Millennial marketing guru gives sneak peek of Fast Casual Executive Summit keynote

Creating brand fans out of Millennials -- consumers ages 18 to 34 -- is key for every restaurant's success. Jeff Fromm, millennial expert and 2013 Fast Casual…

Mama Fu's rolls out Digital DNA menu boards

Menu boards will help keep the brand's contemporary look.

Chef Robert Irvine backing Easy Ice

May 3, 2013

Easy Ice, which provides restaurants with ice via monthly subscription service, and "Restaurant:Impossible's" Chef Robert Irvine are teaming up to stop…

Jimmy Hula's opening 1st franchised unit

May 3, 2013

Jimmy Hula's Original Fish Taco restaurant has announced plans to open its first franchised location and third overall unit in Lake Mary, Fla., according to a…

Togo's focusing on Arizona

May 3, 2013

Togo's, a San Jose, Calif.-based sandwich chain, is accelerating its growth plans for Arizona by developing 25 new restaurants in Phoenix, Scottsdale…

Commentary: What's your mobile wallet recipe?

The mobile customer wants to be an active participant in the experience and is a potential brand ambassador if you get the experience right.

Sustainable Restaurant Association announces entry into U.S.

May 2, 2013

The United Kingdom-based Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA), has launched a global sustainability rating system available to any restaurant in the world.

Red Book Connect names CEO

May 2, 2013

Red Book Connect, a global service-driven technology solutions company serving the restaurant industry, has appointed Larry A. Abramson as its chief executive…

Green Leaf's celebrating Salad Month

May 2, 2013

Green Leaf's is kicking off salad season and National Salad Month with the launch of its iLove Salad iPad Giveaway.

Dining Alliance signs national contract with Pepsi

May 2, 2013

Dining Alliance, a foodservice partnership for independently owned restaurants, has signed a national contract with Pepsi, the first soda agreement to serve…

Genghis Grill weight loss contestants drop 2,000 lbs

May 2, 2013

Genghis Grill's 60-day weight loss contest, HealthKwest, is over, and Steve Ellis of Albuquerque, N.M., was the winner of the $10,000-first prize. He lost 3…

Chicago-area Pancheros offers $1 burritos

May 2, 2013

Pancheros Mexican Grill has opened a new location in Schaumburg, Ill., and to celebrate the company will offer its burritos for $1 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. May 7.

Gridiron acquires Tokyo Joe's

May 2, 2013

Gridiron Capital LLC is acquiring Tokyo Joe's, a Denver-based fast casual Japanese restaurant chain that serves made-to-order rice and noodle bowls, sushi and…

34 ways to fail with a poorly written franchise agreement

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Franchise agreements must be prepared, negotiated and reviewed by a specialist from where the restaurant will operate.

Upscale fast casual concept adds second unit

May 1, 2013

GRILLiT Inc. has acquired 100 percent of Healthy & Tasty Ventures LLC, a fast casual restaurant franchise and store operator based in Miami. The company's…

Yelp, Locu bringing menus to local business listings in 'near real time'

May 1, 2013

Locu, a producer of menu dashboards for local merchants, has announced a partnership with Yelp, according to a Locu press release.

Wingstop flies high in Q1

May 1, 2013

Wingstop is off to a strong start in 2013, with same-store sales up 13 percent in the first quarter, according to a company press release. The 565-unit concept…

Report: Many restaurant diners loyal without promotions

May 1, 2013

More than 40 percent of consumers say they are loyal to their favorite restaurants and will go there whether or not it has a promotion, reports The NPD Group.

Franchising industry lauded for military veteran hiring efforts

May 1, 2013

As part of the franchising industry's support of the White House Joining Forces initiative, Steve Caldeira, International Franchising Association president and…

Menu price survey now open to support NRA Educational Foundation

May 1, 2013

SpenDifference, a supply chain co-op, has launched its latest menu price survey open to chain restaurants. The 12-question survey is designed for chains that…