Gen Z, millennial franchisees want purpose, flexibility, tech — not just a second career

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Gong cha, Chicken Salad Chick, PrimoHoagies and Yougurtland execs reveal why franchising has become a popular career choice for millennials and Gen Z.

How Mendocino Farms is winning the 'Sandwich Wars'

Mendocino Farms CMO Alicia Mowder joins Fast Casual Nation to break down how the fast-casual chain hit its 100th location while staying true to chef-driven…

Presented by LoopAI

Nick the Greek surpasses 100 restaurants, reports double-digit sales growth in first half of 2026

July 16, 2026

Nick the Greek surpassed 100 restaurants during the first half of 2026, fueled by eight openings, 18.2% year-over-year same-store sales growth and a 14.8…

Interface report: Restaurant security risks center on people, not property

July 16, 2026

Restaurant security concerns increasingly focus on protecting employees and customers from disruptive behavior rather than preventing theft, according to…

Team Communication Tools for Restaurants: What to Look for in 2026

There are a lot of team chat apps out there, but how do you know which one fits how your team works and will get used? Here's what to look for before choosing.

The 1:1 Personalization Playbook: Using AI to send every guest their own offer

In this session, Hang CEO Matt Smolin, whose platform powers millions of AI-personalized offers a month for restaurant brands, and Rev Ciancio, CMO of Salad…

Presented by Hang

HTeaO to expand Oklahoma footprint

July 15, 2026

Iced tea franchise HTeaO will celebrate the grand opening of its new Altus, Oklahoma, location on July 18, according to a press release.

Dodo Pizza’s playbook for international success

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

In this Pizza Marketplace podcast, executives from Dodo Brands discuss how the company uses its proprietary technology platform and a balance of global…

Rock N' Roll Sushi expands Tennessee presence with Knoxville-area opening

July 15, 2026

Mobile, Alabama-based Rock N' Roll Sushi will open its 12th Tennessee location July 22 at 10837 Hardin Valley Road in the Knoxville-area community of Hardin…

Chicken Salad Chick enters Minnesota with Apple Valley opening

July 15, 2026

Chicken Salad Chick will open a restaurant on July 28 at 14658 Cedar Ave., in Apple Valley in Minnesota, it's 24th state after debuting in Utah last month.

Ranch is no longer a side character on the menu

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

I wrote a few weeks ago about how Slim Chickens' timing on its ranch remix couldn't have been better, landing right as international soccer fans discovered…

Should fast casual leaders be worried about casual dining's 'comeback?'

Sam Stanovich of Craveworthy Brands, Blake Johnson, senior director of Marketing of CEC Entertainment (parent company of Chuck E. Cheese), and Mark Brezinski…

Super Chix hatches North Carolina expansion

July 14, 2026

Super Chix has opened its first restaurant in the Raleigh, North Carolina, metro area. Franchisees Asim Javaid, Saqiba Asim, Moazzam Bajwa and Rafia Moazzam…

Scooter’s Coffee breaks ground on $40M Nebraska distribution center

July 14, 2026

Scooter's Coffee has broken ground on a 154,400-square-foot cold-storage distribution center in Papillion, Nebraska. The $40 million facility at 11656 S. 158th…

Chipotle opens 1st Mexico restaurant, plans further expansion

July 13, 2026

Chipotle Mexican Grill opened its first restaurant in Mexico on Thursday, marking a new chapter in the chain's international growth strategy. The restaurant…

Palmer Digital Group launches standalone digital order confirmation board for QSR drive-thrus

July 13, 2026

Palmer Digital Group has launched the PDG 22OCBSM Order Confirmation Enclosure, offering a standalone solution that adds digital order confirmation to…

Charleys Cheesesteaks & Wings opens Maryland restaurant

July 13, 2026

Charleys Cheesesteaks & Wings has opened a location at Olde Forte Village, located at 970 E. Swan Creek Road, in Fort Washington, Maryland, providing a new…

Savory CEO to detail ‘Savory System’ growth strategy at Fast Casual Executive Summit

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

Shauna Smith, Savory co-founder, and CEO Clay Dover, will share insight on the company’s “Savory System,” which is a roadmap on building a management…

Chicken Shack driving traffic with new chicken recipe, launching value meal

July 13, 2026

Chicken Shack is pairing its biggest menu update in more than a decade with a limited-time promotion designed to drive traffic and trial.

Mo' Bettahs opens 1st Minnesota restaurant

July 13, 2026

Mo' Bettahs, a fast-casual Hawaiian plate lunch chain, is expanding into Minnesota with its first restaurant in the state. The Burnsville location opens July…