Dave & Buster's pushing international expansion

August 11, 2025

Dave & Buster's is expanding its global footprint with the opening of its second location in India. The 22,000-square-foot entertainment venue is located…

Gregorys Coffee partnering with Craveworthy Brands

August 8, 2025

Craveworthy Brands, a multi-restaurant platform company, along with Branded Hospitality, Kitchen Fund and Harborfield Management Co., has become a managing…

Fransmart launches platform for early-stage restaurant, franchise brands

August 7, 2025

Fransmart, a franchise development company, has launched an investment platform that allows individual accredited investors to co-invest alongside the firm in…

Dillas Quesadillas hires Michael Mabry to head franchise development

August 7, 2025

North Texas-based Dillas Quesadillas has named restaurant industry veteran Michael Mabry as its head of Franchise Development.

Naya lands capital to accelerate growth

August 6, 2025

Naya, specializing in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, is poised for national expansion after a major financial transaction from TriSpan. The private…

Salad Station reports record growth, $1M sales milestone

August 6, 2025

Salad Station reported record growth and a sales milestone for 2024, reporting a 6.5% increase in average gross revenue among its top-performing locations and…

Smashburger promotes Jim Sullivan to CEO

August 5, 2025

Denver-born Smashburger has promoted Jim Sullivan to chief executive officer. Sullivan, who has served as president since February, will lead the company's…

Portillo's sees net income rise despite traffic dip

August 5, 2025

Portillo's Inc. reported a 17.7% increase in net income for Q2 despite facing a tough traffic environment, Michael Osanloo, president and CEO, said in a…

Michelin‑starred restaurateur bets on fast casual tacos brand

August 4, 2025

Lola's Taco Bar is set to open its first location in suburban Detroit in September, blending high-end culinary expertise with fast-service efficiency, thanks…

Zaxbys debuts ghost kitchen in Dallas

August 4, 2025

Zaxbys has opened its first-ever ghost kitchen in Dallas. The delivery-only location, powered by CloudKitchens, is near the Design District at 921 W Commerce…

Birdcall flocks to Boise with 1st franchise deal

August 4, 2025

Denver-based craft chicken chain Birdcall has signed its inaugural franchise agreement, bringing five restaurants to Boise's Treasure Valley.

Smalls Sliders to enter Tennessee

August 4, 2025

Smalls Sliders has inked its first deal for Tennessee. The multi-unit agreement will bring for units to the Knoxville metro region, according to a press…

Speaker Spotlight: Steve Felson, The Buona Companies Sr. VP, Operations & Training

August 1, 2025

The Buona Companies Sr. Vice President, Operations and Training Steve Felson will be sharing insight on the "Executive Perspectives: Inspiration for Today’s…

SoundHound AI, Acrelec partner on voice-enabled drive-thrus

July 31, 2025

SoundHound AI and Acrelec are partnering to bring advanced, voice-enabled drive-thru systems to restaurants worldwide by integrating SoundHound's Dynamic…

Toast unveils handheld POS with cellular capabilities

July 31, 2025

Toast has released Toast Go 3, a handheld point-of-sale device, designed to enhance speed and service for restaurants operating in diverse environments. The…

McAlister's Deli expanding via 'Fast Casual Plus' model

July 30, 2025

McAlister's Deli, which is eyeing New Jersey and the metro New York-area for expansion, is ready to unveil its "Fast Casual Plus" hospitality model featuring a…

Cava highlights 'values-driven growth' in Impact Report

July 30, 2025

Cava, a Mediterranean fast casual restaurant brand, has released its first Impact Report, detailing how its mission-driven approach has fostered advancements…

Velvet Taco launches annual WTF taco contest

July 30, 2025

Velvet Taco, a fast casual restaurant known for its globally inspired tacos, has launched its fourth annual WTF (Weekly Taco Feature) Recipe Contest, inviting…

ezCater enhances employee meal program with self-serve features

July 30, 2025

ezCater, a food tech platform for workplaces, has launched self-serve features for its employee meal program, Relish by ezCater. The updates aim to provide…

Criminal charges dropped against Wiederhorn, FAT Brands

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

July 29, 2025

While the criminal charges brought by the U.S. Department of Justice against Wiederhorn and FAT Brands have been dismissed, the SEC's civil fraud charges are…