News & Media
Urban Plates expands grass-fed burger lineup
February 16, 2026
Urban Plates is expanding its grass-fed burger lineup with the introduction of three new chef-crafted burgers, Bacon Cheeseburger, Avocado Cheeseburger and…
read now
The Melt doubling in Southern California
February 16, 2026
The Melt, known for its "World's Meltiest Burger," is open eight Southern California locations in 2026, more than doubling its footprint in the region.
read now
Speaker Spotlight: Eddie Flores, co-founder L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, chairman of L&L Franchise, Inc.
by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media
In his RFIS keynote Eddie Flores will share "unconventional" strategies that led L&L Hawaiian Barbecuse to eight consecutive #1 Asian food franchise rankings.
read now
Kelli Valade tapped to lead Women’s Foodservice Forum
February 13, 2026
Kelli Valade, a veteran food industry executive with a resume spanning some of the nation's largest dining chains, has been tapped to lead the Women's…
read now
2026 State of the Industry: 10 trends redefining the restaurant landscape
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
The 2026 restaurant landscape is more data-rich than ever, but it remains a people-first business. By leveraging technology to remove friction, operators can…
read now
T-Pain drops Buffalo Wild Wings-themed anthem to promote LTO
February 12, 2026
Buffalo Wild Wings is turning up the volume on date night, recruiting Grammy-winning artist T-Pain to serenade fans with a new anthem dedicated to the brand's…
read now
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…
read now
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…
read now
Peter Piper Pizza truly engrained in the communities it serves
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media
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…
listen now
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…
read now
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.
read now
6 ways restaurants are making Valentine's Day 'wonderfully weird' in 2026
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
Forget flowers and candy; we are doing bro-quets, McNugget Caviar and puppy love.
read now
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…
read now
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.
read now
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…
read now
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…
read now
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.
read now
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.
read now
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…
read now
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…
read nowSubscribe
Get the latest news and resources from Fast Casual.
Recent Posts
