Smoothie King, Tropical Smoothie Cafe join the 'proteinization' of the fast casual industry

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Both beverage brands join Starbucks, Nekter Juice Bar and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the focus on protein

Hot Head Burritos marks 2025 with record growth

January 7, 2026

Hot Head Burritos enters 2026 with sustained momentum following a year of steady expansion, product breakthroughs and digital investments designed to help…

NCR Voyix unveils AI-powered microservices suite for retail, restaurants

January 7, 2026

NCR Voyix Corp. has launched its next-generation portfolio of microservices-based applications, marking a definitive shift in its software modernization…

FastCasual opens nominations for 2026 Top 100 Movers & Shakers

January 7, 2026

Nominations close Feb. 8.

Clay Dover named CEO of Savory Fund

January 7, 2026

Savory Fund, a private equity firm specializing in emerging restaurant concepts, announced a major leadership restructuring Wednesday, promoting Co-Founder…

Blaze Pizza names John Owen CEO, launches GLP-1 pizza

January 6, 2026

Blaze Pizza has named industry veteran John Owen as its chief executive officer, signaling a push for global expansion and technological innovation.

The 24% boost: How Shipley Do-Nuts is winning the AI race

Join Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler on Fast Casual Nation as they dive deep into AI's transformation of the restaurant industry with Kerry Leo, VP of…

1 question every Founder should ask (Most never do)

In our latest Founderology podcast episode, Ellis Winstanley and I discuss his Founder’s journey, from being an 18-year-old who refused to accept he couldn't…

The 'proteinization' of the fast casual industry: Starbucks, Nekter, Coffee Bean & Tea bulk up winter menus

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

While the "New Year, New Me" resolution season often focuses on restriction, smart brands are leaning into satiety and muscle recovery to drive traffic.

Alonso Castaneda creates Taco Culture

January 6, 2026

After a quarter century of building some of the fastest-growing restaurant brands in the country, industry veteran Alonso Castaneda is stepping into the…

Pokeworks growing in Florida

January 5, 2026

Pokeworks is expanding its footprint in Florida, with a goal of opening 10 locations across the state over the next three years.

Farmer’s Fridge capitalizes on infrastructure law to scale airport presence

January 5, 2026

The final $1 billion installment of the Biden-Harris administration's Airport Terminal Program is hitting U.S. airports this year, creating a significant…

How to amplify your leadership impact by leading with influence

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

Leading with influence focuses on building trust, empathy and a shared vision to inspire teams toward higher engagement and growth, moving beyond traditional…

Speaker Spotlight: Chris Demery, CTO of Blaze Pizza

Chris Demery, CTO of Blaze Pizza, shares a look at his career, his achievements and industry trends ahead of his appearance at the Restaurant Franchising …

Cava enters 2026 with elevated menu

January 5, 2026

Washington D.C.-based Cava has launched its largest menu expansion to date, headlined by the return of white sweet potatoes following a persistent years-long…

Slim Chickens leveraging digital platform to combat childhood hunger

January 5, 2026

Slim Chickens is leveraging its digital platform to combat childhood hunger this month through a new partnership expansion with No Kid Hungry.

Driving traffic in 2026: 4 coffee chain strategies fast casuals should embrace

by Shira Petrack — Content Manager, Placer.ai

Fast casual brands can drive traffic in 2026 without freebies by learning from Scooter's, Starbucks, 7 Brews and Dunkin.

Parlor Doughnuts opens 100th location

January 2, 2026

Parlor Doughnuts reached a company milestone this week with the opening of its 100th location, marking the brand's transition from a regional Indiana shop to a…

2025 in review: FastCasual’s 10 most-read stories

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Top stories centered on major brand pivots, such as Golden Corral rebranding its fast casual concept, and the return of seasonal events like Starbucks' Red Cup…

Capriotti’s expanding Arizona footprint

December 31, 2025

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop will expand its Arizona footprint on Jan. 7 with the opening of a location in the Happy Valley area of Phoenix.