HMSHost taps former Jamba, Starbucks exec as COO

March 2, 2020

HMSHost, a restaurateur known for operating in airports and motorways, has appointed industry veteran Joe Thornton as EVP and COO. He will oversee HMSHost…

Barberitos delivers mobile app upgrade

March 2, 2020

Barberitos, a fast casual restaurant featuring southwestern-style burritos, has launched its updated mobile app, which includes a new design for the location…

Jon Smith Subs president: 'Millennials are the future of franchising'

Jim Butler, the president of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill and Jon Smith Subs, weighs in on why millennials are the future of franchising.

Farmer Boys changing name to Farmer Girls?

February 25, 2020

Farmer Boys, a Southern California-based fast casual concept known for its burgers, is celebrating Women's History Month throughout March by changing its name…

Franchisors enjoy more protection under final joint-employee ruling

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

February 25, 2020

Suing parent companies whose franchisees are involved in labor law violations just got harder. The National Labor Relations Board Tuesday reversed the Obama…

Cosi files for bankruptcy protection — again

February 25, 2020

Cosi Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and closed 30 stores. It's the second bankruptcy filing since 2016 for the Boston-based fast casual…

Qdoba, California Tortilla upping their app games

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

California Tortilla and Qdoba have launched mobile app upgrades.

WorkJam buys staffing platform Forge

February 19, 2020

Digital workplace solutions provider WorkJam is acquiring Forge, an on-demand staffing platform, according to a press release. The move will help WorkJam…

Challenges Facing Restaurants in 2020

Restaurants are up against more than ever. While margins are as thin as always, labor, food, regulations and competition continue to rise. But restaurants also…

Presented by SynergySuite

Buy or Build: A Guide to Avoiding Frankenware

By covering the differences between companies who build through acquisition vs as a holistic product, readers will learn the pros and cons of each, how to spot…

Presented by SynergySuite

I Heart Mac & Cheese launches mobile app

February 18, 2020

I Heart Mac & Cheese, a fast casual concept specializing in customizable, made-to-order macaroni and cheese bowls and grilled cheese sandwiches, has…

Chipotle goes all in for hockey

February 18, 2020

Chipotle Mexican Grill is treating hockey fans to freebies Friday with its "Wear Your Hockey Jersey" program. Fans dressed in their fave hockey jerseys can…

Checkers & Rally's taps former Boston Market leader as CEO

February 17, 2020

Tampa, Florida-based Checkers & Rally's has named former Boston Market CEO Frances Allen as its CEO and board member, effective today. She succeeds Rick…

Toast lands $400M in funding

February 14, 2020

Toast, a restaurant management platform in the U.S., today has raised $400 million in its latest round of funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners, TPG…

Chop Chop Rice CEO: 'We can't hire like we did in the past'

David Smith, CEO of Chop Chop Rice Co., shares the eight things he does to recruit and keep high-quality employees.

Orange Leaf's positive SSS growth continues to climb

February 13, 2020

Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt finished 2019 on a high note, achieving positive same-store sales growth, which President and COO Kendall Ware attributed to an…

WeWork launches workspace for restaurants

February 13, 2020

WeWork Food Labs — designed for food-focused entrepreneurs and companies that need a collaborative and flexible workspace — is now open in New York City. The…

Chipotle goes 'Gauc Mode'

February 12, 2020

We've heard of beast mode, but Chipotle is taking it to "Guac Mode," giving free guac to its more than 8.5 million Chipotle Rewards members. To celebrate the…

Newk's hires former la Madeline operations VP

February 10, 2020

Newk's Eatery has named Joe Pate as its first chief operations officer, a position created to expand the operations team as part its growth plan.

Leveraging technology to manage restaurant labor costs

Labor can make or break a restaurant, being the one variable that exists in all facets of a restaurant’s core functionality and a top concern among managers…