Dillas Quesadillas hires Michael Mabry to head franchise development

August 7, 2025

North Texas-based Dillas Quesadillas has named restaurant industry veteran Michael Mabry as its head of Franchise Development.

Scaling fast casual: Cava's depth vs. Sweetgreen's breadth in Q2 2025

by Shira Petrack — Content Manager, Placer.ai

Cava's overall visits grew year-over-year n Q2 '25 while average visits per location remained relatively stable (-1.0%). Sweetgreen also experienced overall…

Naya lands capital to accelerate growth

August 6, 2025

Naya, specializing in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, is poised for national expansion after a major financial transaction from TriSpan. The private…

Innovate, don't react: 12 reasons your competitors are heading to Fast Casual Executive Summit

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Your competition will be there; will you?

Salad Station reports record growth, $1M sales milestone

August 6, 2025

Salad Station reported record growth and a sales milestone for 2024, reporting a 6.5% increase in average gross revenue among its top-performing locations and…

How Slutty Vegan Founder turned $20M in debt into a $100M comeback

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

In this episode of "Founderology – Built to Breakthrough," Pinky Cole Hayes shares her “PhD. lessons” and mindset that fueled her comeback.

Smashburger promotes Jim Sullivan to CEO

August 5, 2025

Denver-born Smashburger has promoted Jim Sullivan to chief executive officer. Sullivan, who has served as president since February, will lead the company's…

Portillo's sees net income rise despite traffic dip

August 5, 2025

Portillo's Inc. reported a 17.7% increase in net income for Q2 despite facing a tough traffic environment, Michael Osanloo, president and CEO, said in a…

Michelin‑starred restaurateur bets on fast casual tacos brand

August 4, 2025

Lola's Taco Bar is set to open its first location in suburban Detroit in September, blending high-end culinary expertise with fast-service efficiency, thanks…

Zaxbys debuts ghost kitchen in Dallas

August 4, 2025

Zaxbys has opened its first-ever ghost kitchen in Dallas. The delivery-only location, powered by CloudKitchens, is near the Design District at 921 W Commerce…

Birdcall flocks to Boise with 1st franchise deal

August 4, 2025

Denver-based craft chicken chain Birdcall has signed its inaugural franchise agreement, bringing five restaurants to Boise's Treasure Valley.

Smalls Sliders to enter Tennessee

August 4, 2025

Smalls Sliders has inked its first deal for Tennessee. The multi-unit agreement will bring for units to the Knoxville metro region, according to a press…

Star Micronics leads the way in smart labeling for growing restaurants

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

Smart labeling is a necessity in today's restaurants. Learn how Star Micronics is leading the charge in labeling technology.

Speaker Spotlight: Steve Felson, The Buona Companies Sr. VP, Operations & Training

August 1, 2025

The Buona Companies Sr. Vice President, Operations and Training Steve Felson will be sharing insight on the "Executive Perspectives: Inspiration for Today’s…

SoundHound AI, Acrelec partner on voice-enabled drive-thrus

July 31, 2025

SoundHound AI and Acrelec are partnering to bring advanced, voice-enabled drive-thru systems to restaurants worldwide by integrating SoundHound's Dynamic…

How Shake Shack CEO is tackling 3 industry challenges

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

To drive traffic in a "value-oriented market," Shake Shack is moving beyond its traditional word-of-mouth marketing. The company has embarked on a paid media…

How Dig Inn maintains quality at scale: A CMO's Guide to brand, loyalty, AI

Dig Inn CMO Jessica Serrano reveals how the chef-driven fast casual chain rebuilt its brand identity, scaled from Manhattan to suburban markets and leveraged…

Toast unveils handheld POS with cellular capabilities

July 31, 2025

Toast has released Toast Go 3, a handheld point-of-sale device, designed to enhance speed and service for restaurants operating in diverse environments. The…

Little Details, Big Impression — How to Impress In-Person Guests

As in-person dining continues to rebound, guests are walking through your doors with higher expectations than ever. They’re not just judging the food — they’re…

McAlister's Deli expanding via 'Fast Casual Plus' model

July 30, 2025

McAlister's Deli, which is eyeing New Jersey and the metro New York-area for expansion, is ready to unveil its "Fast Casual Plus" hospitality model featuring a…