Starbucks announces 250 store closures

September 24, 2026

Starbucks has confirmed in an email to FastCasual.com that it is closing 250 underperforming U.S. stores this week, even as its North American business returns…

Square integrates Apple Business to boost restaurant visibility on Apple Maps

September 24, 2026

Square has launched a new integration with Apple Business, allowing restaurant operators and other local businesses to manage their presence across Apple Maps…

Closing the gap between order ready and order in hand

Why the last mile costs operators more than they think. The gap between order ready and order in hand is part of the operation that affects labor efficiency…

Presented by Apex Order Pickup Solutions

Webinar: Order accuracy as the next loyalty battleground

by Valerie Gritton

In this “Accuracy is the New Loyalty” webinar, Star Micronics’ Craig Kaliebe discusses how labeling, smart scales and other verification tools help operators…

The restaurant of tomorrow takes center stage at #QSRNext 2026

by Valerie Gritton

#QSRNext 2026 will bring together restaurant executives and industry leaders to explore the forces reshaping quick service, including AI, drive-thru…

Accuracy is the New Loyalty

Order accuracy directly impacts restaurant profitability, customer trust and repeat business. In this webinar, Star Micronics explored where costly errors…

Presented by Star Micronics America

Blaze Pizza celebrates 15th birthday

September 15, 2026

Blaze Pizza is marking its 15th anniversary with a one-day pizza deal for members of its Blaze Rewards loyalty program, the company announced in a news release.

How Sankranti built its own fast-casual Indian food playbook

Srinivasa “Nimms” Nimmagadda and his team spent years developing a fast-casual Indian food concept playbook through Sankranti Indian Kitchen. Now the company…

Top 30 Movers & Shakers in Catering 2026

This annual initiative shines a spotlight on the visionary leaders, innovators, and brands redefining off-premises dining. From pioneering game-changing…

Presented by MONKEY Catering Platform

The Big Greek Café Selects Deliverect and Thanx to Power Digital Ordering and Loyalty Across U.S. Locations

Maryland-born brand unifies first-party & third-party ordering, dispatch, and loyalty on Deliverect and Thanx as it modernizes its digital tech stack

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…

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…

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…

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.

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

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…

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.…

66% of young restaurant workers say employers aren't training them right — Here's the fix

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

A new Schoox survey reveals a gap between what frontline restaurant employees want to learn and what operators are actually delivering — and why closing it…

AI and the Future of Restaurants: From Foot Traffic to Predictive Insight

As consumer behavior and privacy expectations evolve, restaurants need smarter ways to understand diners and drive growth. Gladys Kong of Azira and Isabelle…

Presented by Azira

Real talk, damn good biscuits and growing a national chain

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

Lauren Coulter is co-Founder and chief biscuit eater of Biscuit Belly, the Louisville, Kentucky, brunch brand she built with her husband and co-Founder, Chad…