Why Your Restaurant Staff Can Never Truly Clock Out From the Work Chat

When work and personal messages land in the same messaging app, your restaurant staff can never truly clock out. Here's what that costs you.

How Joe & the Juice is scaling without losing brand identity

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Joe & the Juice combines aggressive U.S. expansion plans with maintaining the identity that factored into its growth.

How Velvet Taco CEO Chris Schultz scales a cult brand without losing its soul

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

During his keynote at the Fast Casual Executive Summit in Texas, Chris Schultz will discuss restaurant growth, brand culture, leadership, international…

Paytronix, Qu launch upgraded menu, order integration for restaurants

June 29, 2026

Paytronix, a guest engagement and digital ordering solutions provider, announced an upgraded integration with commerce platform Qu to automatically sync online…

The Power of the Rearview Mirror and the Windshield: An activity of reflection and projection

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

Using the metaphor of a vehicle's small rearview mirror and large windshield, columnist Kathleen Wood shares a structured framework designed to briefly…

MOD Pizza launches 'Sweet Heat Summer' campaign with Italy trip sweepstakes

June 29, 2026

MOD Pizza has launched its "Sweet Heat Summer" campaign, a summerlong initiative running through Aug. 23 that features the return of a popular menu item, a…

Founders Table Restaurant Group acquires Hopdoddy Burger Bar

June 26, 2026

Founders Table Restaurant Group has acquired Hopdoddy Burger Bar, an Austin, Texas-based fast-casual brand known for pioneering the better-burger space.

Improving restaurant food cost margins: Benchmarks, tips and expert insights

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Running restaurants is costly, but effective food cost reduction strategies can help operators protect their margins and cut their expenses.

Blaze Pizza expands nationwide menu with refreshed salad lineup

June 25, 2026

Blaze Pizza is expanding its menu this week with a refreshed salad lineup at participating locations nationwide, featuring three new premium entrée salads and…

The Cost of Running Your Restaurant's Internal Communication on Personal Messaging Apps

Using personal messaging apps for work communication creates hidden costs for restaurant teams, from privacy risks and blurred workdays to missed tasks and…

Why the 'pizza party vs. raise' debate reveals a bigger catering opportunity

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

New data on workplace meals shows employees are more productive, more connected and more likely to return to the office when food is provided, creating a clear…

From kitchens to tech hubs: Inside fast casual’s digital revolution

In the latest episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, Cherryh Cansler, publisher of FastCasual.com, sits down with Luke Wilwerding, Vice President of North…

Presented by Elo Touch Solutions, Inc.

Togo's expanding with tech-centric prototype, broker-sourced leads

June 22, 2026

Founded in 1971 near San Jose State University, Togo's Sandwiches is gearing up for a major Western U.S. expansion after partnering with Franchise FastLane's…

Chipotle COO Jason Kidd reveals strategy behind tech-driven back-of-house overhaul

Chipotle COO Jason Kidd joins Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler to break down how the 4,100-unit brand is winning and retaining the…

Presented by Star Micronics America

Reddie opens access to restaurant digital signage platform

June 19, 2026

Digital signage manufacturer Reddie has opened access to its intelligent platform, allowing resellers and distributors to white-label and monetize hardware and…

The Power of One: Your role as a Founder

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

To successfully escape the "Stuck Zone" and scale a business, a Founder must transition from a hustle-driven operator to an intentional CEO by making three…

Tord Olav Dønnum on the future of autonomous foodservice

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

Tord Olav Dønnum discusses how robotics, automation and artificial intelligence are reshaping foodservice operations and how autonomous kitchens can help…

No pickle butts: How Love & Honey Fried Chicken built a scalable brand

Laura Lyons, co-founder & CEO, Love & Honey Franchise Company, explains how the brand's systems, obsession over details and training are helping the five-unit…

Wonder, Dave’s Hot Chicken Real Estate VPs reveal growth strategies

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Real estate strategy is central to growth for restaurant brands, and Wonder and Dave's Hot Chicken are taking different approaches to scale. In a podcast…

Understaffing top stressor for restaurant workers, study finds

June 18, 2026

Understaffing ranks as the top stressor for restaurant workers, according to a recurring industry report released by 7shifts, an HR platform for restaurant…