Craveworthy expanding in 2025

January 23, 2025

Craveworthy Brands saw significant growth in 2024, expanding to 15 brands and nearly 200 locations, and planning for another year of expansion.

Smalls Sliders to enter Kentucky

January 22, 2025

Smalls Sliders has inked a deal with local entrepreneur Bradley Scott to bring the brand to Kentucky. The agreement will bring four of the brand's units…

Washington DC-based Rasa taps Bikky to manage customer data

January 22, 2025

Bikky, a customer data platform built for multi-unit restaurants, is helping Washington, D.C.-based Rasa gather and analyze customer data to better understand…

Toastique making NYC debut

January 22, 2025

Toastique, a toast, juice and coffee bar conceptualized in Washington D.C., is making its New York debut at 445 5th Ave. in Manhattan. The 1,000-square-foot…

Smokey Mo's president explains how brand operates in competitive market

In this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of QSRweb and Pizza Marketplace, talks to Craig Haley, president of barbecue…

Captain D's hooks deal across the pond

January 21, 2025

Captain D's has signed a 20-unit franchise agreement for the United Kingdom with the first restaurant opening this year in the London area.

Fuzzy's adds breakfast tacos, mimosas

January 21, 2025

Fuzzy's Taco Shop is turning mornings into a fiesta with limited-time breakfast offerings, available Wednesday through March 2. They include:

Ziggi's hires CMO, CTO

January 21, 2025

Colorado-based Ziggi's Coffee has hired Stacey Kane and Tom Seeker as fractional CMO and CTO, respectively.

Skyline Chili taps Otter to streamline delivery operations

January 20, 2025

When Cincinnati-based Skyline Chili, which has over 135 locations, first expanded its delivery options, integrating its POS system with third-party online…

Mod Pizza launches 'Love, Every Bite' campaign with Mike's Hot Honey

January 20, 2025

Mod Pizza has launched a "Love, Every Bite" campaign, which includes a collaboration with Mike's Hot Honey. Mike's Founder Mike Kurtz will match in-store and…

Buona, Rainbow Cone expanding to Milwaukee

January 20, 2025

Residents of Milwaukee will soon be able to have a taste of Chicago when The Buona Companies, the family owned company behind Buona and The Original Rainbow…

Forecasting flavors: The taste of 2025

by Suzy Badaracco — President, Culinary Tides Inc

Trends expert Suzy Badaracco creates a fictional scenario featuring 2025's top menu trends. Lab-grown meat, tropical fruits, dates, mushrooms and cottage…

Pepper Lunch continues growth trajectory with Pacific Northwest agreement

January 17, 2025

Pepper Lunch, a Japanese-born fast casual concept with over 500 locations in 17 countries, has signed a development agreement to open five locations in Oregon.

Speaker Spotlight: Jeff Todd, Launch Entertainment

Jeff Todd, chief development officer for Launch Entertainment, shares a look at his career, his achievements and industry trends ahead of his appearance at…

Spain-based noodle concept opens in US mall

January 17, 2025

Udon, a chain of Asian restaurants in Spain, is opening its second U.S.-based location Monday at the Aventura Mall in Aventura, Florida. It made its American…

PJ's Coffee percolating with expansion plans

January 17, 2025

Grounded in its New Orleans-born roots, PJ's Coffee is brewing up expansion plans after adding 185,000 loyalty customers in 2024. It also saw a 4% increase in…

Black Rock Coffee opening 150th location

January 16, 2025

Black Rock Coffee Bar, founded in Oregon is opening its 150th location Monday in the United States. Located at 4602 Beacon Lane in Caldwell, Idaho, the…

It's 'Stick Season' at Piada

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

January 16, 2025

When Noah Kahn wrote the song "Stick Season," he probably wasn't thinking about Piada Italian Street Food's Stickscription program, but it may be the perfect…

Togo's launching franchising incentives

January 16, 2025

Togo's is offering incentive programs to fuel fuel franchise growth. The chain, which has opened stores in Nevada and Washington over the last year, hopes to…

Crust Pizza Co. CEO explains operations, building own tech

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

Editor Mandy Detwiler talks to Crust Pizza Co. CEO and Founder Carl Comeaux about the brand's growth, search for franchisees and building its own POS system…