Digital in the Drive-Thru: Designing Outdoor Experiences for QSR Brands

Digital menu boards at the drive-thru are no longer a luxury. In today’s competitive QSR landscape, they’ve become a requirement.

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How Juice It Up leads the modern beverage boom

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

In this podcast episode, Juice It Up CEO Susan Taylor discusses how the brand has maintained its leadership in the booming beverage franchise market by…

Rice Mediterranean Kitchen opens 10th location in Coconut Grove

March 24, 2026

Rice Mediterranean Kitchen launched its 10th South Florida location at 3015 Grand Ave. in Coconut Grove, Florida. The restaurant began operations in February…

DoorDash launches relief program to address higher gas prices

March 24, 2026

San Francisco-based DoorDash has launched an emergency relief program aimed at offsetting rising gasoline costs for its delivery drivers, known as Dashers.

Handel’s Ice Cream hires Naveen Dasa as CFO

March 23, 2026

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream, headquartered in Canfield, Ohio, has appointed Naveen Dasa as chief financial officer.

Cheba Hut to open 7th Las Vegas location

March 23, 2026

Cheba Hut, headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, announced it will open its seventh Las Vegas location March 29 at 6485 N. Durango Drive in Centennial Hills.

How to knock down blocks, power up your pivot points

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

To break through the "Founder’s pivot point," leaders must transition from micromanagement to scalability by documenting standards, delegating outcomes…

Walk-On’s partners with Cole Swindell, plans Nashville location

March 20, 2026

Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux has expanded its franchise efforts by teaming up with Jamie Daniel of Daniel Hospitality Group, according to a company press release.

bb.q Chicken updates rewards program

March 20, 2026

Seoul, South Korea-founded bb.q Chicken, has updated its rewards program to boost customer loyalty and encourage more frequent visits.

Bonchon hires Blas Escarcega as chief development officer

March 20, 2026

Bonchon, a global Korean fried chicken chain, has named industry veteran Blas Escarcega as its chief development officer to spearhead the brand's aggressive…

Jennifer Pecoraro-Striepling joins Portillo’s as chief development officer

March 19, 2026

Portillo's has named Jennifer Pecoraro-Striepling chief development officer. Based in Oak Brook, Illinois, the company said she will oversee development, real…

La Madeleine opens 1st Tennessee restaurant

March 19, 2026

La Madeleine opened its first Tennessee restaurant March 18 at 105 Legacy Pointe Blvd. in Mt. Juliet. A grand opening and ribbon-cutting are scheduled for…

GP PRO’s Dixie Ultra Take-Two Interfold Napkin Dispenser Slashes Waste, Increases Speed-of-Service

Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers deployed Take-Two dispensers, resulting in 20 million fewer napkins used in 2025

How San Pedro Fish Market built a $30M legacy

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Speaking at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit Tuesday in San Diego, Michael Ungaro shared the gritty, tenacious history of his family's brand …

Fueling growth from 1 cup to 100+ locations

Brandon Knudsen, co-founder and CEO of Ziggi’s Coffee, shares critical advice on how he bootstrapped Ziggi's from a single coffee shop to more than 10…

Square report: Neighborhood customers generate 6 times more revenue for local businesses

March 18, 2026

Community "regulars" are key profit drivers for local businesses, generating six times more revenue than transient customers through higher tips and repeat…

Beef costs jump 32%, burger prices rise 14% since 2023

March 18, 2026

Hamburger menu prices increased 14% from January 2023 to December 2025, while federal Food Away From Home inflation rose about 13% during the same period…

Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks Names Shawna Snyder Chief Operating Officer to Drive Strategic National Growth

Industry veteran brings decades of multi-unit growth experience as Big Dave’s builds the operational backbone to support national expansion following recent…

Papa Johns Selects Deliverect to Modernize Delivery Operations Across U.S. Restaurants

AI-powered platform unifies in-house and third-party fulfillment, powering enterprise-scale digital ordering

The accidental franchisor: Eddie Flores Jr. kicks off Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit with candid look at L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

March 17, 2026

Eddie Flores Jr. transitioned from real estate to become the franchisor of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, building a legacy based on the "aloha spirit" and family…