News & Media
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…
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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…
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Peter Piper Pizza truly engrained in the communities it serves
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group
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…
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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…
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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.
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6 ways restaurants are making Valentine's Day 'wonderfully weird' in 2026
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
Forget flowers and candy; we are doing bro-quets, McNugget Caviar and puppy love.
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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…
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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.
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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…
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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…
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DalMoros Fresh Pasta To Go opening 1st campus location
February 9, 2026
Gator Nation is getting a fresh taste of Italy when DalMoros Fresh Pasta To Go celebrates the opening of its newest U.S. franchise on Thursday, Feb. 19.
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Bambu debuts 1st Walmart location in Batavia
February 9, 2026
Shoppers at the Batavia, Illinois, Walmart may pair their grocery runs with handcrafted boba and Vietnamese coffee.
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Rotolo's Craft & Crust opens 7th restaurant in Texas
February 6, 2026
Rotolo's Craft & Crust has opened a location in Willow Park, Texas. The Louisiana-brand's newest restaurant is under the helm of franchisees Matt and…
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Pei Wei expands Oklahoma footprint, upgrades digital experience
February 6, 2026
Pei Wei Asian Kitchen expanded its Oklahoma City-area footprint Tuesday with an opening in Yukon, debuting a redesigned interior and an updated digital…
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Mason's opening 20 locations in Middle East
February 6, 2026
Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls, the largest brick-and-mortar lobster roll chain in the United States, is expanding into the Middle East, marking the first major…
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Applications now open for LDEI 2026 Awards
February 5, 2026
Applications are now open for the 2026 Les Dames d'Escoffier International (LDEI) Legacy Awards, supported by The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the…
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Grubhub eliminating fees on orders over $50
February 5, 2026
Grubhub is moving to eliminate the industry's most persistent pain point by waiving delivery and service fees on larger orders, a shift the company will debut…
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Bridging the restaurant coaching gap: LEAD announces leadership events in KC, Dallas
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
As the publisher of FastCasual.com and a proud Kansas Citian, I've always said that some of the best leadership in the restaurant industry is bred right here…
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Speaker Spotlight: Seth Larsen, CDO, Cheba Hut Toasted Subs
by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator
Seth Larsen, CDO of Cheba Hut Toasted Subs talks about how stays ahead of the competition while having a blast in today's speaker spotlight.
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The power players: Inside the playbooks of Fast Casual’s 2026 rising stars
Discover the rising stars of fast casual dining as hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler interview three breakout brands from FastCasual.com's 2026 list of 2…
Presented by Jeff's Bagel Run
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