Juice it Up grows Southern California Footprint with Santa Fe Springs opening

October 14, 2026

Juice It Up! has opened a location at 13344 Telegraph Road in Santa Fe Springs, California, expanding its Southern California footprint.

Dillas Quesadillas names Michael Mabry COO

October 14, 2026

Dillas Quesadillas has promoted Michael Mabry from head of franchise development to chief operating officer, effective Oct. 7. In the newly created role, Mabry…

Wingstop, Sour Patch Kids create Wicked Punch wing flavor for Halloween

October 13, 2026

Dallas-based Wingstop has teamed up with Sour Patch Kids to create Wicked Punch, a limited-time wing flavor for Halloween.

Toast expands AI tools for labor management, marketing

October 13, 2026

Boston-based tech platformToast has introduced AI-powered labor management tools and expanded its digital marketing capabilities. The tech and upgrades are…

HTeaO co-founder steps down, names Brian Wise as CEO

October 12, 2026

HTeaO opened nine stores across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas in the third quarter and appointed Brian Wise as CEO, succeeding co-founder Justin Howe, who…

Chicken Salad Chick adds Pennsylvania, West Virginia locations

October 12, 2026

Chicken Salad Chick is expanding its Northeast footprint with development agreements in New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Snooze Eatery names Amy Hom COO

October 9, 2026

Denver-based Snooze Eatery has hired Amy Hom as chief operating officer, effective Sept. 28, as the breakfast-and-brunch chain invests in operations and plans…

Newk’s Eatery 2nd second Wichita location

October 9, 2026

Newk's Eatery has opened its second Wichita, Kansas, restaurant, expanding its local presence just 10 months after its first location debuted.

&pizza goes all in on toppings with new MAXX pizzas

October 8, 2026

&pizza is introducing two limited-time pizzas designed to deliver more sauce, cheese and toppings in every bite. Beginning Oct. 16, the Meat MAXX and…

Starbucks says sugar-free lawsuit allegations have no merit

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Starbucks said the lawsuit filed against it this week over the labeling of its sugar-free protein beverages have no merit.

Ono Hawaiian BBQ opens second Texas location in McKinney

October 8, 2026

Ono Hawaiian BBQ opened its second Texas location Oct. 2 at 4610 W. University Drive in McKinney, just months after the Hawaiian fast-casual brand made its…

Deliverect and Yext Partner to Keep Restaurant Data Accurate Across Every Digital Surface, Including AI Search

The integration connects live operational data from Deliverect directly to the Yext Knowledge Graph, eliminating manual updates across search engines, maps…

The foundation for Rooted: 7 ingredients, simplicity and trust

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Rooted founder Lily Rivkin Friend built a fast-casual concept around simplicity and trust. Its seven-ingredient rule keeps food and operations streamlined…

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue to enter Canada with 5-unit deal

October 7, 2026

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue has signed a five-unit development agreement with Edmonton Ice District Ltd. to enter Canada.

Uber’s ezCater deal puts catering growth, margins and customer loyalty in focus

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

Uber's agreement to buy ezCater could put workplace catering in front of a much larger audience. For restaurant operators, however, the announcement raises a…

I’m donut ? launches first-ever delivery service in New York City

October 6, 2026

Tokyo-based I'm donut ? has launched its first-ever delivery service, allowing New York City customers to order donuts and drinks from the brand's Times Square…

COBS Bread Partners with Deliverect to Simplify Digital Ordering Across North America

Canada's leading fresh-bread franchise chain deploys Deliverect to give every bakery a unified connection between third-party ordering and in-store operations

True Food Kitchen files for Chapter 11, closes 12 restaurants

October 5, 2026

Phoenix-based True Food Kitchen filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Oct. 4 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas as it…

Chipotle turns vegetables into musical instruments for new song

October 5, 2026

Trombone onion. Photo courtesy of Chipotle Chipotle Mexican Grill has teamed up with the five-member London Vegetable Orchestra to record an original…

Zaxbys operator partners with Alabama’s Million Dollar Band

October 5, 2026

Zaxbys operator Roost & Rise Holdings has partnered with the University of Alabama's Million Dollar Band, with band members scheduled to make appearances…