Fast Casual Nation

How FiiZ Drinks is turning a viral beverage trend into a scalable brand

Plus, Instant CEO Tal Clark reveals new data on restaurant worker financial stress and why faster access to earned wages could be the next retention advantage

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July 31, 2026

On this episode of Fast Casual Nation, host Cherryh Cansler sits down with Kelly O'Rourke, director of Marketing at FiiZ Drinks, to talk about the explosive growth of the dirty soda category, Gen Z's shift toward non-alcoholic beverages, and what's next for the brand's national expansion, energy drink launch, and Hi-Chew partnership.

Then, Tal Clark, CEO of Instant, joins to break down alarming new data on restaurant worker financial stress and how earned wage access and instant tip payouts are becoming essential retention tools for operators nationwide.

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