Nominations open for Top 5 Movers & Shakers: Visionary Restaurant Founders

November 10, 2025

Nominations close Dec. 7

Crust Pizza Co., L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, Gong cha, Juice It Up execs talk the future of franchising

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

Executive insights from the Fast Casual Executive Summit reveal that the franchising model is rapidly evolving due to technology, changing consumer and…

&pizza acquires Tijuana Flats, creates holding company

November 6, 2025

Washington DC-based &pizza has acquired Tijuana Flats and formed a the holding company, Latitude Food Group, to oversee both brands.

Strategies to lead through a cultural transformation in the workplace

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

November 6, 2025

How to successfully navigate the inevitable challenges of organizational culture change by emphasizing clear communication, leading by example, empowering…

Shake Shack's 1,500-store quest: CDO discusses scaling culture, tech, suburban drive-thrus

Noodles & Co's 3 steps to profitability: Menu innovation, closures, digital growth

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Although the company announced a net loss of $9.2 million, or 20 cents per diluted share, recent sales growth and the decision to close underperforming…

Leading with flavor, heart, vision: The Tacodeli way

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

In this episode of the Founderology Podcast, Roberto Espinosa, the Founder of Tacodeli, discusses how his taco shop has grown into one of the most authentic…

Top 3 learnings from Cava's Q3 earnings about growth in tight economy

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Cava reported Q3 2025 revenue of $289.8 million, up 20% year over year, with same-restaurant sales growth of 1.9% and restaurant-level profit margin of 24.6%.

Fast casuals embracing micro-meals, protein as traditional dayparts disappear

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

This focus on smaller, frequent meals reflects a major cultural shift, often referred to as the “death of the daypart,” where consumers are increasingly…

Portillo's net income plunges 91% in Q3 amid slowdown in same-store sales

November 4, 2025

Portillo's lowered its same-restaurant sales forecast for the full fiscal year to a decline of between 1% and 1.5%, down from previous guidance

Own your financials: 5 metrics that drive business growth

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

Gaining strong financial visibility by overcoming common hurdles and focusing on key metrics like sales, COGS, and net operating income is essential for…

How 1 founder is building a better-burger brand from scratch

Chipotle lowers sales forecast as younger diners cut back

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

October 30, 2025

Despite the quarterly volatility, the company remains confident in its long-term goals of surpassing $4 million in average unit volumes and expanding to 7,00…

Shake Shack's 'operational excellence' fuels earnings beat

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

October 30, 2025

Shake Shack Inc. demonstrated its resilience and operational prowess, reporting a stellar third quarter for 2025 that blew past Wall Street expectations and…

Starbucks' turnaround plan takes hold

October 30, 2025

The chain reported its first global comp growth in seven quartersfueled by service and international markets.

Limited-service visits decline as customer service, value perceptions hit new lows

October 29, 2025

There may be a growing crisis for the limited-service restaurant industry, according to the 2025 QSR Reputation Ranking Report by Chatmeter, which analyzed…

Onigilly: More than just sushi

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

Onigilly has seven restaurants in the San Francisco Bay area.

How tech is blurring the lines between fast casuals, QSR

The walls between fast casual, QSR and casual dining are crumbling, and it's technology that's breaking them down.

Presented by Elo Touch Solutions, Inc.

Staffing, food costs force price hikes as restaurants 'control the controllables'

October 28, 2025

U.S. food and beverage operators are relying on technology and diversification to manage a "double squeeze" from rising labor and ingredient costs, according…

At the Watercooler with Gunpil Hwang

Gunpil Hwang believes robotics and automation can reshape the restaurant experience by making kitchens safer for employees, operations smoother for managers…

Presented by Aniai, Inc.