Power Couple Pinky Cole, Derrick Hayes to ignite Founderology Growth Summit

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

While most restaurant founders are focused on building a single successful brand, Pinky Cole and Derrick Haye have a grander goal: to build an empire, not just…

How Papa Murphy's '$10 Tuesdays' promotion evolved

Pizza Marketplace Podcast host Mandy Detwiler talks to Dallas Massey, SVP of marketing for Papa Murphy's Take N' Bake Pizza about the brand's $10 Tuesdays…

Lean, smart, scalable: Fast Casual Executive Summit panel explores the future of self-service

by Sandra Carpenter — Editor, Networld Media Group

This panel will explore cost-effective self-service options, menu optimization, staff training and strategies for guest adoption, all with a focus on keeping…

Newk's Eatery CEO discusses tech, its food quality and third-party delivery

In this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace and QSRweb.com, chats with Frank Paci, CEO of Newk's…

Einstein Bros launching new store design

September 8, 2025

Einstein Bros. Bagels is rolling out a new store design, "Elevate the Morning," aimed at upgrading the customer experience and accelerating nationwide growth.

Is Waffle House's all-night delivery a threat to fast casuals?

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Fast casuals that have invested heavily in their off-premise strategies will now face direct competition from a brand that is a household name, has a…

Top 30 Movers & Shakers in Catering 2025

The Top 30 Movers & Shakers in Catering 2025 recognizes the leaders redefining how restaurants win off-premise. These are the operators, technologists, and…

Presented by Lunchbox

It's a vibe: The story behind Longboards' Filipino-inspired menu, surf culture success

Founder and chef Gilbert Macapagal, CEO John Bailey and Jeremy Capps, director of operations, discuss the Filipino-inspired menu, its innovative Shaka Pop…

When An Employee Quits, Do They Take Your Business Data with Them?

Stop letting ex-employees walk away with your company's data. With high turnover, personal chat apps put your schedules and private info at risk. Switch to a…

How small eateries leverage local appeal to boost business

September 5, 2025

In a world dominated by national chains, what makes a small, family owned restaurant truly stand out? The answer lies in the unique flavors, personalized…

Rhone acquires Freddy's to drive market expansion

September 5, 2025

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers has been acquired by investment funds affiliated with Rhone, a global private equity firm. The Wichita-based…

Andy Wiederhorn returns to CEO role at FAT Brands

September 3, 2025

Andy Wiederhorn is back at the helm of FAT Brands Inc., the parent company of Fatburger, Johnny Rockets, Round Table Pizza, and 15 other restaurant concepts.

How 24/7 Group Chats Are Burning Out Your Food Service Team

The food industry has a problem of an “always-on” culture that’s exhausting your team and costing your business. The good news is, there’s a simple way to fix…

Small restaurants, big impact: Why mom-and-pop eateries still matter

Despite the presence of national restaurant chains, research consistently shows diners form their most-lasting and meaningful memories in independently owned…

Presented by Kraft Heinz

Wonder adds Grubhub-powered restaurants to app

September 2, 2025

Wonder, a mealtime platform that acquired Grubhub last year, is allowing customers to order from Grubhub's restaurant partners through the Wonder app…

Breaking boundaries: Derrick Hayes on purpose, power, building Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

In this episode of Founderology – Built to Breakthrough, Derrick Hayes opens up about the decisions, setbacks, and breakthroughs that shaped his path. He…

Dave's Hot Chicken signs 180-unit European deal

September 2, 2025

Dave's Hot Chicken, a Los Angeles-based fast casual chain, has finalized an agreement with the UK-based Azzurri Group to develop 180 restaurants across 1…

The Hidden Gold Mine in Your Restaurant Kitchen: Why Back-of-House Technology Is the New Competitive Advantage

Discover why real growth for multi-unit restaurants lies not in flashy front-of-house trends, but in back-of-house tech. AI-powered ops, real-time inventory…

Graze Craze's president discusses strategy behind 14 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth

Operating from small 500- to 1,000-square-foot locations, Oklahoma-based Graze Craze has scaled to nearly 100 units in under five years by focusing on…

Gong cha, Crust Pizza leaders talk franchising in today's modern restaurant world

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

A session at the Fast Casual Executive Summit will look at franchising dos and don'ts as well as the latest trends and innovations in franchising.