Business Strategy and Profitability News & Media

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…

read now

Moe’s Southwest Grill adds to Twin Cities presence with traditional restaurant

September 1, 2026

Moe's Southwest Grill will open a new Minnesota restaurant Sept. 4 at 6671 Valley Creek Road in Woodbury. The location will be the brand's second in the Twin…

read now

Bagel Boss opens 25th location nationwide in Boynton Beach, Florida

September 1, 2026

Bagel and deli brand Bagel Boss has opened its 25th location nationwide and eighth in Florida. The Hicksville, New York-based chain began operations in…

read now

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…

read now

Mooyah Burgers signs 6-unit deal to grow Utah presence

August 28, 2026

Plano, Texas-based Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes has signed a six-unit development deal with established franchisees Art and Nick Depole to expand its…

read now

Mokas Coffee & Eatery signs 9-unit development deal for Kansas City expansion

August 28, 2026

Mokas Coffee & Eatery has signed a nine-unit development deal with Cornerstone Hospitality to expand across the Kansas City market.

read now

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…

read now

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…

read now

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…

read now

Fresh Brothers adds Wing It On to Southern California pizza menus

August 27, 2026

Fresh Brothers Pizza is now serving Wing It On wings at all of its Southern California locations, expanding the wing concept's footprint by 20 locations…

read now

Poké House prepares for Las Vegas debut, plans Nevada expansion

August 27, 2026

Poké House will enter Nevada with Friday's opening of its first Las Vegas location at 7175 W. Lake Mead Blvd.

read now

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.

read now

Dave's Hot Chicken CMO reveals when and when NOT to use AI

Dave's Hot Chicken CMO Brandon Rhoten joins Fast Casual Nation to break down how the fast-growing chicken chain uses AI on the back end for customer data and…

Presented by Mountaire Farms

listen now

Restaurant traffic rebounds post Cyclospora

August 26, 2026

The newest data from Placer.ai reveals restaurant traffic is recovering from the Cyclospora outbreak.

read now

Dillas Quesadillas to open 1st nontraditional location

August 26, 2026

Dillas Quesadillas will launch its first nontraditional location inside Brookshire Grocery Arena in Bossier City, Louisiana.

read now

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…

read now

National Restaurant Association: Beverages give brands daypart, sales boost

August 25, 2026

Beverages are becoming one of the most dynamic and innovative growth drivers in the restaurant industry, according to the National Restaurant Association's…

read now

From the boardroom to the prep line: How Stonefire Grill's CEO is fueling legacy growth

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Stonefire Grill CEO David Youngberg joins the Restaurant Operator Podcast to share how his hands-on leadership, people-first culture and strategic use of guest…

listen now

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…

read now

New study reveals revenue gaps from missed calls

August 24, 2026

Revmo, a provider of voice-enabled conversational AI for restaurants, released a comprehensive five-chapter report, "The State of Restaurant Calls 2026.…

read now