Kroger taps ClusterTruck for dark kitchen partnership

October 15, 2020

The Kroger Co. is teaming up with ClusterTruck, a software platform for delivery-only kitchens, on Kroger Delivery Kitchen, a service that will serve both…

Ziosk unveils expanded technology suite for restaurants

October 15, 2020

Ziosk, a provider of a technology platform for guest engagement for restaurants, has expanded its suite of products to help restaurants improve operational…

Teriyaki Madness seeing success with turnkey-management system

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Launching a new operations model amid a pandemic may have been a bit risky, but it's paying off for Denver-based Teriyaki Madness.

Starbucks linking exec pay to diversity targets

October 15, 2020

Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson told employees this week that the company is committed to elevating diversity within its ranks by achieving Black, Indigenous and…

Blaze Pizza serving up nostalgia with full-size Crunch bars

October 15, 2020

In a nod to the nostalgic days of trick-or-treating when kids went in search of the house giving out the full-size candy bar, Blaze Pizza has teamed up with…

Chipotle's Boorito going digital

October 15, 2020

Chipotle Mexican Grill's annual Halloween celebration, Boorito, is entirely digital this year, giving fans a chance to virtually trick-or-treat for half a…

Lucky Bird opening ghost kitchen in Chicago

October 14, 2020

Lucky Bird, which serves fried chicken buckets and sandwiches in Los Angeles, partnered with Epic Kitchens to open its first ghost kitchen last month in…

American Egg Board debuts recovery program for small chains

October 14, 2020

The American Egg Board is launching a foodservice recovery program aimed at driving traffic to independent restaurants and small chains still struggling due to…

WaBa Grill opens location with digital drive-thru boards

October 14, 2020

WaBa Grill, a rice bowl chain with almost 200 locations throughout California and Arizona, has opened a location in Lancaster, California. This unit will also…

Tropical Smoothie's Q3 same-store sales climb nearly 20%

October 14, 2020

Atlanta-based Tropical Smoothie Cafe LLC is continuing to break sales records, reporting this week that same-store sales were up nearly 20% during Q3, and that…

Kansas fast casual adds chicken sandwiches to menu

October 14, 2020

The chicken wars rage on as Chick N Max debuts four chicken sandwiches featuring smoked almond wood chicken and fried chicken tenders at its three Kansas…

Videotel Digital introduces infrared touchless buttons for interactive products

October 14, 2020

Videotel Digital, a manufacturer of industrial grade digital signage media players, looping DVD players, touchless interactive solutions and directional sound…

Will Panera customers care about carbon transparency?

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

October 14, 2020

In a move to make it easier for consumers to understand how their food orders affect the environment, Panera Bread is adding the carbon footprint of meals to…

Crisp & Green expanding nationwide

October 13, 2020

Minneapolis-based Crisp & Green is rolling out a national franchise program early next year, and CEO and founder Steele Smiley said it will start in…

Woody's adds franchise vet to fuel growth

October 13, 2020

After four decades as a Jacksonville, Florida-based brand, Woody's Bar-B-Q has its eyes firmly fixed on the future. With just one "northern cousin" blazing a…

Savory invests in Austin-based pizza brand

October 13, 2020

Mercato Partners Fund-owned Savory is investing in Via 313, a Detroit-style pizza concept based in Austin, according to a news release. This is the second such…

Biscuit Belly partners with former Papa John's exec to expand footprint

October 13, 2020

Louisville-based Biscuit Belly has hooked up with Chuck Schnatter, who helped grow Papa John's to over 4,000 units, to launch a franchise program. The…

Rick Bayless-owned fast casual goes all digital

October 13, 2020

In an effort to pivot to 100% digital ordering amid the coronavirus, Tortas Frontera, owned by Chef Rick Bayless, has partnered with Tillster, a provider of…

BurgerFi throws down the chicken gauntlet

October 13, 2020

BurgerFi International has entered what's become known as the fast food industry's "Chicken Sandwich Wars" by debuting its Spicy Fi'ed Chicken Sandwich. By…

Green Market Cafe ready to franchise

October 13, 2020

Tampa-based Green Market Cafe, which has four locations, is opening another one this month in Trinity, Florida, and is getting ready to franchise.