Coffee, beer, burger prices inch up; wings, burritos hold steady

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Toast's Menu Price Monitor aggregates sales data from approximately 140,000 restaurants on the Toast platform, offering a granular look at menu inflation as of…

Speaker Spotlight: Sherif Mityas, BRIX Holdings CEO

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

Sherif Mityas, CEO of BRIX Holdings Inc., is no stranger to flying high whether in an airplane or in his role. At the Fast Casual Summit, he will discuss how…

Guzman y Gomez dominates Taco Bell Down Under, eyes US takeover

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

New Yorker Steven Marks, who opened his fast casual Mexican concept in 2006 in Australia, has grown it to over 250 locations and is ready to take on the U.S.

Maria Empanada: How Lorena Cantarovici built a fast casual powerhouse

Join Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler as they interview Lorena Cantarovici, founder and CEO of Maria Empanada, who came to the U.S.

Five Guys opens cloud kitchen in Seattle

July 10, 2025

Five Guys is firing up the grills at Lake Union Eats, a CloudKitchens delivery and takeout hub in Seattle at 1601 Dexter Ave. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 1…

Smoothie King secures investment from Main Post Partners

July 10, 2025

Smoothie King has landed a minority growth investment from Main Post Partners, a private equity firm specializing in consumer brands, said Wan Kim, CEO and…

Five Guys has continued its partnership with CloudKitchens - Opening at Lake Union Eats in Seattle

Five Guys is now serving their world renowned burgers, fries, and milkshakes to their fans in Seattle

Wagamama taps CEO to fuel US growth

July 9, 2025

Wagamama, a London-born Asian-inspired restaurant chain, has appointed Suk Singh as chief development officer to lead the company's U.S. growth and site…

Bright Penny Brewing Co. pairs signature craft beer with pizza

In this episode of the Pizza Marketplace Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace, chats with Tory Williams, general manager of Bright Penny…

4th annual Pizza Leadership Virtual Summit to offer advice, tips to pizzeria operators

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

The Pizza Leadership Virtual Summit will take place July 30 and will feature a keynote address with the president and CEO of Donatos Pizza and a variety of…

Why Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream betting the farm on supply chain transparency

by David Leonardo — CEO, Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream

David Leonardo, CEO of Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream, reveals how requiring each location to source its dairy from within its state builds loyalty.

Kura Sushi overall sales climb amid dip in comps

July 8, 2025

Kura Sushi USA Inc. reported a significant increase in total sales for its fiscal third quarter, ending May 31, 2025, reaching $74 million, up from $63.…

Fresh Kitchen reopening after fire

July 8, 2025

Fresh Kitchen, a fast casual restaurant chain specializing in customizable, healthy bowls, is opening its largest location next year in South Tampa at 1719 W.

Habit Burger's 'hot dads' featured in calendar, 'Live with Kelly & Mark'

July 8, 2025

Summer just got a little hotter with the release of the "Hot Dads of Habit x UFC GYM Calendar," now available for order online. The five-month calendar is a…

3 ways to keep customers ordering your 'not-so-cheap' eats

by CJ Gaffney — VP Brand Strategy, Partners + Napier

A few Fridays ago, I found myself in the Wendy's drive-thru with three boys in the backseat and a trunk full of baseball gear. The sun was setting, nerves were…

Rapper helping Zaxbys intro Lemon Pepper Wings

July 7, 2025

Atlanta-based Zaxbys is entering the dry rub market for the first time with the launch of its Lemon Pepper offerings, available for a limited time. To…

Cali Coffee grinds away at Starbucks, Dunkin'

Join Fast Casual Nation host Paul Barron as he interviews Craig Avera, founder and CEO of Cali Coffee, a Florida-based drive-thru coffee chain that's doubled…

Fast casual restaurants see June sales dip

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

July 2, 2025

Sales at small business restaurants, including many fast casual concepts, saw a slight year-over-year increase of 0.4% in June, but experienced a sharper 2.6…

Fast casuals hanging on as consumers prioritize groceries amid cuts

July 1, 2025

While U.S. consumers are spending more than twice as much on groceries as on food at restaurants, fast casual brands remain a significant portion of their…

Culinary Tides, Buona Companies, Roll Mobility leaders to give executive perspectives at Fast Casual Executive Summit

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

Four speakers will give their executive perspectives in an address at the Fast Casual Executive Summit October 7, 2024 in Austin, Texas.