How Dillas Quesadillas revamped operations to speed service

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

A stalled drive-thru prompted Dillas Quesadillas to overhaul operations, simplify its menu and adopt kitchen-prep technology. The changes cut service times by…

How functional beverages provide new reasons to visit

Functional beverages are creating new opportunities for juice and smoothie bars to attract customers across dayparts. From protein smoothies to energy and…

The foundation for Rooted: 7 ingredients, simplicity and trust

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Rooted founder Lily Rivkin Friend built a fast-casual concept around simplicity and trust. Its seven-ingredient rule keeps food and operations streamlined…

FCES keynote: To go far, go together

by Valerie Gritton — Editor, Pizza Marketplace

Chicken Salad Chick’s story shows that scaling successfully isn’t necessarily about moving faster or constantly reinventing the brand. It’s about knowing what…

Survey: Restaurant operators are optimistic, but equipment costs squeeze cash flow

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

A survey reveals that a percentage of restaurant owner/operators are optimistic, even in the face of rising costs and concerns over replacing equipment.

Webinar: Order accuracy as the next loyalty battleground

by Valerie Gritton — Editor, Pizza Marketplace

In this “Accuracy is the New Loyalty” webinar, Star Micronics’ Craig Kaliebe discusses how labeling, smart scales and other verification tools help operators…

The restaurant of tomorrow takes center stage at #QSRNext 2026

by Valerie Gritton — Editor, Pizza Marketplace

#QSRNext 2026 will bring together restaurant executives and industry leaders to explore the forces reshaping quick service, including AI, drive-thru…

How Sankranti built its own fast-casual Indian food playbook

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Srinivasa “Nimms” Nimmagadda and his team spent years developing a fast-casual Indian food concept playbook through Sankranti Indian Kitchen. Now the company…

Fast Casual Executive Summit preview: Learn how a unified guest view spurs big rewards

by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

Fast casual brands can break down the walls between tech systems to craft a unified customer view that can drive an immediate return-on-investment. Learn how…

Fast-casual brand collabs: Making partnership pay off

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Kelly Gray (Hot Head Burritos) Stacey Kane (chief marketing officer) Lori Primavera (Smoothie King) and Traci Graziani (Kraft Heinz) will present their…

Why Gwyneth Paltrow-backed Goop Kitchen is adding dine-in to $6.7M delivery empire

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

The company opened its first dine-in restaurant this month at One Paseo in Del Mar, California, a 92-seat flagship that marks a new chapter for a brand that…

Accuracy is the new loyalty: How smart labeling protects restaurant profits

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Star Micronics' upcoming webinar, "Accuracy Is the New Loyalty," will explore how integrating smart labeling with existing restaurant technology eliminates…

Shawarma Press, Chicken Salad Chick, Firehouse Subs execs to talk operational complexities at Fast Casual Executive Summit

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

The upcoming "Complexity Killers" session at the Fast Casual Executive Summit will guide restaurant operators in auditing and streamlining their bloated tech…

How fast-casual franchise Your Pie is optimizing kitchens for modern diners

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Fast-casual pizza franchise Your Pie is strategically expanding across the Southeast under CEO Ken Caldwell by blending its authentic, handcrafted Italian…

Shark Club takes a deliberate bite out of the US sports restaurant market

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Shark Club's recent North Texas opening sets the stage to bridge the gap between traditional sports bars and upscale casual dining.

Restaurant resales fall in 2026; turnkey, franchise deals surge

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

High interest rates and construction costs are reshaping the restaurant resale market, driving buyers toward equipped second-generation spaces and proven…

How Teriyaki Madness flips franchise growth by vetting real estate before the deal is signed

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Franchise Development Real Estate Manager Jake Lowell breaks down how the fast-casual chain cut opening timelines to 18 months and secured over 80 leases in 1…

Healthy fast casual goes convenient: Konala, Clean Eatz redefining drive-thru, grab-and-go

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Two brands, two models — one goal: making nutritious food as fast and effortless as fast food.

How Tony Roma's is using fast-casual strategies to reinvent itself

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

CEO Mina Haque explains how the 54-year-old brand is adapting to changing consumer habits without abandoning its casual-dining roots.

How Latitude Food Group CEO James O’Reilly is scaling &pizza, Tijuana Flats

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

As CEO of Latitude Food Group, industry veteran James O'Reilly is leveraging a centralized backend support model and rigorous operational discipline to…