Chipotle doubling pace of 'new product launches,' chicken al pastor returning

January 27, 2026

Chipotle Mexican Grill is bringing back chicken al pastor for a limited time, marking the first move in an aggressive 2026 menu strategy that will see the…

Dog Haus enters 15th year with record development pipeline

January 27, 2026

Dog Haus is marking its 15th anniversary with its largest expansion slate to date, following a record-breaking 2025 that saw triple-digit growth in…

Original ChopShop reports 9th consecutive year of profitability

January 27, 2026

Original ChopShop reported record annual sales for 2025, marking its ninth consecutive year of profitability as it prepares for a four-store expansion across…

A Restaurant Owner's Guide to Secure Team Communication

Using personal chat apps for work puts your business data at risk. This guide breaks down the challenges of unsecured team communication, the real costs to…

FAT Brands files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure debt

January 26, 2026

FAT Brands Inc., the parent company of 18 restaurant concepts including Fatburger and Johnny Rockets, has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection…

Steak ‘n Shake expands Iowa presence with tech-forward location

January 26, 2026

Ryan Winter expanded his footprint in the Des Moines area with the opening of his second Steak 'n Shake last week at 1045 S.E. Alice's Road. The…

Optimizing off-premise orders

by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator

In a session at the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit held in San Diego, California from March 16 to 18, restaurant veterans will chat about how to…

Captain D's expands UK presence

January 26, 2026

Captain D's is doubling down on its British expansion, opening its second U.K. location in Kent following what executives describe as an "exceptional…

Par acquiring Bridg in $30M deal to unify guest data

January 26, 2026

Par Technology Corp. has reached an agreement to acquire Bridg, an identity resolution and shopper intelligence platform, from Cardlytics Inc. The deal, valued…

Why Your Company Has 40 Group Chats and Nobody Knows What’s Going On

Personal chat apps give you zero control over company data. When employees leave, they take years of business information with them—and removing them takes…

Iron Cactus doesn't sit still; brand keeps evolving

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

Iron Cacus stopped frying in seed oil and Founder Gary Manley watched sales soar. The brand has two locations in Texas.

From vision to breakthrough: 5 game-changing lessons from the Founderology Podcast

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

The Founderology: Built to Breakthrough podcast shares actionable insights from visionary entrepreneurs, emphasizing that success comes from bold risk-taking…

Speaker Spotlight: Troy Hooper, CEO, Hot Palette America - Pepper Lunch

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

Troy Hooper, CEO of Hot Palette America - Pepper Lunch, shares a look at his career, his achievements and industry trends ahead of his appearance at the…

Panera testing points-based loyalty program to boost customization, value

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

The shift comes in response to direct feedback from MyPanera members seeking more clarity on how they earn rewards.

Häagen-Dazs launches updated Sorbet Smoothie Collection

January 21, 2026

Häagen-Dazs has released a new-and-improved Sorbet Smoothie Collection. The drinks are made with the brand's signature sorbet, real fruit and juices, according…

Restaurant leaders share tips for driving growth, innovating when franchising

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

At the upcoming Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit, top restaurant executives will share how they’re scaling smarter and growing faster through bold…

Texas Restaurant Association’s Emily Williams Knight on the power of shared insight

In this episode, Kathleen Wood and Emily Knight discuss why Founders benefit from being part of strong communities, whether through state restaurant…

The Beverage revolution: Why drinks are the new dining destination

Fast Casual Nation explores how Taco Bell, craft innovators and the sober-curious movement are reshaping restaurant revenue.

Chili Shack snags 1st franchisee

January 21, 2026

Chili Shack, a Denver-based restaurant chain known for its Mexican-American fare and green chili, has signed its first franchise agreement to develop three…

Chipotle outgrowing slump thanks to 10-minute visits

by Lila Margalit — Content Writer, Placer.ai

In November, same-store visits turned slightly positive, compared to previous declines, contributing to a stronger increase in total chain-wide traffic.