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…

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.

Tenderloins lead the way in the handheld chicken boom

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

Presented by Mountaire Farms

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…

Fast Casual Executive Summit preview: Learn how a unified guest view spurs big rewards

by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

Fast casual brands can break down the walls between tech systems to craft a unified customer view that can drive an immediate return-on-investment. Learn how…

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…

Blaze Pizza names Tracy Stockard chief marketing officer

August 25, 2026

Blaze Pizza has appointed Tracy Stockard as chief marketing officer. A veteran marketing executive with more than two decades of experience leading national…

Blaze Pizza launches 'Practical Magic 2' inspired menu

August 21, 2026

Blaze Pizza is launching a limited-time menu inspired by the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures film "Practical Magic 2," according to a press release.

Smalls Sliders offers free dog bandanas for National Dog Day

August 21, 2026

Smalls Sliders is celebrating National Dog Day on Aug. 26 by offering a free "Can's Best Friend" bandana to guests who bring their dogs to participating…

Great Harvest unveils new branding after 50 years

August 17, 2026

Source: Great Harve Great Harvest unveiled new branding as the 50-year-old chain launches broader systemwide initiatives.

Insomnia Cookies offers free six-pack to college freshmen

August 14, 2026

Insomnia Cookies is offering incoming college freshmen a free Freshman 6-Pack of cookies as part of a back-to-school promotion. Eligible students can claim the…

Inspire doubles down on first Buffalo Wild Wings-Jimmy John’s co-brand

August 12, 2026

Inspire Brands is expanding its co-branding strategy with the Aug. 18 opening of its first Buffalo Wild Wings GO and Jimmy John's location at 5241 69th St. E…

Ziggi’s, Philadelphia Cream Cheese make beverage debuts with savory latte

August 11, 2026

Ziggi's Coffee and Philadelphia Cream Cheese have teamed up on an Everything Bagel Latte, giving both brands a beverage first, while using the limited-time…

How Tony Roma's is using fast-casual strategies to reinvent itself

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

CEO Mina Haque explains how the 54-year-old brand is adapting to changing consumer habits without abandoning its casual-dining roots.

5 menu localization myths that could hurt your restaurant brand

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

August 4, 2026

Michael Magerl, Joel Bulger, John Iannucci and Sarah Rooney are the panelists for "From Trend to Table: Operationalizing Regional Promotions in a Multi-Unit…

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…

Fast Casual Hall of Fame honoring Geoff Alexander, Mark Brezinski, Darden Coors at Executive Summit

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

The 2026 Fast Casual Hall of Fame will recognize three restaurant executives whose leadership has shaped innovation, technology adoption and growth across the…

Starbucks, Delta revive mileage-earning perk for linked loyalty members

July 27, 2026

Starbucks and Delta Air Lines are relaunching a loyalty benefit that lets customers earn frequent flyer miles on their coffee purchases.

HTeaO reports Q2 growth with 10 openings, LTO launches, community initiatives

July 27, 2026

Fort Worth, Texas-based HTeaO closed out the second quarter of 2026 with 10 store openings, limited-time beverage launches and ongoing community support…