Blendid installs its second robotic smoothie kiosk

December 31, 2019

Robotic self-serve smoothie kiosk-maker, Blendid, has  installed its second location, this one at Sonoma State University's Charlie Brown Café earlier this…

Peet's Coffee merging wtih Jacobs Douwe Egberts, exploring IPO

December 18, 2019

Berkeley, California-based Peet's Coffee has joined forces with Netherlands-based Jacobs Douwe Egberts to explore an IPO. The company — now called JDE Peet's …

Starbucks unveils Reserve Roastery Chicago

November 13, 2019

Starbucks Coffee Company is opening its sixth Starbucks Reserve Roastery Friday, and this one is on Chicago's Magnificent Mile. Spanning five floors and 35,00…

Starbucks red cups arrive for holiday season

November 8, 2019

Starbucks customers can now get a free limited edition reusable red cup, while supplies last, and a drink discount when using the cup on future purchases…

Jamba goes to college

November 6, 2019

Jamba has signed a franchise agreement with multi-unit operator Kurt Wilson to expand in college markets across the Southeast. Wilson, owner and president of…

Dog Haus, Ike's, Zoup leaders say being trendy is definitely not 'where it's at'

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

The name of the game now in limited-service menu innovation has less to do with following the waves of trends that regularly sweep through food service and…

Nekter CEO talks about Whole Foods, customer evolution + staying 'juiced,' 9 years in

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

Nekter Juice Bar CEO Steve Schulze joins QSRweb podcast host, Shelly Whitehead, on this edition of the show with some of the wisdom he's picked up over his…

Gloria Jean's brewing North Carolina expansion plans

October 29, 2019

Gloria Jean's Coffees has signed a multi-unit development agreement with Kishor Kaneria and his nephew, Parth Kaneria, to bring at least five locations to the…

Tropical Smoothie ending year with a bang

October 8, 2019

Tropical Smoothie Cafe, which awarded 64 franchise agreements in the third quarter of this year, expects to have signed 200 franchise agreements, open 13…

How your fast casual can cash in on even those 'made up' holidays

There are numerous holidays throughout the year, including National Coffee Day on Sept. 29., for example, that restaurants can use to maximize customer…

Starbucks Japan launching contactless pen with payments technology

September 19, 2019

Starbucks Coffee Japan Co. is launching a mobile payment product called Starbucks TouchThe Pen, a ballpoint pen with embedded contactless payment technology…

Starbucks, Alibaba launch voice ordering and delivery

September 19, 2019

Starbucks is taking another step toward evolving the digital experience for customers in China by launching voice ordering and delivery capabilities within…

Why illy Caffè North America COO isn't afraid to compete with Starbucks

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Barry Sheldon, president and COO for illy Caffè North America, is buzzed about the company's expansion plan for North America.

Starbucks commits to protecting employee mental health

September 9, 2019

Starbucks is on a mission to protect the mental health of its employees — AKA partners —  according to CEO Kevin Johnson, who published a letter Thursday…

World's largest Starbucks opening in the Windy City in November

September 6, 2019

The world’s biggest Starbucks Reserve Roastery, a 43,000-square-foot location, will open in Chicago on Nov. 15 on Michigan Avenue.

Main Squeeze Juice continues Houston expansion

August 29, 2019

New Orleans-based Main Squeeze Juice Company is continuing its growth in the Houston area with an opening this fall in Atascocita. The 3-year-old chain has 1…

Are your customers finally over pumpkin spice lattes?

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Should you launch pumpkin spice lattes now, later or never? Research about consumers' love affair with the fall treat is conflicting.

Founder of India's largest coffee chain found dead

July 31, 2019

Two days after V.G. Siddhartha — the founder of India's Café Coffee Day — went missing, police confirmed Wednesday that they recovered his body from a river in…

Gloria Jean's opens first drive-thru unit

July 31, 2019

Gloria Jean's Coffees U.S.A has opened its first drive-thru unit in Crown Point, Indiana, near the corner of Broadway and East 109th Avenue. Owned and operated…

Starbucks blasts Q3 expectations

July 25, 2019

Starbucks shares jumped 6% Wednesday after the company reported solid growth, especially in its target areas of the Americas and Asia. Global comparable store…