Sweetgreen hires 2 former Chipotle execs

August 25, 2023

Los Angeles-based Sweetgreen has added two people to the leadership team — Chad Brauze as head of culinary, and Michael Kotick, as VP and head of marketing.

Swig developing 250 units

August 24, 2023

Swig, which launched multi-unit franchising six months ago, has signed 250 franchise units across seven emerging markets — Florida, North Carolina, South…

Hat Creek Burger selling beef only from Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan's company

August 24, 2023

Hat Creek Burger Co, an Austin-based restaurant with 26 locations, is now selling beef only from Goodstock by Nolan Ryan, a division of Nolan Ryan Brands…

20 years later: Pumpkin spice still rules

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Although it's too early to tell if all-things pumpkin will increase traffic this year, it's a likely outcome based on the past 20 years. Most chains have…

Shipley Do-Nuts eyeing Midwest expansion

August 23, 2023

Shipley Do-Nuts, which has 340 locations in 12 states, has opened franchise development opportunities in Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio and is…

How bb.q Chicken maintains consistency throughout rapid expansion

Joseph Kim, CEO, of bb.q Chicken in the U.S., reveals how the brand's three restaurant formats allow it to cater to franchisees in a variety of markets

Fast casual execs talk deploying AI when budgets are tight

August 23, 2023

Cutting costs, reducing errors, improving customer satisfaction and enhancing the customer experience are just a few benefits of incorporating artificial…

Big Chicken is pretty big deal in Michigan

August 22, 2023

Big Chicken, a fast casual chicken concept founded by Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, has signed a deal with H&D Group Investments to bring 20 locations to…

Taco Bell franchisee opening 7th Taco Bell Cantina

August 22, 2023

Diversified Restaurant Group, one of the largest Taco Bell franchisees and which operates 325 locations, is opening is seventh Taco Bell Cantina, a fast casual…

Crimson Coward Nashville Hot Chicken opening in Maryland

August 22, 2023

Crimson Coward Nashville Hot Chicken has signed a lease with David S. Brown Enterprises to open at Boulevard Corporate Center in Owings Mills, Maryland.

'It's a revolution': Jars by Fabio Viviani brings playfulness back to desserts

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Jars by Fabio Viviani is a dessert concept that could be coming to a town near you. Though the brand has one unit open in Chicago, it has sold more than a…

Beyond Juicery + Eatery adds Michigan restaurant

August 21, 2023

Beyond Juicery + Eatery, a Midwest-based healthy fast casual concept, opened last week at 16660 19 Mile Road, in Clinton Township, Michigan, under the…

Cousins Subs adds Apple, Google Pay

August 21, 2023

Cousins Subs has launched an SMS program, Apple and Google Pay and split payments, all aimed at enhancing the guest experience and providing greater…

Play Bowls opens 200th location

August 21, 2023

New Jersey-based Playa Bowls, a superfruit bowl shop specializing in acai, pitaya, mango, green and coconut bowls, juices, smoothies and cold brew coffee, has…

Chipotle launches BOGO trivia

August 21, 2023

Chipotle Mexican Grill is bringing back Chipotle IQ, a trivia game that tests fans' knowledge of Chipotle's ingredients, food standards, culinary techniques…

Cousins Maine Lobsters food truck arrives in Maryland

August 21, 2023

The Cousins Maine Lobster company has launched a food truck in Hyattsville, Maryland.

Will Japan-based Pepper Lunch dominate the US?

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Although the Japanese-based concept has only five restaurants in the U.S., it spans nearly 500 locations in 15 countries and plans to have 100 North American…

Black Rock Coffee hires former Tokyo Joe's CEO

August 18, 2023

Founded as a family-owned business in Oregon in 2008, Black Rock Coffee Bar, which has 100 locations, has hired Mark D. Davis as CEO. Davis will leverage his…

Goodcents opening 2nd Pennsylvania unit

August 17, 2023

Kansas City-based Goodcents will open its second Pennsylvania location next week. The store is located in Gettysburg, at 12 Dietrick Road.

Pitbull-backed fast casual striving for 1K units in 10 years

August 17, 2023

Cilantro Taco Grill, a Mexican immigrant-founded fast casual restaurant with over 15 locations throughout Chicago, has partnered with singer Armando Christian…