Smoothie King to shift menu, store design

April 21, 2026

Smoothie King has announced a brand evolution plan to support and accelerate long-term growth. The Dallas-based fast-casual chain, which has over 1,10…

Kayla Edidin named COO of Red Door Brands

April 21, 2026

Kayla Edidin has been named chief operating officer of Red Door Brands, a franchise company that owns and operates brands including McAlister's Deli, Little…

The Complete Guide to Team Communication for Restaurant Franchise Owners

Running a restaurant franchise on texts and group chats is messier and riskier than you'd think. Here is a complete guide to improving and organizing team…

Pokeworks bowls up record Q1, expands pipeline and menu

April 20, 2026

Irvine, California-based Pokeworks reported its strongest first-quarter performance since its 2015 launch, resulting from openings, development deals and menu…

WaBa Grill eyes $1M AUV, unveils 2026 plans

April 20, 2026

WaBa Grill is on track to exceed $1 million in average unit volumes and reported 10% same-store sales growth early this year, according to a company press…

Best Team Chat Apps for Multi-Location Restaurants in 2026

Managing team communication across multiple restaurant locations is challenging, and cannot be done properly on text threads and huge group chats. Compare the…

Freddy’s lands 1st military base location

April 17, 2026

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers deployed its first restaurant on a U.S. military installation, opening April 15 at U.S. Army post Fort Lee in Prince…

Which Wich stacks UK expansion with London franchise deal

April 16, 2026

Dallas-based Which Wich is boosting its U.K. expansion through a multi-unit franchise agreement with franchisee Reza Hassanadeh.

Bean & Brews pours on expansion with 7 openings in Q1

April 16, 2026

Bean & Brews Coffee House continued its national growth plans, opening seven locations in the first quarter of 2026, according to a company press release.

Dave’s Hot Chicken fires up expansion with 8 openings

April 15, 2026

Dave's Hot Chicken is boosting its national expansion, with plans to open eight locations on April 16.

Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks Secures Tampa Expansion as Growth Strategy Gains Speed

Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks has secured its entry into the Tampa market, marking a significant step forward in the brand’s national expansion strategy and…

Design experiences that earn loyalty from day one

Traditional experience management starts after the interaction, but with Ignite Communities, people are brought into the process much earlier.

Presented by Service Management Group

The real cost of a broken customer experience (CX): Revenue loss, operational drag, and brand damage

The true cost of a broken CX extends far beyond a single transaction. It compounds over time, affecting revenue, operational efficiency, employee engagement…

Jimmy John’s gets lit with celeb-built 4/20 menu

April 14, 2026

Jimmy John's will tap into cannabis culture through the launch of its "Dream Rotation," a limited-time menu celebrating the April 20 holiday. The Champaign…

How Tarka Indian Kitchen scaled fast casual Indian cuisine

In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Tinku Saini, CEO and co-founder of Tarka Indian Kitchen, to explore…

Teriyaki Madness ups protein game with Two-By-Two Bowl

April 10, 2026

Denver-based Teriyaki Madness has boosted the protein presence on its menu by adding the Two-By-Two Bowl, a limited-time offering that builds on the…

Blaze Pizza, Farmer Boys, Mike's Red Tacos, HigherMe experts discuss recruitment, retention

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Industry experts at the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit emphasized that sustainable restaurant profitability and successful scaling depend on…

Phoenix heats up with 2nd Houston TX Hot Chicken location

April 10, 2026

Houston TX Hot Chicken is doubling its Arizona presence.

Deliverect launches AI agents and smart assistants to supercharge restaurant sales

The intelligent engine for digital revenue, now available to UK clients, with Australia, New Zealand and North America to follow.

Little Caesars VP of franchise development talks brand growth, solid operations

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Podcast host Mandy Detwiler talks to Bryan Ketelhut, VP of franchise and business development for Little Caesars.