News
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…
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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…
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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.
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Criminal charges dropped against Wiederhorn, FAT Brands
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, 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…
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Fat Boy's Pizza, Savvy Sliders bring co-branded unit to Fort Wayne, Indiana
July 29, 2025
Savvy Sliders and Fat Boy's Pizza will open a co-branded unit this fall in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The restaurants, located in a former BurgerFi, are located at…
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Corbett's Burgers & Soda Bar franchising Carolinas
July 29, 2025
After honing operations at its five locations in North Carolina, Corbett's Burgers & Soda Bar is expanding its footprint across North and South Carolina…
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Ovation launches tools to sharpen restaurant CX
July 29, 2025
Ovation, a guest experience platform for multi-unit restaurants, has launched several tools to help operators measure, manage and improve guest experience…
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Nominations open for Top 30 Movers & Shakers: Catering
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
July 28, 2025
Nominations close on Aug. 17
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PopUp Bagels to open 300 stores
July 28, 2025
PopUp Bagels, which launched during the 2020 pandemic in Connecticut, has signed agreements to open 300 franchised locations.
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GoTo Foods launches Moe's Casa Mexicana
July 28, 2025
GoTo Foods is opening Moe's Casa Mexicana — a concept derived from Moe's Southwest Grill in India, thanks to a 45-unit master franchise agreement with Unify…
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Nominations now open for Pizza Marketplace's 'Pizza Brands to Watch 2026' report
July 25, 2025
Pizza Marketplace's annual Pizza Brands to Watch 2026 report will highlight pizza brands of note. The nomination deadline is August 15.
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Shipley Do-Nuts marks 18th quarter of sales growth
July 25, 2025
Shipley Do-Nuts announced Friday its 18th consecutive quarter of positive sales growth in the second quarter of 2025. The company also expanded its footprint…
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