Chipotle turns CJ Carr partnership into a campus loyalty contest

October 19, 2026

Chipotle Mexican Grill is giving Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr a new role: brand ambassador. The name, image and likeness (NIL) partnership between football…

Cafe Rio partners with Poppy & Pout on beverage-flavored lip balms

October 16, 2026

Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican teamed up with beauty brand Poppy & Pout to create a limited edition of beverage-based lip balms. Café Rio's Mucho Mint…

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…

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…

Chipotle opens 1,500th Chipotlane in Florida

October 5, 2026

Chipotle Mexican Grill opened its 1,500th Chipotlane Sept. 29 at 16680 SR 64 East in Bradenton, Florida.

Qdoba signs 17-unit development agreement in San Diego County

September 11, 2026

Qdoba Mexican Eats has signed a development agreement with Hyperion Brands to open 17 restaurants across San Diego County, California.

Rusty Taco expands nontraditional footprint through airport, entertainment venues

September 11, 2026

Rusty Taco is expanding its national footprint through nontraditional venues, including airports, convenience stores and entertainment destinations. The…

Dillas Quesadillas to open 1st nontraditional location

August 26, 2026

Dillas Quesadillas will launch its first nontraditional location inside Brookshire Grocery Arena in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Café Rio debuts LTO Utah Burrito as turnaround continues

July 30, 2026

Café Rio has introduced the limited-time Utah Burrito as part of its broader turnaround effort. The state-inspired menu item debuted July 24, Utah's Pioneer…

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop launches summer menu, rewards offers

July 17, 2026

Fuzzy's Taco Shop has launched its Fuzzy's Beach Club summer campaign, featuring limited-time menu items, rewards offers, branded merchandise and a National…

Qdoba inks deals for over 100 franchised restaurants

July 10, 2026

Qdoba is expanding its franchise footprint with new development agreements that will open over 100 restaurants across the Southeast and West.

Café Rio to open 2nd restaurant in St. George, Utah

July 9, 2026

Café Rio will open its second restaurant this week in St. George, Utah, at 4609 S. Pioneer Road. The restaurant expands the brand's presence in the city where…

Tocaya unveils summer happy hour menu

July 1, 2026

Fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain Tocaya has introduced a summer happy hour menu featuring drink specials, small bites and tortas. The menu is available for…

Taco John’s hires Ian Poole as VP of development to fuel growth

April 24, 2026

Taco John's has named industry veteran Ian Poole vice president of development. Poole will focus on franchisee support, onboarding, real estate and…

Moe’s jumps on snacking trend to drive late-night traffic

April 24, 2026

Moe's Southwest Grill has introduced the Burrito Dipper, its first snack-sized menu item, as part of a broader push into late-night service.

Bubbakoo’s Burritos taps Bikky to power data strategy, fuel growth

April 13, 2026

Bubbakoo's Burritos has partnered with Bikky to centralize customer data and strengthen its technology as a foundation for growth.

Taco John's CEO talks balancing innovation with brand's rich history

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Heather Neary, president and CEO of legacy brand Taco John's, chats with podcast host Mandy Detwiler about balancing the brand's history with the innovation…

Bubbakoo’s Burritos Expands CloudKitchens Partnership - Open at Midtown Eats to Continue Growth in Tennessee

Bubbakoo’s is serving its Mexican fusion cuisine in a new ghost kitchen in Nashville, TN.

20 Fast Casual Brands to Watch in 2025

We are honored to introduce the 2025 class of “20 Brands to Watch,” and predict they will continue to help elevate the fast casual industry.

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Costa Vida SynergySuite Case Study

Costa Vida needed a restaurant management system that gave them easy reporting and faster inventory, while having the capability to handle raw food SKUs that…

Presented by SynergySuite