What the fast casual industry can learn from hospitality's $2.5 billion brawl

Will history repeat itself in the restaurant industry? Not if brands take control now.

Einstein Bros' cheese and bacon hair care products sold out?

March 21, 2018

Einstein Bros. Bagels said today that is has released a line of Cheesy Shampoo and Wakin' Bacon Conditioner, but considering that its website reports it's…

LevelUp teams with FullContact to improve customer segmentation

March 13, 2018

LevelUp has partnered with FullContact, an identity resolution provider, to power precision marketing programs by providing foodservice operators with a…

ZIVELO receives Growth Partner of the Year award from Honeywell

During the Honeywell Grow 2018 Partner Conference last week in Dallas, ZIVELO was presented with the Growth Partner of the Year, Gold award.

Dickey's Barbecue Pit testing delivery

February 22, 2018

Dickey's Barbecue Pit is testing delivery, straight from the store, in Minneapolis and Colorado Springs, according to a company press release.   At Dickey's…

Delivery: Will it drive sales or gobble up profits?

By Christopher Sebes, president, Xenial (formerly known as Heartland Commerce).

Meatheads CEO: 'How Amazon Prime mindset has changed fast casual dining'

As restaurant operators trying to survive within the retail ecosystem, most of us are just parasites feeding off of our environment," said Tom Jednorowicz…

Tender Greens going cashless

January 25, 2018

Tender Greens is going cashless by Jan. 29, according to an open letter published on its website.

Chicken Charlie's upgrades mobile concession stand with LED video system

January 22, 2018

Chicken Charlie's, a fast casual restaurant owned by Charlie Boghosian, recently teamed up with Hitch-Hiker and PixelFlex to upgrade its FryBQ mobile…

Little Big Burger adds online ordering, cryptocurrency-based loyalty program

January 11, 2018

Little Big Burger has added online ordering at all 12 of its locations, according to a company press release.

Naf Naf launching Naf Perks App

January 9, 2018

Naf Naf is bringing the flavors of the Middle East to guests everywhere on Jan 17 with the launch of its mobile app and rewards program — Naf Perks. To…

Fast casuals innovating desserts, snacks to boost post-lunch traffic

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

More customers than ever are ordering dessert between 2-4 p.m.

Food, beverage experiences top 'intangible gifts' this holiday season

December 5, 2017

Food and beverage experiences topped the list of "intangible gifts" that consumers plan to purchase this holiday season, according to a recent survey by the…

Third-party food delivery models evolve as demand accelerates

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Third-party food delivery rapidly expands, gaining importance among restaurant operators who are contemplating the best approach to offer the service.

Wingstop testing delivery in Chicago

November 7, 2017

Wingstop is testing delivery of its wings, fries and new sides in Chicago following a successful trial in the Las Vegas market, according to a company press…

Millennials: 'Give us big discounts, cut the small talk'

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

One of the more eye-opening sessions at this Fast Casual Executive Summit in Nashville this month was a quick, question-filled hour-long chat with a varied…

How 'Netflix and Chill' popularized digital ordering

Paying attention to cultural shifts can help you get ahead of them and continue to deliver excellent customer service online and in-person.

HuHot trying to attract customers with price breaks on sake, beer, wine

October 17, 2017

HuHot Mongolian Grill has begun testing aggressive beer and wine pricing in its 13 company-owned locations. The "1-2-3-4" promotion, aimed at increasing value…

Why Dairy Queen added virtual reality to training program

Dairy Queen's Kim Brastad discusses the use of virtual reality and gamification in the chain's training program.

Kill your homepage: Why your website isn't driving sales, traffic

Does your website give customers the info and user experience needed to inspire them to spend money on your brand, or is it just pretty?