Some restaurant sales sizzle, others fizzle

August 12, 2025

Summer sales have been hot and cold for U.S. restaurants this summer, with some areas seeing significant growth while others struggled, according to Toast's…

Thriving through uncertainty: The power of resilience

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

Let's be honest — uncertainty is here to stay. From industry shake-ups to disruptive tech, shifting markets, and yes, even global crises, unpredictability is…

1st co-branded Round Table Pizza, Fatburger opens in California

August 11, 2025

FAT Brands Inc., parent company of 18 restaurant concepts, has opened its first co-branded Fatburger and Round Table Pizza in Rancho Cordova, California…

How AI turning labor from cost center into growth driver for QSRs

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

In a free webinar titled "Labor Forecasting 2.0: Predicting Future Demand and Staffing for Efficient Growth with AI" viewers will learn how AI is powering…

How Fast Fresh Brands CEO is scaling healthy eating

Cody Pepper, founder of Fast Fresh Brands, which owns Bee Healthy Cafe and Nature's Table, said growth accelerated when he partnered with DIA Equity Partners…

Dave & Buster's pushing international expansion

August 11, 2025

Dave & Buster's is expanding its global footprint with the opening of its second location in India. The 22,000-square-foot entertainment venue is located…

Speaker Spotlight: Filippo Fiori, Due Cucini Italiana head chef, CEO

by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator

From Italy to China to the U.S., Filippo Fiori has gained a lot of wisdom from his travels, which he plans to share at the Fast Casual Executive Summit.

Taco Bell Joins 5610 Interstate Food Co. to Continue Growth in Austin

Taco Bell® franchisee Tacala Companies has officially joined 5610 Interstate Food Co., bringing Taco Bell to Austin residents through a new ghost kitchen…

Scaling fast casual: Cava's depth vs. Sweetgreen's breadth in Q2 2025

by Shira Petrack — Content Manager, Placer.ai

Cava's overall visits grew year-over-year n Q2 '25 while average visits per location remained relatively stable (-1.0%). Sweetgreen also experienced overall…

Naya lands capital to accelerate growth

August 6, 2025

Naya, specializing in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, is poised for national expansion after a major financial transaction from TriSpan. The private…

Innovate, don't react: 12 reasons your competitors are heading to Fast Casual Executive Summit

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Your competition will be there; will you?

Salad Station reports record growth, $1M sales milestone

August 6, 2025

Salad Station reported record growth and a sales milestone for 2024, reporting a 6.5% increase in average gross revenue among its top-performing locations and…

How Slutty Vegan Founder turned $20M in debt into a $100M comeback

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

In this episode of "Founderology – Built to Breakthrough," Pinky Cole Hayes shares her “PhD. lessons” and mindset that fueled her comeback.

Portillo's sees net income rise despite traffic dip

August 5, 2025

Portillo's Inc. reported a 17.7% increase in net income for Q2 despite facing a tough traffic environment, Michael Osanloo, president and CEO, said in a…

Michelin‑starred restaurateur bets on fast casual tacos brand

August 4, 2025

Lola's Taco Bar is set to open its first location in suburban Detroit in September, blending high-end culinary expertise with fast-service efficiency, thanks…

Zaxbys debuts ghost kitchen in Dallas

August 4, 2025

Zaxbys has opened its first-ever ghost kitchen in Dallas. The delivery-only location, powered by CloudKitchens, is near the Design District at 921 W Commerce…

Modern Food Compliance for Restaurants Made Easy

Label smarter, serve safer, and improve efficiency with linerless label solutions.

Presented by Star Micronics America

Zaxby’s Joins CloudKitchens - 921 W Commerce St to Continue Growth in Dallas, TX

Zaxby’s, the fan-favorite fast-casual brand known for its Chicken Fingerz™, Signature Sandwiches, and iconic Zax Sauce®, has officially opened its first-ever…

How Shake Shack CEO is tackling 3 industry challenges

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

To drive traffic in a "value-oriented market," Shake Shack is moving beyond its traditional word-of-mouth marketing. The company has embarked on a paid media…

How Dig Inn maintains quality at scale: A CMO's Guide to brand, loyalty, AI

Dig Inn CMO Jessica Serrano reveals how the chef-driven fast casual chain rebuilt its brand identity, scaled from Manhattan to suburban markets and leveraged…