De-risking the map: Why traditional site selection is failing modern restaurants

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Whether you're looking to scale your footprint, optimize existing markets or get a clearer picture of where your target customers are spending their time…

Yelp's 2026 growth data: Fast casual brands, customization devouring the competition

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Fast casual is dominating when it comes not only to specific brands — 7 Brews, Dave's Hot Chicken, Cava and Chipotle — but also to the culture it has helped…

Salt & Straw launches nationwide loyalty program

June 9, 2026

Artisanal ice cream brand Salt & Straw is launching "Salt & Straw Rewards," a nationwide loyalty program focused on exclusive access, community…

Built to Breakthrough: Creating CULTs of engagement

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

As the ultimate foundation of business greatness, a strong culture built on clarity, unity, leadership and team commitment serves as an un-duplicable…

Dog Haus adds franchise veterans to executive team

June 8, 2026

Dog Haus has appointed franchise industry veterans Chris Rigassio and Garen Khodaverdian to its executive team as the fast-casual brand pursues its…

Chicken Salad Chick lands in Utah

June 8, 2026

Chicken Salad Chick will enter its 23rd state when it opens a restaurant Tuesday in Pleasant Grove, Utah.

How to keep your restaurant’s next viral hit from becoming a traffic jam

by Michael Beck — CEO, Inc Tank GTM

A few days before the Restaurant Marketing Workshop, June 2-3 in Boston, my friend David "Rev" Ciancio and I made a series of decisions that, in hindsight…

Wonder expands Grubhub integrations with Eater, Beli, Alexa+ and Bilt

June 5, 2026

Wonder has expanded Grubhub's partner network through integrations with Eater, Beli, Amazon Alexa+ and Bilt, giving customers more ways to find restaurants and…

Little Greek plans up to 30 Florida restaurants under franchise agreement

June 5, 2026

Little Greek Fresh Grill has signed a deal with longtime franchise partner Foti Gianniosis to develop up to 30 locations throughout Florida over the next…

'You’re not annoying; you’re marketing': Top takeaways from the Restaurant Marketing Workshop

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Check out these 10 highlights of the Restaurant Marketing Workshop.

Kalibrate offers best in location selection services, software

Charles Wetzel, CEO of Kalibrate, a location analytics and site selection platform, talks about his company in this video from ICSC 2026 in Las Vegas.

Presented by Kalibrate

Swig signs 6 unit franchise deal to fuel South Texas growth

June 4, 2026

Swig continues its Texas expansion with a new six-unit franchise agreement that will bring the beverage brand to communities across South Texas. The St.

Layne’s Chicken Fingers to open 50th restaurant in Lubbock

June 4, 2026

Layne's Chicken Fingers will reach a major growth milestone with the June 13 opening of its 50th restaurant, located at 7902 University Avenue in Lubbock…

Guided, not ghosted: Top food, beverage trends shaping 2026-27

by Suzy Badaracco — President, Culinary Tides Inc

The future doesn’t belong to those who predict every storm. It belongs to those who learn to navigate through them.

Fuego Tortilla to open at former Chick-fil-A site in Abilene

June 3, 2026

Fuego Tortilla Grill will open its eighth location on June 30 in Abilene, Texas. The move marks the brand's its third restaurant launch in 2026 as it continues…

Slutty Vegan makes franchising push with deals in Atlanta and Washington, DC

June 3, 2026

Slutty Vegan is accelerating its national franchising strategy by inking new development agreements in Atlanta and Washington, D.C.

How best friends are building their pizza and brew empire

Joey Freis and Mitchell Millar bought a pizzeria at 21. Now they lead nine restaurants and are getting ready to scale Best Pizza & Brew towards its next…

Navigating the tightest restaurant real estate market in 20 years

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Ebere Anokute, head of retail research for CBRE, during the ICSC real estate conference in Las Vegas, reveals the shifting dynamics of restaurant real estate…

Mike’s Red Tacos inks 18-unit Southern California franchise deal

June 2, 2026

Mike's Red Tacos of San Diego has signed an 18-unit franchise agreement with JM Foods to expand across Los Angeles and Orange County.

Philly’s Best Cheesesteaks expands loyalty program as personalization trends grow

June 2, 2026

Fast-casual chain Philly's Best Cheesesteaks has revamped its Real Philly Rewards loyalty program, increasing redemption options and adding more flexibility…