Jersey Mike's leans on 4 drivers to push AUVs toward $2M

Q3 comps rose 3%, led by traffic, as CEO Charlie Morrison lays out the chain’s plan to grow transactions.

How Shake Shack is scaling hospitality through technology, AI

Hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler chat with Justin Mennen, chief information and technology officer, to talk about Project Catalyst and how Shake Shack is…

Presented by HigherMe

Nash & Smashed sees 70% higher checks at Qu kiosk-led locations

October 28, 2026

Fairfax, Virginia-based Nash & Smashed is working with Qu's restaurant technology platform to support its franchise expansion.

Sweetgreen announces incentive strategies and leadership growth plans

October 27, 2026

Sweetgreen is introducing its Head Coach Incentive plan, an incentive strategy allowing top-performing restaurant managers to potentially earn more than…

How TAP is redefining fast casual: Scaling Brazilian flavor, AI strategy, wellness culture

In this episode of the Fast Casual Nation Front Runners series, host Paul Barron sits down with Pedro and Cleo Uchôa, the visionaries behind TAP.

What did that tech rollout really cost? Operators to reveal all at RFIS in New Orleans

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Early bird rates for the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit end Friday, Oct. 30.

Weekend round-up: Chipotle brings back brisket as Mendocino Farms grows in Colorado

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

A slow weekend on the wires still brought a major-brand menu return, a new Colorado city for Mendocino Farms and growth moves from Luna Grill and The Big Greek…

Shipley Donuts expands national footprint in Q3

October 26, 2026

Shipley Donuts grew its national footprint in the third quarter, signing franchise agreements for new locations in the Midwest, Southeast and Texas while…

How functional beverages provide new reasons to visit

Functional beverages are creating new opportunities for juice and smoothie bars to attract customers across dayparts. From protein smoothies to energy and…

Chicken Salad Chick CFO Drew Travis on AI site selection and the road to 500 units

Hosts Cherryh Cansler and Paul Barron also break down why the rumored Starbucks and Chipotle deal was a false start, discuss how top brands are navigating…

Pollo Campero names Julio Sanchez US CEO

October 22, 2026

Pollo Campero has appointed Julio Sánchez CEO of its U.S. business, Campero USA Corp., effective immediately. He succeeds Luis Javier Rodas, who spent 26 years…

Urban Bird expands Texas footprint, signs franchise deals in Q3

October 22, 2026

Urban Bird Hot Chicken expanded its Texas footprint and signed franchise development agreements during the third quarter while introducing new programs to…

Report: Fast casual sector still outpacing overall restaurant growth

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Although the overall news was positive, the segment faces a delicate balancing act as operators navigate rising overhead. Food costs remain the top operational…

The Big Dilla: How Maggie Gordon, co-founder of Dilla’s Quesadillas, built a new brand category

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

On this episode of “Built to Breakthrough,” I talk with Maggie Gordon, co-Founder of Dillas Quesadillas. Since opening in Plano, Texas, in 2013, Maggie and her…

Naked Farmer’s Jordan Johnson is growing without giving away the farm

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

To open his first 11 locations, the founder started with using Small Business Administration-backed loans and moved to more conventional financing as the…

Little Caesars Extends Multi-Year Agreement with Deliverect, Adds Guatemala to Third-Party Ordering Deployment

Renewal continues support for third-party order integration and gives participating franchisees access to an additional monitoring tool

Firehouse Subs co-founder Chris Sorensen dies at 65

October 19, 2026

Chris Sorensen, the former firefighter who co-founded national fast-casual chain Firehouse Subs alongside his brother, Robin, has died. He was 65.

State of the Industry: Fast Casual 2026 and Beyond

Explore growth forecasts, operator profitability and pricing pressures, leading brands, menu and LTO trends, and consumer demand for value and innovation—all…

Presented by Datassential, Inc.

Fast casuals are bringing coffee roasting on-site to drive profits, transparency

by Jonathan Bass — EVP, Marketing + Communications, Bellwether Coffee

Over the past decade, some of the most successful brands in foodservice have built their growth around a simple but powerful idea: let customers see what's…

Five Guys premieres 'On The Line' docuseries on Prime Video

October 16, 2026

Five Guys has launched a five-episode docuseries on Prime Video highlighting the high-stakes world of its internal crew competition.