How the menu-labeling ruling will drive traffic to fast casual brands

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

While many brands are worried about how the regulation requiring them to display nutritional info will affect their businesses, brands associated with a health…

Panera pledges to create 10K jobs to help expand delivery

April 25, 2017

Panera Bread expects to add more than 10,000 in-cafe and delivery driver jobs system-wide by the end of 2017, as it expands delivery service to 35 to 4…

10 reasons to attend the 2017 ICX Summit

by Christopher Hall — w, t

If you are responsible for improving customer engagement for your organization, here are 10 reasons you should make your way to Texas for the ICX Summit.

How technology communication will spark a restaurant revolution

Connecting POS systems, apps and ordering systems with one another is now possible, but very few systems can integrate smoothly. That's where the concept of a…

HuHot launches carry-out program with photo contest

April 19, 2017

HuHot is implementing carry-out in all of its units after a successful test run with two franchisee groups, according to a company press release. One group…

Rising Roll reinvents image, franchising

April 19, 2017

Rising Roll is releasing a new restaurant design, a new logo, an expanded menu and an updated service model, according to a press release. Most importantly…

Restaurants dish out savings to soothe the stressed tax filer

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

Restaurants are doing their part to calm the masses with money-saving deals on Tuesday, the nation's day of shared tax-paying pain.

3 ways to engage millennials and Gen Z

Research shows that Gen Zers are more careful about how much they spend at restaurants, but they, along with millennials, are increasing their away-from-home…

Pita Pit launches online game to promote LTO

April 13, 2017

Pita Pit is relying on gaming to introduce its latest LTO —  the Baja Chicken Bacon Ranch pita, which includes grilled chicken, thinly carved bacon, romaine…

Free webinar: Is your franchise marketing strategy hurting or harming your brand?

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

How is your brand coming across with potential and existing franchisees? If you aren't sure or don't have a well-crafted strategy based on proven best…

Fazoli's adds 4 TravelCenters locations

April 12, 2017

Fazoli's and TA Restaurant Group signed a deal to open four units in Texas, Michigan, Connecticut and Oklahoma, according to a press release. TA Restaurat…

Pie Five, Firehouse, First Watch,Pei Wei execs discuss 'the good, the bad and the ugly' of online reviews

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

A recent survey found that 61 percent of the dining public check online reviews before visiting a restaurant. How those reviews can help or hurt sales was a…

ICX Summit: Neuroscience, millennials and measuring customer experience

The upcoming June ICX Summit boasts top leaders in customer experience speaking on a range of topics from CX strategy to measuring customer experience…

BONMi opens second NYC location

April 6, 2017

BONMi has opened its second location in New York City, this time on 23rd Street, according to a press release. The concept, which draws inspiration from…

Pressure grows to make restaurant kiosks 'disability-friendly'

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

A recent lawsuit on behalf of a blind customer against Eatsa, a restaurant that uses self-order kiosks, has put the kiosk industry in the spotlight.

Fast insights on crisis management, leadership development and restaurant/retail partnerships

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Attendees at the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit in Dallas got down to business with fast insights in three key business management areas.

Why playing the 'right' background music increases sales

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Restaurants that play a carefully selected mix of music reflecting their cultures can increase sales by more than 9 percent, according to a 2016 study.

Fazoli's ditching artificial ingredients

April 5, 2017

The menu at Fazoli's will be free of all artificial sweeteners, flavors, preservatives and colors by June 19. With 220 units, Fazoli's is the first national…

From food trucks to food halls: Slapfish founder launches 2 concepts

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Chef Andrew Gruel, who opened his first concept — Slapfish — as a food truck, has just launched two concepts inside an Orange County food hall.

Why restaurant execs ditching old-school training for video-based methods

Employee training was one of the most talked about topics at the Restaurant Franchise Innovation Summit 2017 in Dallas. The most important thing I heard…