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…

Pokeworks gearing up for expansion

February 16, 2026

Pokeworks reported record-breaking performance for 2025, driven by an 18% expansion of its store system and the highest guest satisfaction ratings in the…

Fuego Tortilla Grill opening in Louisiana

February 16, 2026

Texas-based Fuego Tortilla Grill is crossing state lines to bring its "más es más" philosophy to Louisiana when it opens March 3 in Baton Rouge. The fast…

Urban Plates expands grass-fed burger lineup

February 16, 2026

Urban Plates is expanding its grass-fed burger lineup with the introduction of three new chef-crafted burgers, Bacon Cheeseburger, Avocado Cheeseburger and…

The Melt doubling in Southern California

February 16, 2026

The Melt, known for its "World's Meltiest Burger," is open eight Southern California locations in 2026, more than doubling its footprint in the region.

bb.q Chicken Deploys Deliverect to Modernize Digital Operations Across All US Locations

Digital platform connects online ordering channels and centralizes menu management to help US restaurants scale with ease

Speaker Spotlight: Eddie Flores, co-founder L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, chairman of L&L Franchise, Inc.

by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

In his RFIS keynote Eddie Flores will share "unconventional" strategies that led L&L Hawaiian Barbecuse to eight consecutive #1 Asian food franchise rankings.

Kelli Valade tapped to lead Women’s Foodservice Forum

February 13, 2026

Kelli Valade, a veteran food industry executive with a resume spanning some of the nation's largest dining chains, has been tapped to lead the Women's…

2026 State of the Industry: 10 trends redefining the restaurant landscape

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

The 2026 restaurant landscape is more data-rich than ever, but it remains a people-first business. By leveraging technology to remove friction, operators can…

T-Pain drops Buffalo Wild Wings-themed anthem to promote LTO

February 12, 2026

Buffalo Wild Wings is turning up the volume on date night, recruiting Grammy-winning artist T-Pain to serenade fans with a new anthem dedicated to the brand's…

Freddy’s Frozen Custard names Todd Paladini as CIO

February 11, 2026

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers has named Todd Paladini as its first chief information officer, a position created to modernize the chain's…

Currito opening 11 locations in 2026

February 11, 2026

Currito, known for globally inspired bowls and smoothies, is entering 2026 with significant momentum following a year of record franchise sales and operational…

Peter Piper Pizza truly engrained in the communities it serves

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

In this podcast episode, Peter Piper Pizza CMO Genaro Perez discusses how the 50-year-old legacy brand drives growth through affordable lunch buffets and a…

Starbird appoints Greg Levin as CEO

February 10, 2026

Starbird has appointed former BJ's Restaurants CEO Greg Levin as its new chief executive officer and board member to spearhead the brand's national expansion…

Wonder acquires NYC's Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken

February 10, 2026

Mealtime platform Wonder has acquired Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken, a move aimed at scaling the New York City brand across its digital and physical ecosystem.

6 ways restaurants are making Valentine's Day 'wonderfully weird' in 2026

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Forget flowers and candy; we are doing bro-quets, McNugget Caviar and puppy love.

Toast, Instacart partnership to 'bridge gap between digital marketplaces, physical storefronts'

February 10, 2026

Restaurant tech giant Toast and grocery delivery provider Instacart are working together to bridge the gap between digital marketplaces and physical…

Ovation secures $3M in funding led by customers

February 10, 2026

Ovation, a guest experience and operations platform for multi-unit restaurants, has raised $3 million in a funding round backed entirely by its own customers.

Successful and struggling: The Founder paradox no one talks about

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

We explore the "founder's paradox" of being both successful and isolated, ultimately arguing that connecting with a community of peers is the essential…

Stoner's Pizza Joint celebrates National Pizza Day with $4.20 pizza, heart-shaped pizza

February 9, 2026

Recovering from the big game? Florida-based Stoner's Pizza Joint is serving up the ultimate post-game recovery with a can't miss National Pizza Day offer. The…