&pizza CEO doubles down on franchising efforts, increasing growth

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

&pizza CEO Mike Burns discusses how the brand lost its identity, found it again and began franchising.

Chicken Salad Chick adds Red Velvet Cake to menu

May 14, 2025

Chicken Salad Chick, which has nearly 300 locations, has added Red Velvet Cake to its menu. The three-layer cake with cream cheese frosting is available…

Teriyaki Madness expands to El Salvador amid strong Q1 growth

May 14, 2025

Teriyaki Madness, a Denver-based fast-casual chain known for its Asian-inspired bowls, opened its first international location last week in El Salvador.

Tariffs causing 4 strategy pivots for restaurants

by Dilan Mehta — CEO, Sizzle

Dilan Mehta, co-founder and CEO of Sizzle, an AI-powered food commerce platform, believes that restaurants considering the market's volatility as a moment to…

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf lands at Utah airport

May 13, 2025

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has opened a location at Salt Lake City International Airport, marking its 23rd airport cafe across seven major U.S. hubs.

Square unveils handheld device, next-gen food, beverage platform

May 13, 2025

Payment company Square has released Square Handheld, a pocketable POS for all restaurant businesses. For full-service restaurants, employees can take orders…

Haven Hot Chicken founders find room for Nashville hot chicken brand

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

Haven Hot Chicken has gone from four stores to nine in just 10 months. Learn how the Connecticut-based brand is growing from its co-founders in our latest…

Shake Shack charts course for Panama

May 13, 2025

NYC-founded Shake Shack is setting sail for Central America, announcing a partnership with Grupo Attie-Multifood Enterprises to bring its burgers and shakes to…

Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls growing European presence

May 13, 2025

After making its European debut last year in Milan, Italy, Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls is rolling out 100 locations over the next eight years to Italy…

Flexing your catering muscles

by Terry Matthews — Managing Partner, Off Premises Growth Academy

Great catering programs aren't built on talent alone. They're built on systems, clarity, shared knowledge, and consistent coaching. That's training. That's…

Bubbakoo's ghosting Nashville

May 12, 2025

Bubbakoo's Burritos has expanded its Tennessee presence with the May 9th opening of a ghost kitchen in Nashville at 614 18th Ave. N., according to a company…

Despite revenue decreases, FAT Brands planning growth

May 9, 2025

FAT Brands Inc.'s Q2 results revealed a decline in total revenue by 6.5% to $142 million. System-wide sales also decreased by 1.8%, and same-store sales saw a…

Fuego Tortilla launches loyalty program

May 9, 2025

Fuego Tortilla Grill, a Texas-based fast casual chain, has launched a loyalty program and revamped website to enhance customer engagement.

Big Chicken launches sandwich promo featuring sports personalities

May 9, 2025

Shaquille O'Neal's Big Chicken is tipping off a limited-time "Inside The Sandwich Wars" promotion featuring four oversized sandwiches inspired by Shaq and his…

Epson launching tech to simplify restaurant operations

May 8, 2025

With restaurants looking to optimize in-house operations and increase customer satisfaction, global technology provider Epson is highlighting several…

Birdcall CEO discusses tech-driven approach to growth

Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Mark Lohmann, CEO of the rapidly growing chicken concept Birdcall.

Potbelly reports positive Q1 sales, eyes continued growth

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

CEO Bob Wright said success stems from its digital platform and loyalty program, as well as menu upgrades and a focus on catering.

5 ways to turn your gift card program into a 6-figure revenue stream

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

May 7, 2025

Ralph Lewis, owner of Okeechobee Steakhouse, reported selling over $180,000 in gift cards in just six hours across two smaller locations after using the…

Chipotle reduces emissions, launching solar farms

May 7, 2025

Chipotle Mexican Grill's 2024 Sustainability Report revealed progress in key areas, including emissions reduction, community building and employee development.

Smart Kitchens, Smarter Operations: The Next Leap in Restaurant Tech

Discover how Qu’s Smart Kitchen platform leverages IoT, AI, and real-time data to reduce costs, optimize energy, and streamline operations for multi-unit and…