Gordon Ramsay launching fast casual at Orlando's Icon Park

April 21, 2021

Renowned Chef Gordon Ramsay is bringing a fast casual fish and chips restaurant to Icon Park in Orlando come August.

Aloha Poke lands Texas-sized deal in Houston

April 21, 2021

Aloha Poke Co. is entering Texas with an 11-unit deal for the Houston area, which nearly doubles its total franchise locations and leads a long-term…

Fast casuals embrace 'Earth Day' with traffic-increasing deals

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Whether it's creating menu items with lower-carbon footprints or making donations to save marine wildlife, a variety of restaurant execs are doing what they…

Sajj Mediterranean teams with Local Kitchens to grow customer base

April 21, 2021

Sajj Mediterranean is partnering with Local Kitchens, a digital food hall, to launch a "Sajj Kitchen" concept in Cupertino, California.

Focus Brands shakes up leadership team

April 20, 2021

Focus Brands — the parent company of Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, Moe's Southwest Grill, McAlister's Deli and Schlotzsky's — has added three…

Main Squeeze focuses on home turf growth

April 20, 2021

Main Squeeze Juice Co. is expanding in its home state this month when it opens at 5808 Magazine St., which is blocks away from its headquarters, according to a…

Oracle adds partners to help restaurants streamline operations

April 20, 2021

Technology has played a critical role in helping restaurants continue to operate during the pandemic, which is why Oracle Food and Beverage has doubled its…

Capt D's debuts double drive-thru

April 20, 2021

A year after a fire destroyed it, Captain D's in Tupelo, Mississippi, has reopened with an upgraded design featuring the brand's first double driver-thru.

The Habit Burger going to Washington

April 20, 2021

Santa Barbara, California-based The Habit Burger Grill is opening a drive-thru location Wednesday in Yakima, Washington. The restaurant, 2400 West Nob Hill…

Mici opens 6th location in Colorado Springs

April 20, 2021

Colorado-based Mici Handcrafted Italian is opening its 6th Colorado Thursday at 3707 Bloomington Road, in Colorado Springs.

3 fast casuals conquering 'the munchies' on 4-20

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

To celebrate the holiday known as 4-20 in cannabis culture, several fast casual brands are offering special menu items and marketing campaigns.

Noodles & Company aims for big growth, franchise expansion in 2022

April 19, 2021

Noodles & Company is aiming for a minimum 7% system-wide unit growth goal in 2022 and banking on franchise development to make it happen.

Saladworks, Frutta Bowls investing in ghost kitchens

April 19, 2021

After acquiring Fruta Bowls and Garbanzo last year, Saladworks' parent company, WOWorks has partnered with Combo Kitchen, a franchise system that allows…

Smashburger rolls out spicy chicken sandwich

April 19, 2021

Smashburger has jumped into the middle of the so-called QSR Chicken Sandwich Wars, inviting guests to test their spicy-food threshold with its Scorchin' Hot…

Dog Haus owner rolls out virtual wings, burger brands

April 19, 2021

The Absolute Brands, which owns Dog Haus and a variety of other concepts based in Pasadena, California, is adding wings and burgers to its offerings by…

What's right and wrong with curbside at Panera, The Habit Burger?

by Jessie Chen — Marketing, Radar

Radar and FastCasual, which assessed nine restaurant chains' curbside experiences, reveal how Panera Bread and The Habit Burger fared.

2 CEOs throw down in wing-eating contest

Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, challenged Wingstop CEO Charlie Morrison to an atomic wing eating contest, where the losing CEO agreed to make a…

Chipotle, Jersey Mike's execs reveal pandemic-era strategies

April 16, 2021

The pandemic has no doubt taken its toll on restaurants, but while thousands are struggling, others are reporting gains, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and…

Bonchon supporting 'Stop Asian Violence' campaign with T-shirts

April 16, 2021

South Korea-based Bonchon has created a "Stop Asian Violence" fundraising campaign in response to the increasing number of attacks against the Asian-American…

Chick N Max launching franchise initiative

April 16, 2021

With three corporate-owned restaurants serving customers in Wichita, Kansas, Chick N Max is now franchising the concept and will double its footprint by the…