2025 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers

This year, the exceptional caliber of leadership across the industry led to a slight adjustment in our numbers—we were compelled to recognize 100 brands and 2…

Presented by Elo Touch Solutions, Inc.

SynergySuite Recognized with Dual Honors in the 2025 TITAN Business Awards

The 2025 TITAN Business Awards has officially concluded its first season, spotlighting a new class of global business trailblazers.

&pizza CEO doubles down on franchising efforts, increasing growth

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

&pizza CEO Mike Burns discusses how the brand lost its identity, found it again and began franchising.

Haven Hot Chicken founders find room for Nashville hot chicken brand

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Haven Hot Chicken has gone from four stores to nine in just 10 months. Learn how the Connecticut-based brand is growing from its co-founders in our latest…

Smart Kitchens, Smarter Operations: The Next Leap in Restaurant Tech

Discover how Qu’s Smart Kitchen platform leverages IoT, AI, and real-time data to reduce costs, optimize energy, and streamline operations for multi-unit and…

How Red Chickz founder went from dishwasher to national brand builder

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

What if your next breakthrough idea came from a dishwasher-turned-Founder or a tech innovator who transformed chaos into a scalable business? Hear from Shawn…

Presented by EB-3

SynergySuite Wins Two Gold Stevie® Awards in 2025 American Business Awards®

SynergySuite, a global leader in restaurant management technology, has been awarded two Gold Stevie® Awards in the 23rd Annual American Business Awards®…

Campuses Turn to Automation to Improve Student Life

Dining leaders are turning to platforms like Botrista to cut costs, ease labor demands, and keep up with Gen Z’s thirst for trending drinks like boba. The…

Donatos Pizza president, CEO wants it to be the household name in pizza

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Donatos Pizza president and CEO Kevin King talks about his career in the pizza industry and what makes his brand a leader in the category amidst rising pizza…

Upgrade your drink menu without the hassle

Learn how top brands like Jollibee and Yoshinoya elevate their drink menus with Botrista. Join Jarrett Whitlow and Briana Jurado as they share tips on flavors…

Guest retention key to restaurant profitability

April 7, 2025

Traditional methods for identifying issues affecting retention, such as delayed surveys with low response rates, potentially biased table visits, and…

Maximizing Guest Retention

Unfortunately, when it comes to identifying issues that affect guest retention, traditional survey methods in restaurants often fall short. So how can…

Presented by Ovation Up, Inc.

Ovation, Craveworthy Brands discuss guest feedback, cashing in on guest recovery

April 4, 2025

Ten lost customers. That's nearly $30,000 walking out the door, according to Zack Oates, founder of guest feedback program Ovation.

Salad House, Barcelona Restaurant Group, Knuckies Hoagies execs talk tech, talent acquisition, retention

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

A panel at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit highlighted the importance of balancing technology with human interaction in hiring and retaining…

Your Restaurant’s Not Perfect and Why That’s a Good Thing: Harnessing The Hidden Value of Guest Recovery

In this webinar, Zack Oates will dive into the hidden value of guest recovery, exploring how restaurants can turn negative experiences into opportunities for…

Presented by Ovation Up, Inc.

Mountain Mike's Pizza takes top honors at Pizza Marketplace's Top 100 Movers & Shakers 2025 event

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Mountain Mike's Pizza took home the top honor at Pizza Marketplace's top brand of 2025. Cicis Pizza won a special award from Xrobotics, and David McKillips was…

3 tools to help restaurants build efficiency, generate more revenue

For restaurants, there is no shortage of frustration, long hours and an increasingly demanding consumer base. Fortunately, there’s technology that can help…

How Edge Computing Will Define the Future of Your Restaurant

From intelligent scheduling to real-time order routing—learn how Edge is leading tech innovation for QSR and fast-casual restaurants.

Restaurant leaders share why AI, data, emotional intelligence are keys to franchise success

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

When it comes to growing and sustaining a successful franchise, brands would do well to tap AI to drive expansion, leverage emotional intelligence to drive…

Jollibee North America president says company is ready for next-level growth

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

At the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit in Myrtle Beach, Maribeth dela Cruz, president North America for QSR chicken brand Jollibee, said the brand…