although some brands…

3 leaders every Founder must hire to scale

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

To successfully scale a company and transition from an overwhelmed operator to a confident CEO, founders must stop trying to manage everything themselves and…

Shark Club Sports Bar & Grill opens 2nd US location in North Texas

August 3, 2026

Vancouver, British Columbia-based Shark Club Sports Bar & Grill will open its second U.S. location Aug. 7 at 13850 Chadwick Parkway in Northlake, Texas.

How FiiZ Drinks is turning a viral beverage trend into a scalable brand

Plus, Instant CEO Tal Clark reveals new data on restaurant worker financial stress and why faster access to earned wages could be the next retention advantage

Presented by Instant Financial