Food safety expert: 'When that small voice says — "You can't" — tell it to shut up'

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Betsy Craig entered the restaurant industry at age 16 and worked as a bar back, grill cook, kitchen prep bartender, bouncer and a sales exec before creating…

Restaurants lead the charge for the cashless future

Although mobile payments are convenient for both employees and customers, transitioning to a cashless operation also presents a new set of challenges.

Focus Brands franchisee: 'Focusing on disparities will not advance your career'

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Melanie Hoggard is a Focus Brands franchisee with her hands in three concepts — Moe's Southwest Grill, Auntie Anne's Pretzels and Cinnabon.

McAlister's franchisee: 'Don't climb the ladder; build your own'

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Heather Ricks, a McAlister's Deli franchisee in Virginia, has a six-person management team. Five are females, and one of her restaurants boast an all-female…

Rosati's CEO: 'If your company is a boys club then join the club'

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Marla Topliff, president of Rosati's Pizza, fell in love with the restaurant business after working as a marketer for Rosati's.

Have you taught your managers to track prime costs?

There are certain metrics and habits, especially in the independent segment, that managers need to be mindful of on a regular basis

4 ways your restaurant staff is stealing from you

Opportunities for theft will depend on the operations and setup of your restaurant, but if you think like a thief, you're more likely to recognize and prevent…

Cottage Inn exec: 'Female leaders ask the right questions'

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Deborah Masse has led Cottage Inn to double-digit sales growth by rolling out a new branding initiative and through the introduction of digital and social…

Moe's franchisee: 'Don't take no for an answer'

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Jennifer Wade has been a Moe's Southwest Grill franchisee since 2002. The single mom now owns three locations and is the only female franchisee on the Moe's…

3 ways to reach Millennials

Are you capitalizing on the fact that Millennials check their phones up to 43 times a day, and nearly half think brands should offer loyalty programs and allow…

Identifying profit patterns can help restaurants improve operations

by Dave Bennett — President & CEO, Mirus Restaurant Solutions

When you zoom out and view your sales metrics by month for the past two or three years you will uncover a pattern of when sales and profits tend to be highest

The weekly report is not enough — a daily report may save your business

by Niall Keane — CEO of SynergySuite, SynergySuite

Daily reports can help reduce food costs and prevent costs associated with overtime ad overstaffing.

NRA president: 'No other industry is as inclusive as the restaurant industry'

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Before joining the NRA as president, Dawn Sweeney was president and CEO of AARP Services and also held leadership positions at the National Rural Electric…

Uncle Maddio's VP of Ops: 'Welcome adversity'

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Restaurant openings at Outback Steakhouse were the gateway to Jenelle Brown's career, but that progressed into managing human capital and the health of…

Auntie Anne's president: 'Diversity in leadership is critical'

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Neary eventually joined Auntie Anne’s in 2005, holding various roles in the company, including VP of global marketing, until she took over as president in 2015.

Reader Poll: Restaurant confrontations - are they happening more often?

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

The news is filled with a constant flow of incidents demonstrating the worst in human behavior often happening at the chains this website's readers oversee. It…

How restaurant tenants can negotiate free rent

Free rent on lease renewals is not unreasonable and often achievable — if you know what buttons to push with your landlord.

Automation doesn't have to be a dirty word in foodservice - Part 1 of 3

by Sagi Rochman — CEO, Better Chains

Automation has taken on the aura of a dirty word in foodservice with its potential to inflict widespread job losses, not to mention a perception of a colder…

Automation: The possibilities of robo-restaurateuring - Part 3 of 3

by Sagi Rochman — CEO, Better Chains

Complete Automation in a foodservice operation is relatively rare at the moment, but that is changing almost by the day.

Automation: Transformative touch at the table - Part 2 of 3

by Sagi Rochman — CEO, Better Chains

Exponential improvements in foodservice technology can, not only help accelerate industry growth, but also trim the costs that have grown into a heavy layer of…