Fast Casual Nation

The power players: Inside the playbooks of Fast Casual’s 2026 rising stars

Discover the rising stars of fast casual dining as hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler interview three breakout brands from FastCasual.com's 2026 list of 25 emerging brands to watch.

February 4, 2026

Discover the rising stars of fast casual dining as hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler interview three breakout brands from FastCasual.com's 2026 list of 25 emerging brands to watch.

Jeff Pereira of Jeff's Bagel Run shares how a home kitchen experiment turned into a 26-unit bagel empire with vertical integration and proprietary tech.

Brian Simowitz reveals Houston TX Hot Chicken's blueprint for scaling to 300+ locations through racing-inspired energy and loyalty innovation.

Matt Morrison discusses Agapé Mediterranean's growth strategy in the fast-expanding Mediterranean category, dubbed "the new Mexican." Learn how these founders are redefining hospitality, leveraging social media, navigating price pressures, and building the next generation of restaurant concepts in a sector projected to reach $148 billion.

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Jeff's Bagel Run

Jeff’s Bagel Run is a scratch bakery with a simple and delicious menu of bagels, spreads and a full coffee program. The shops are open daily from 6:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., allowing operators to schedule on a single-shift model. The simple menu enables the brand to keep excellent and consistent products while maximizing revenue.

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