Wingstop kicks off football season with Lemon Pepper Trio

September 11, 2026

Wingstop is kicking off the 2026-27 football season with its limited-time Lemon Pepper Trio, featuring its original Lemon Pepper flavor alongside two new…

Wings Etc. wants to make Ranch more than a side: Enter the 'Ranch Flight'

September 10, 2026

Wings Etc. will launch a limited-time Ranch Flight Sept. 15, allowing customers to choose three of five ranch-based sauces. The lineup includes House Ranch…

Everbowl expands Arizona presence with South Peoria opening

September 10, 2026

Carlsbad, California-based Everbowl opened a location Sept. 3 at 8402 W. Thunderbird Road in South Peoria, Arizona.

Pita Pit's Crispy Donair raises a question: Isn't this just a sandwich?

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

A sandwich by any other name would taste as sweet?

Sweetgreen to open 1st Jacksonville, Florida, location

September 9, 2026

Sweetgreen is expanding into northeast Florida with the upcoming opening of its first Jacksonville location at 4624 Town Crossing Drive. The 2,560-square-foot…

Houston TX Hot Chicken shares UK opening timelines

September 9, 2026

Houston TX Hot Chicken has announced opening timeframes for two U.K. restaurants, a little more than two months after signing a master franchise agreement to…

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 Chain’s ‘pop cuisine’ concept is testing food hall format

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

The American pop-cuisine food brand is launching its newest dining format to determine the viability of different, experiential locations.

Chicken Salad Chick opens in West Virginia, expands to 26 states

September 8, 2026

Atlanta-based Chicken Salad Chick will open its first West Virginia restaurant Sept. 16 in Barboursville, expanding its footprint to 26 states.

Tenderloins lead the way in the handheld chicken boom

Handheld chicken concepts are having a moment, or rather a movement.

Presented by Mountaire Farms

Firehouse Subs opens 200th Canadian location, doubles footprint

September 4, 2026

Firehouse Subs opened its 200th Canadian restaurant Sept. 3, at 918 85th St. W., in Calgary, Alberta, doubling its Canadian presence over the past two years.

DoorDash: Workplace meals help bring employees back to the office

September 4, 2026

Office meals are shifting from an employee perk to a strategic benefit. Companies are increasingly using food to boost office attendance, according to a report…

Zaxbys partners with Nerds to bring back strawberry milkshake

September 3, 2026

Zaxbys has joined forces with candy brand Nerds to bring back its Nerds Strawberry Milkshake, according to a company press release. The beverage is available…

Flying Biscuit Cafe franchisee to open 4th Raleigh location

September 3, 2026

Flying Biscuit Cafe franchisee Tahir Rafiq will open his fourth location in Raleigh, North Carolina, during the first quarter of 2027. The 6609 Falls of Neuse…

HB Protein Smoothies hires Tyler Doolittle to lead real estate, openings

September 2, 2026

HB Protein Smoothies, a Fransmart-backed franchise, has hired Tyler Doolittle as director of real estate and openings. Doolittle will work with franchise…

WOWorks announces 23 restaurant openings in 2026, with 15 more planned

September 2, 2026

WOWorks, parent company of Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, The Simple Greek, Barberitos and Zoup! Eatery, has opened 23 new restaurants…

Fast-casual brand collabs: Making partnership pay off

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Kelly Gray (Hot Head Burritos) Stacey Kane (chief marketing officer) Lori Primavera (Smoothie King) and Traci Graziani (Kraft Heinz) will present their…

Moe’s Southwest Grill adds to Twin Cities presence with traditional restaurant

September 1, 2026

Moe's Southwest Grill will open a new Minnesota restaurant Sept. 4 at 6671 Valley Creek Road in Woodbury. The location will be the brand's second in the Twin…

Bagel Boss opens 25th location nationwide in Boynton Beach, Florida

September 1, 2026

Bagel and deli brand Bagel Boss has opened its 25th location nationwide and eighth in Florida. The Hicksville, New York-based chain began operations in…

Mooyah Burgers signs 6-unit deal to grow Utah presence

August 28, 2026

Plano, Texas-based Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes has signed a six-unit development deal with established franchisees Art and Nick Depole to expand its…