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 — Publisher, 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 — Publisher, 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…

Starbucks launching delivery across entire US market

July 24, 2019

Starbucks Coffee Company is launching delivery next year throughout the U.S. thanks to an agreement with Uber Eats. The decision follows an 11-market test that…

Coupa Cafe gets mobile ordering and delivery with NCR and DoorDash

July 23, 2019

Coupa Cafe, a Palo Alto, California-based eatery, said it has enabled mobile ordering using NCR Corp.'s Aloha mobile technology and online delivery from…

Luckin' Coffee brewing up business in Middle East

July 22, 2019

China's Luckin Coffee Inc. and Kuwait Food Company Americana are partnering to launch a coffee business in the Middle East and India, according to a company…

Starbucks unveils mobile-centric format in Beijing

July 15, 2019

Starbucks has unveiled Starbucks Now, a new format specializing on speed of service, in Beijing. Using the chain's Mobile Order & Pay and Starbucks…

Maine's Aroma Joe's committed to becoming a major coffee chain

July 12, 2019

Aroma Joe's, a 65-unit coffee chain based in Portland, Maine, is hoping its growth rate is as strong as the coffee it serves. Founded in 2000, by four cousins…

Starbucks employees hoping the Tie-Dye Frapp will just die

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

The word on the Twitter street is that it tastes like banana candy, but employees — who have to deal with customers flooding stores in hopes of trying the…

Gloria Jean's opening in Michigan mall

July 9, 2019

Gloria Jean's Coffees – U.S.A. is opening in Grandville, Michigan, at the RiverTown Crossings Mall, according to a company press release.