Do Americans prefer bagels or doughnuts?

January 9, 2026

Over half of Americans believe bagels are superior to doughnuts, according to a report by Einstein Bros. Bagels ahead of National Bagel Day, which is Jan. 15.

Aloha, Innovation: Why L&L’s Eddie Flores Jr is a must-see at RFIS 2026

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Anyone who knows Eddie knows he brings a witty, frank and refreshingly honest perspective to the table. He's going to talk about the "unconventional…

Massachusetts welcomes Big Chicken

January 9, 2026

Big Chicken, the fast casual restaurant chain founded by NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, opened its newest Massachusetts location Friday at the Wrentham…

Fast Casual Nation reveals top 2026 restaurant trends

Join Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler as they sit down with industry expert Suzy Badaracco from Culinary Tides to forecast the biggest restaurant trends for…

Shipley Do-Nuts names Bill Leibengood as CMO

January 8, 2026

Shipley Do-Nuts has named restaurant industry veteran Bill Leibengood as chief marketing officer. He joins the Houston-based brand with more than 25 years of…

Dave’s Hot Chicken promotes Jim Bitticks to CEO

January 8, 2026

Bitticks will join the founders of Dave's Hot Chicken as the keynote speakers at the Founderology Growth Summit, Feb. 2-4 in Austin.

Smoothie King, Tropical Smoothie Cafe join the 'proteinization' of the fast casual industry

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Both beverage brands join Starbucks, Nekter Juice Bar and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the focus on protein

Hot Head Burritos marks 2025 with record growth

January 7, 2026

Hot Head Burritos enters 2026 with sustained momentum following a year of steady expansion, product breakthroughs and digital investments designed to help…

NCR Voyix unveils AI-powered microservices suite for retail, restaurants

January 7, 2026

NCR Voyix Corp. has launched its next-generation portfolio of microservices-based applications, marking a definitive shift in its software modernization…

FastCasual opens nominations for 2026 Top 100 Movers & Shakers

January 7, 2026

Nominations close Feb. 8.

Clay Dover named CEO of Savory Fund

January 7, 2026

Savory Fund, a private equity firm specializing in emerging restaurant concepts, announced a major leadership restructuring Wednesday, promoting Co-Founder…

Blaze Pizza names John Owen CEO, launches GLP-1 pizza

January 6, 2026

Blaze Pizza has named industry veteran John Owen as its chief executive officer, signaling a push for global expansion and technological innovation.

The 24% boost: How Shipley Do-Nuts is winning the AI race

Join Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler on Fast Casual Nation as they dive deep into AI's transformation of the restaurant industry with Kerry Leo, VP of…

1 question every Founder should ask (Most never do)

In our latest Founderology podcast episode, Ellis Winstanley and I discuss his Founder’s journey, from being an 18-year-old who refused to accept he couldn't…

The 'proteinization' of the fast casual industry: Starbucks, Nekter, Coffee Bean & Tea bulk up winter menus

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

While the "New Year, New Me" resolution season often focuses on restriction, smart brands are leaning into satiety and muscle recovery to drive traffic.

Alonso Castaneda creates Taco Culture

January 6, 2026

After a quarter century of building some of the fastest-growing restaurant brands in the country, industry veteran Alonso Castaneda is stepping into the…

Pokeworks growing in Florida

January 5, 2026

Pokeworks is expanding its footprint in Florida, with a goal of opening 10 locations across the state over the next three years.

Farmer’s Fridge capitalizes on infrastructure law to scale airport presence

January 5, 2026

The final $1 billion installment of the Biden-Harris administration's Airport Terminal Program is hitting U.S. airports this year, creating a significant…

How to amplify your leadership impact by leading with influence

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

Leading with influence focuses on building trust, empathy and a shared vision to inspire teams toward higher engagement and growth, moving beyond traditional…

Speaker Spotlight: Chris Demery, CTO of Blaze Pizza

Chris Demery, CTO of Blaze Pizza, shares a look at his career, his achievements and industry trends ahead of his appearance at the Restaurant Franchising …