Muscle Maker Grill raising funds to expand via ghost kitchens

September 11, 2020

Hoping to raise capital to expand its non-traditional location growth initiatives on military bases, universities and ghost kitchens, Muscle Maker Inc. has…

Starbucks dares to go strawless

September 10, 2020

As part of its commitment to eliminate plastic straws from its stores, Starbucks has made its strawless lids the standard for iced beverages in…

Foodworks launches contact-free dining solutions for businesses

September 9, 2020

As businesses across the nation gradually welcome workers back to the office, a Chicago-based restaurant incubator, Foodworks, has launched a contact-free…

Chipotle donates $125K to sustainable farming scholarship

September 9, 2020

Chipotle Mexican Grill has donated $125,000 to the Niman Ranch Next Generation Foundation's scholarship program for young farmers and future sustainable…

Sweetgreen launches curated menu options

September 9, 2020

Sweetgreen has launched Collections, a menu format on its digital platforms featuring curated categories to meet guests' specific needs — whether they want…

How Urban Plates negotiated for more outdoor space

John Zagara, the co-founder of Urban Plates, reveals how he secured more space from his landlords to expand patios at 10 of his locations amid COVID-19.

Everbowl inks 20-unit franchise deal

September 8, 2020

Everbowl is opening 20 units in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and California thanks to a franchise partnership with WAGS Capital, a boutique investment firm…

Famous Dave's launching dual-branded restaurant

September 4, 2020

Famous Dave's and franchisee Dave Crimmins are working together to open a restaurant in Colorado Springs to serve food from Famous Dave's as well as Texas…

Costa Coffee considers laying off 1,650

September 4, 2020

Costa Coffee, the U.K. based coffee house chain that has its own coffee vending machine known as Costa Express, will eliminate as many as 1,650 on account of…

Dickey's selling direct-to-consumer butchered meats, pre-cooked sides

September 4, 2020

Dickey's Barbecue Pit is giving fans access to restaurant-quality cuts of meat, premium pre-cooked sides and desserts, unveiling a line-up of retail products…

Fast Casual Top 100 brands share these 3 traits

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

For the past 14 years, FastCasual has recognized the industry's leading brands in its annual Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers report. Sweetgreen, a…

Reinforce Social Distancing Measures with Occupancy Counting Technology

Leverage AI-powered video analytics to help automate the counting of people entering and exiting a restaurant. Results display on cloud-based dashboards so you…

Drive-thrus prove to be lifeline for restaurants

September 1, 2020

Drive-thru restaurants have been a lifeline for restaurants during the pandemic, according to The NPD Group, which found that drive-thru restaurant visits…

Beef O' Brady's 'chickens out'

August 31, 2020

FSC Franchise Co., the parent company of Tampa-based Beef' O' Brady's and The Brass Tap, is getting in the chicken game with The Hatchery. Although the fast…

Jersey Mike's launches contactless catering program

August 31, 2020

Jersey Mike's Subs is introducing a contactless catering program to give customers a more secure meal option for gatherings. Choices include:

Why Dog Haus hearts virtual kitchens (and why you should, too)

Nearly 18 months ago, Dog Haus started developing virtual brands for an August 2020 launch, but COVID-19 forced an earlier debut. Dog Haus' Hagop Giragossian…

Chipotle using app to support back-to-school fundraiser

August 31, 2020

Chipotle Mexican Grill is leveraging its fundraising technology to help support under-resourced students returning to school. Through its first-ever digital…

Contactless Payments Across Multiple Verifone Devices

With COVID-19 promising to remain an issue for the foreseeable future, contactless payments will continue to increase in popularity.

Starbucks, Sweetgreen leading employees to the polls

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Two fast casual brands known for leading the industry — Sweetgreen and Starbucks — are leading their employees to the polls in November.

CORE appoints Sheila Bennett as executive director

August 26, 2020

Children of Restaurant Employees — CORE — a national non-profit organization that supports food and beverage service employees with children, has appointed…