El Pollo Loco, Yogurtland, Barberitos launch resolution-inspired LTOs

January 5, 2021

California-based fast casuals — Yogurtland and El Pollo Loco — as well as Georgia-based Barberitos have created limited-time offers to help customers keep…

Ooh la la: Fat Brands going to Paris

January 5, 2021

FAT Brands Inc., parent company of Fatburger and eight other restaurant concepts, is planting a flag in France via a multi-unit development deal with BGH…

Cheba Hut's in-app game leads to 50% increase in downloads

January 4, 2021

Colorado-based Cheba Hut is getting high on app downloads.

Wahlburgers signs Australia, New Zealand deal

January 4, 2021

Wahlburgers, a Boston-based restaurant founded by brothers Mark, Donnie and Chef Paul Wahlberg, is expanding its international footprint with a franchise…

CFS Brands acquires AyrKing

January 4, 2021

Oklahoma City-based CFS Brands has completed the acquisition of AyrKing, a food preparation equipment company. Founded in 1972 and headquartered in Louisville…

Viva Chicken opening in South Carolina

January 4, 2021

Viva Chicken, a fast casual Peruvian rotisserie joint, is expanding to South Carolina, officially signing the first of two leases for Greenville-area locations.

Pepsi generating $100M in sales for Black-owned restaurants

January 4, 2021

In hopes of raising at least $100 million in sales for Black-owned restaurants over the next five years, PepsiCo has launched Dig In, a multi-year platform…

Island Fin Poke adding to DC presence

January 4, 2021

Island Fin Poke Co. is strengthening its presence in the Washington D.C. area with a unit opening this month in Falls Church at the Idylwood Shopping Center at…

Contactless ordering forcing restaurants to adopt 9 tech strategies in 2021

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Contactless ordering is not only here to stay but is forcing restaurants to embrace nine specific technologies and strategies.

Why NYC's Sweet Chick rebranded to fast casual concept

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Sweet Chick, a full-service brand created seven years ago in Brooklyn by New York native, restaurateur and entrepreneur John Seymour, has a new name and has…

Investing in change keeps Taziki's in business

December 30, 2020

After an exceedingly difficult year for restaurants across the country, Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe is poised for growth thanks to investments in tech…

Slim Chickens inks deals for 150 locations in 2020

December 30, 2020

Slim Chickens, which now has 116 locations, spent 2020 inking multi-unit franchise agreements to eventually add 150 units to its portfolio.

Muscle Maker Grill opening ghost kitchens in Philly

December 30, 2020

Muscle Maker Inc., the parent company of Muscle Maker Grill, Healthy Joe's and MMG Burger Bar, is opening a ghost kitchen in Philadelphia's Fairmount…

Is your restaurant following these smart standards?

by Matthew Margetts

Now, more than ever, fast food managers are looking for ways to serve food safely. The good news is that the rapid development of the Internet of Things is…

Robotic coffee service machine replaces baristas

December 30, 2020

Patrons at Crown Coffee, a coffee bar in downtown Singapore, can now place orders and be served by an autonomous robot barista named Ella, according to a press…

Square enables food order, pickup at ski resorts

December 30, 2020

Square, a payment technology provider, is teaming with Powdr, an adventure lifestyle provider, to enable order ahead, pickup and in-seat delivery at nearly a…

Dog Haus including virtual brands in Chef Collaboration Series

December 29, 2020

Dog Haus is taking its Chef Collaboration Series to the next level with the addition of spin-off creations made exclusively for The Absolute Brands — a…

Dickey's opens 3 ghost kitchens

December 29, 2020

Dallas-based barbecue franchise, Dickey's Barbecue Pit, opened three ghost kitchen last week in Chicago, Orlando and Oakland, California, respectively…

Capriotti's inks 12-unit Florida deal

December 29, 2020

Las Vegas-based Capriotti's Sandwich Shop is opening 12 locations in the Miami area over the next decade. Hotel developers and father-son duo, Marco and M.J.

How innovation drives this fast-growing salad concept

Jerry Eicke, director of Franchise Development for The Salad House, discusses how important influencer culture, technology and overall innovation have been to…