News & Media
Improving restaurant food cost margins: Benchmarks, tips and expert insights
by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media
Running restaurants is costly, but effective food cost reduction strategies can help operators protect their margins and cut their expenses.
read now
Birdcall targets 100 Midwest locations in 5-year franchise expansion
June 26, 2026
Birdcall plans to expand into the Midwest with a goal of opening 100 franchised restaurants across six states over the next five years.
read now
Smoothie King to open 1st Western New York location in Penfield
June 26, 2026
Smoothie King will open its first Western New York location on July 18 in Penfield as part of a three-unit development agreement. The restaurant, located at…
read now
Blaze Pizza expands nationwide menu with refreshed salad lineup
June 25, 2026
Blaze Pizza is expanding its menu this week with a refreshed salad lineup at participating locations nationwide, featuring three new premium entrée salads and…
read now
Haven Hot Chicken expands in Massachusetts with 3-unit agreement
June 25, 2026
Haven Hot Chicken has signed a three-unit franchise agreement that will expand the brand's presence in Massachusetts. The agreement with local entrepreneurs…
read now
Freddy's joins premium beverage trend with new drink lineup
June 25, 2026
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers has launched Freddy's Bevies, a beverage lineup featuring custard cream sodas, flavored teas and lemonades. The…
read now
Restaurant summer hiring soft again, projected to add 450K jobs
June 24, 2026
The number of 16- to 19-year-olds in the workforce totaled about 6 million in April, down 200,000 from the same period in 2024 and 2025. The labor force…
read now
Jimmy John's partners with rapper Fetty Wap on LTO
June 24, 2026
Fetty Wap, Courtesy of Jimmy John's Champaign, Illinois-headquartered Jimmy John's has partnered with rapper Fetty Wap to launch the limited-time…
read now
Gong cha debuts in Maine with South Portland location
June 24, 2026
Boston-based Gong cha will soon launch its first Maine location next week in South Portland, bringing the bubble tea brand to 200 Running Hill Road. The unit…
read now
Why the 'pizza party vs. raise' debate reveals a bigger catering opportunity
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
New data on workplace meals shows employees are more productive, more connected and more likely to return to the office when food is provided, creating a clear…
read now
How Starbucks’ new leadership role could help more women advance in the restaurant industry
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
The coffee chain will hire over 300 coffeehouse coaches over the next month, with thousands more by the end of the calendar year. It could be a huge step to…
read now
From kitchens to tech hubs: Inside fast casual’s digital revolution
In the latest episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, Cherryh Cansler, publisher of FastCasual.com, sits down with Luke Wilwerding, Vice President of North…
Presented by Elo Touch Solutions, Inc.
listen now
Sweetgreen debuts in Tennessee with Nashville opening
June 23, 2026
Sweetgreen will open its first Tennessee location June 30 in Nashville's Gulch neighborhood.
read now
Houston TX Hot Chicken flies to UK with PizzaExpress franchise deal
June 23, 2026
Houston TX Hot Chicken has signed a master franchise agreement with PizzaExpress to bring its fast-casual chicken concept to the United Kingdom. Under the…
read now
Togo's expanding with tech-centric prototype, broker-sourced leads
June 22, 2026
Founded in 1971 near San Jose State University, Togo's Sandwiches is gearing up for a major Western U.S. expansion after partnering with Franchise FastLane's…
read now
Former senator opening Juice It Up in Utah
June 22, 2026
Juice It Up! has entered Utah through a multi-unit development agreement with local franchisees Aaron and Nancy Osmond. The move expands the smoothie and raw…
read now
Former McDonald’s operator opens Paris Baguette in Thousand Oaks
June 22, 2026
Former McDonald's owner-operator Gabriel Vesci has opened a Paris Baguette cafe in Thousand Oaks, California, as part of a Southern California expansion plan.
read now
Chipotle COO Jason Kidd reveals strategy behind tech-driven back-of-house overhaul
Chipotle COO Jason Kidd joins Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler to break down how the 4,100-unit brand is winning and retaining the…
Presented by Star Micronics America
listen now
Reddie opens access to restaurant digital signage platform
June 19, 2026
Digital signage manufacturer Reddie has opened access to its intelligent platform, allowing resellers and distributors to white-label and monetize hardware and…
read now
The Power of One: Your role as a Founder
by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners
To successfully escape the "Stuck Zone" and scale a business, a Founder must transition from a hustle-driven operator to an intentional CEO by making three…
read nowFeatured Vendor
Our API-first platform empowers brands to own their digital ecosystem and scale profitably from end-to-end. By providing a flexible foundation for first-party digital experiences and seamless operational flow, we ensure every order, from web, mobile, or third-party, is fulfilled reliably.
Subscribe
Get the latest news and resources from Fast Casual.
Recent Posts
Recent Podcasts
