Chicken Salad Chick posts record Q1 2026 growth

April 22, 2026

Chicken Salad Chick reported solid record results for the first quarter of 2026, thanks to franchise development and market expansion.

Dog Haus unleashes operator-driven franchise model

April 22, 2026

Dog Haus is overhauling its franchise model to give front-line operators a larger role in ownership, leadership and decision-making.

Scaling the heat: How Houston TX Hot Chicken is building a breakout chicken brand

by Fast Casual

Houston TX Hot Chicken maintains its growth by keeping it focused on one core moment: the customer's reaction after taking their first bite of its Nashville…

Presented by Houston TX Hot Chicken

Smoothie King to shift menu, store design

April 21, 2026

Smoothie King has announced a brand evolution plan to support and accelerate long-term growth. The Dallas-based fast-casual chain, which has over 1,10…

Kayla Edidin named COO of Red Door Brands

April 21, 2026

Kayla Edidin has been named chief operating officer of Red Door Brands, a franchise company that owns and operates brands including McAlister's Deli, Little…

One Stop Nutrition taps SynergySuite, CBS NorthStar for AI-driven growth

April 20, 2026

One Stop Nutrition, a health and wellness brand founded in 1996, has selected SynergySuite and CBS NorthStar to modernize its technology stack across its…

7 strategies for creating high-performing culture, building a winning team

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

Building a high-performing culture isn't an accident — it's an intentional leadership strategy that prioritizes purpose, trust and empowerment to transform a…

4 places where your catering program is leaking revenue

by Kelly Grogan — Founder, CRUMBS

When you treat every catering order as a relationship worth tending to, the revenue follows. When you treat it as a transaction to fulfill and move on from…

Pokeworks bowls up record Q1, expands pipeline and menu

April 20, 2026

Irvine, California-based Pokeworks reported its strongest first-quarter performance since its 2015 launch, resulting from openings, development deals and menu…

WaBa Grill eyes $1M AUV, unveils 2026 plans

April 20, 2026

WaBa Grill is on track to exceed $1 million in average unit volumes and reported 10% same-store sales growth early this year, according to a company press…

Jersey Mike’s 'confidentially' files for IPO with $1B target

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

April 20, 2026

Jersey Mike's Subs is aiming for a spot among the nation's most valuable restaurant chains as it moves forward with plans for an initial public offering.

Qu introduces edge-based AI platform to combat rising restaurant costs

April 20, 2026

Qu, a unified commerce platform helping quick-service and fast-casual restaurants boost efficiency and grow revenue, has launched its Intelligent Commerce…

Bread Zeppelin challenges Panera with 'Salad Stuffer' trade-in offer

April 17, 2026

More than a decade after Bread Zeppelin created the salad-stuffed baguette, the Dallas-founded brand is leaning into the national spotlight following a similar…

Stoner's Pizza Joint offers 42.0% off pizzas on April 20

April 17, 2026

Stoner's Pizza Joint will offer a 42.0% discount on all regular-priced pizzas for one day only on April 20, according to a press release.

Nothing Bundt Cakes achieves sweet milestone, opens 800th location

April 17, 2026

Nothing Bundt Cakes launched its 800th bakery on April 15.

Freddy’s lands 1st military base location

April 17, 2026

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers deployed its first restaurant on a U.S. military installation, opening April 15 at U.S. Army post Fort Lee in Prince…

Starbucks launches beta ChatGPT integration for personalized beverage discovery

April 16, 2026

Starbucks is leaning into the "vibe" of its customers with a digital experiment designed to turn abstract moods into tangible caffeine orders.

ConverseNow, Deliverect partner to integrate Voice AI into restaurant management

April 16, 2026

ConverseNow, a Gen-AI voice solution for restaurants, and Deliverect, a digital ordering restaurant tech company, have announced a strategic partnership to…

Which Wich stacks UK expansion with London franchise deal

April 16, 2026

Dallas-based Which Wich is boosting its U.K. expansion through a multi-unit franchise agreement with franchisee Reza Hassanadeh.

Bean & Brews pours on expansion with 7 openings in Q1

April 16, 2026

Bean & Brews Coffee House continued its national growth plans, opening seven locations in the first quarter of 2026, according to a company press release.