2025 in review: FastCasual’s 10 most-read stories

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Top stories centered on major brand pivots, such as Golden Corral rebranding its fast casual concept, and the return of seasonal events like Starbucks' Red Cup…

Capriotti’s expanding Arizona footprint

December 31, 2025

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop will expand its Arizona footprint on Jan. 7 with the opening of a location in the Happy Valley area of Phoenix.

&pizza betting on casino location in Vegas

December 31, 2025

Washington, D.C.-based &pizza will open its first West Coast location at the Rio Hotel & Casino in spring 2026, marking a significant geographic…

7 Brew doubles footprint to 600 units in 2025

December 30, 2025

Drive-thru beverage brand 7 Brew has reached 600 locations nationwide following a year of rapid expansion and strategic leadership changes.

Tiki Taco expanding in 2026

December 30, 2025

Kansas City-based Tiki Taco is concluding a year of significant expansion as it prepares for a major push into the Kansas City suburbs in 2026.

Visibility Is Security: The Compliance Risk of Internal Team Communication

Your biggest security risk isn't external - it's your internal communication. Discover how using personal chat apps for work creates massive compliance risk…

FastCasual extends nomination deadline for '25 Brands to Watch: 2026'

December 29, 2025

Nominations close Jan. 3.

How Onigilly scaled from founder-led concept to a 20-unit franchise pipeline

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Founder and CEO Koji Kanematsu said the brand's corporate locations are expected to generate approximately $2 million in revenue this year.

Del Taco begins growth phase under new ownership

December 29, 2025

Del Taco began operations last week under its new parent company, Yadav Enterprises.

The Legal Liability of Unmonitored Work Group Chats

There comes a point where the informal chat apps that got your business off the ground become a serious liability, creating legal, HR, and financial risks that…

Mixue makes American debut in Hollywood

December 23, 2025

Mixue, a Chinese beverage giant known for its ultra-low prices and "Snow King" mascot, has officially entered the American market with the opening of its first…

Pizza Marketplace’s 'Brands to Watch 2026' released

December 19, 2025

The report lists 25 pizzerias doing great things as we go into the new year.

QSR is losing its lunch to monofoods – here's what they can do about it

by George Gottl — Chief Creative Officer, Spatial Design, FutureBrand

Traditional QSRs are losing market share to specialized "monofood outlets" that excel in unique flavor, simplicity and customer experience, and must therefore…

Your frontline is your superpower. Here’s how to unlock it.

Frontline employees carry your brand every day, yet many feel overlooked and unheard. Learn how empowering them with trust, training, and meaningful feedback…

Pizza Brands to Watch in 2026

Dominating the landscape is a shift toward “experiential” and “fusion” dining, where classic pepperoni is being challenged by global flavors like…

Presented by PizzaMarketplace.com

Ten Ramen sold to Vandelay Companies

December 18, 2025

Vandelay Companies has acquired Ten Ramen, a staple of the Dallas dining scene for a decade, and announced plans to expand the brand to the West Village…

Hopdoddy leading the charge in the modern burger evolution

Smalls Sliders expands South Carolina footprint with 5-unit deal

December 17, 2025

Smalls Sliders, a cheeseburger slider concept based in modular shipping containers, is expanding its presence in Upstate South Carolina following a multi-unit…

Fatburger returning to Japan

December 17, 2025

Los Angeles-based restaurant company FAT Brands Inc. has opened a Fatburger location in Okinawa, marking the burger chain's return to the Japanese market. It…

The Advantages of Franchising

Franchising offers a proven path to growth, but success requires more than a strong concept. This whitepaper breaks down the advantages of franchising while…

Presented by Franchise Growth Partners