Chicken Salad Chick, Main Squeeze Juice Co, Original ChopShop, Dog Haus leaders talk marketing on a limited dime

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

A panel of fast casual executives shared that maximizing social media ROI with limited budgets is best achieved through deep community involvement, leveraging…

Why restaurant, retail industries won't support Visa/Mastercard swipe fee settlement

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

With 85% of cards today tied to rewards programs, almost all would fall under the new ‘premium consumer’ category, leaving restaurants with virtually no choice…

Chipotle marketing VP reveals strategy to win back Gen Z

Join Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler as they sit down with Stephanie Perdue, VP of brand marketing at Chipotle Mexican Grill, to…

Haven Hot Chicken announces franchise expansion, signs 25 commitments

November 13, 2025

After opening its first location four years ago in Connecticut, Haven Hot Chicken is launching a franchise program, signing commitments for over 25 locations…

Garden Catering to open 9th location

November 13, 2025

Garden Catering, a family-owned chicken nugget chain that has served fans since 1978, is opening next week at the Heights Crossing development in Darien…

AI technology transforms Shipley Donuts’ online ordering

November 13, 2025

Shipley Do-Nuts has rolled out an online ordering system powered by artificial intelligence from the technology company Saivory, designed to streamline…

How Starbucks proved that 'free' isn’t everything

by Lila Margalit — Content Writer, Placer.ai

The chain's Bearista launch drove a 37.8% visit spike compared to the chain’s 12-month daily average, with traffic remaining elevated since. Lila Margalit…

Qu, MarginEdge integrate to give restaurants daily profitability insights

November 12, 2025

Restaurant software providers MarginEdge and Qu have integrated their platforms to give restaurant operators daily, real-time profitability insights powered by…

Kea AI unveils text-message ordering for restaurants

November 12, 2025

Kea AI, a provider of restaurant Voice AI, has launched Text AI, a conversational messaging feature allowing restaurant guests to interact directly with the…

Hungry Howie's differentiates itself with flavored crust, fresh dough, ingredients

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

VP of Public Relations Jennifer Jackson discusses the Hungry Howie's pizza brand's strategic marketing and operational planning, including cross-functional…

Dave & Buster's adds 100 menu items

November 12, 2025

Dave & Buster's is debuting its most extensive menu revamp in company history, rolling out over 100 food and beverage items alongside the return of several…

Family, not fortune: Why Uncle Sharkii spurned $35M to guard the 'Spirit of Aloha'

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer Raymond Reyes said the fine print didn't read like freedom; it read like control.

The Efficiency Flywheel: 4 Kitchen Upgrades to Drive Compounding Returns

In a busy kitchen, every second counts. For a fast-casual restaurant serving 250 tickets a day, saving just 20 seconds per ticket adds up to over 500 hours of…

Slice House by Tony Gemignani opens in Milpitas, California

November 11, 2025

Slice House by Tony Gemignani has opened in Milpitas, California. The fast casual restaurant opened Nov. 8 within The Fields mixed-use complex and across from…

Barry Bagels expands with major deal in Texas, uses hub-and-spoke model for growth

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

Barry Bagels' history dates back to 1972. Today, the brand has locations in Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio,

Stop discounting, start Bundling: Serving the smarter, value-obsessed holiday diner

by Kelli Anstine — President, Bernstein-Rein Advertising, Inc.

Restaurants that create solutions — particularly if you can offer the triple threat of  financial savings (real or perceived), time/effort savings, and…

Sweetgreen launches macro-tracking tool, expands protein options

November 11, 2025

Sweetgreen is embracing the consumer shift toward high-protein diets by launching a macronutrient-tracking tool across its digital platforms and highlighting…

Sweetgreen more than doubles money on Spyce sale to Wonder

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

November 11, 2025

Sweetgreen Inc. has sold its Spyce business, which developed the robotic "Infinite Kitchen" technology, to mealtime platform Wonder for $186.4 million, more…

Nominations open for Top 5 Movers & Shakers: Visionary Restaurant Founders

November 10, 2025

Nominations close Dec. 7

Sigri Indian BBQ launches national franchising, Chicago locations planned

November 10, 2025

New Jersey-based Sigri Indian BBQ, specializing in North Indian barbecue, has launched its national franchise program, with the first multi-unit agreement set…