Shake Shack names Michelle Hook chief financial officer

May 7, 2026

Shake Shack Inc. has named former Portillo’s and Domino’s executive Michelle Hook as its CFO to lead financial operations and support the brand's 1,500-unit…

Pei Wei, Gyro Hut tap NCR Voyix to modernize POS operations

May 7, 2026

Fast-casual brands Pei Wei Asian Kitchen and Gyro Hut are modernizing restaurant operations and enhancing guest experiences through new and expanded technology…

Toast’s IQ Grow offers marketing assistance to restaurant operators

May 7, 2026

Toast Inc., based in Boston, has introduced Toast IQ Grow, designed to help restaurant operators expand their digital presence and grow their brands online.

Fusian updates brand identity after 16 years

May 7, 2026

Ohio-based Fusian has introduced a refreshed brand identity, its first update since the sushi fast-casual restaurant opened in 2010. The update reinforces the…

Cartwheel expands ezCater integration to streamline catering deliveries

May 6, 2026

Cartwheel, a delivery management platform, has expanded its partnership with workplace food technology platform ezCater to provide restaurant operators with…

Paytronix launches rewards hub giving marketers real-time control

May 6, 2026

Paytronix Systems Inc. has rolled out its a rewards hub to its customer engagement platform, Access Identity, part of the company's Guest Engagement Suite.

Urban Egg cracks into second Kansas City-area location

May 6, 2026

Urban Egg, a daytime restaurant chain headquartered in Colorado Springs, opened its second Kansas City-area unit on May 4.

Swig signs 10-unit franchise deal for Colorado expansion

May 6, 2026

Swig has signed a 10-unit franchise agreement with father-and-son operators Alex and Alan Knox to bring the dirty soda concept to Colorado, continuing the…

Huey Magoo’s serves up its smaller, lower-cost drive-thru prototype

May 5, 2026

Huey Magoo's is rolling out a smaller, free-standing drive-thru prototype with the goal of reducing franchisee development costs by up to 40%. The model…

The Power of One leadership team: Building a Founder’s leadership team for success

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

May 4, 2026

To scale a business successfully, a founder must transition from being the organization’s primary bottleneck to building a high-level Power of One leadership…

Caribou Coffee rolls out value menu amid industrywide affordability push

May 4, 2026

Caribou Coffee is preparing to launch its Everyday Value Menu across all locations on May 8, offering a selection of coffee and food items priced as low as $2.

DoorDash for Business dishes up new catering and meal management tools

May 4, 2026

DoorDash for Business has expanded its workplace offerings by launching tray-style catering and a Meal Manager platform designed to consolidate and streamline…

Minnie Bird opens 3rd location

May 1, 2026

Minnie Bird, a fast-casual chicken concept co-founded by Sean Thomas, the grandson of Wendy's founder Dave Thomas, has tripled its Chicago-area footprint over…

Mahana Fresh debuts GLP-1-friendly menu

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

May 1, 2026

Fast-casual health brand Mahana Fresh has introduced a GLP-1-friendly menu designed for customers using weight-loss and diabetes medications. The menu rolled…

Taim Mediterranean Kitchen eyes East Coast growth through franchising

May 1, 2026

Taim Mediterranean Kitchen, part of the Craveworthy Brands portfolio, is expanding across the East and Northeast through franchising.

Your Pie debuts streamlined business model to drive Southeast growth

April 30, 2026

Your Pie, a fast-casual pizza chain, plans to expand its presence across the Southeast, specifically targeting metro Atlanta, the…

FAT Brands opens Fatburger, Buffalo's Express, Hot Dog on a Stick unit

April 30, 2026

FAT Brands has opened a a tri-branded unit in Manteca, California, containing a Fatburger, Buffalo's Express and Hot Dog on a Stick. It is located in a travel…

Crisp & Green takes root in Omaha, plans to grow more restaurants

April 30, 2026

Crisp & Green has opened its second Omaha location in five years at 16902 Wright Plaza. The first Omaha location, at 225 N. 80th St., debuted in 2021.

Shipley Do-Nuts reports a sweet start to 2026

April 29, 2026

Doughnut-and-kolache brand Shipley Do-Nuts reported a strong first quarter, driven by menu innovation, leadership additions and continued expansion.

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream scoops up strong Q1 figures

April 29, 2026

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream reported a strong start to the year, driven by market entries and franchise development.