Smoothie King posts 9% July same-store sales growth, expands franchise pipeline

August 13, 2026

Smoothie King is seeing strong momentum from menu expansion and franchisee investment, reporting 9% same-store sales growth in July and its highest number of…

Flytrex, Nash focus on flexible delivery, not just drones

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Flytrex and Nash have partnered to provide the best delivery service from restaurant to home, whether via drone or food courier.

Chipotle opening in Saudi Arabia

August 13, 2026

Chipotle Mexican Grill is opening its first restaurant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia later this month in partnership with Alshaya Group, at Sidra, a dining…

Women's Foodservice Forum teams up with Culture Partners for 2026 workshops

August 12, 2026

The Women's Foodservice Forum has partnered with consultancy Culture Partners to provide culture and accountability training to its more than 8,000 members…

Cava reports strong Q2 results, fueled by traffic growth, restaurant openings

August 12, 2026

Cava Group has delivered a strong Q2 quarter, with revenue, same-store restaurant sales and guest traffic all posting solid gains as the mediterranean chain…

Restaurant turnover isn't a hiring issue — It's a culture problem, say Fast Casual Executive Summit panelists

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

Tiki Taco's Eric Knott and Training Simplified's Sam Worobec preview their session at the 2026 Fast Casual Executive Summit, Oct. 4–6 in Arlington, Texas.

Inspire doubles down on first Buffalo Wild Wings-Jimmy John’s co-brand

August 12, 2026

Inspire Brands is expanding its co-branding strategy with the Aug. 18 opening of its first Buffalo Wild Wings GO and Jimmy John's location at 5241 69th St. E…

The 7 Best WhatsApp Alternatives for Restaurant Teams

A ranked look at seven WhatsApp alternatives for restaurant teams, compared on work-life boundaries, organized group chats, admin control, mobile ease, and…

US Foods Direct adds PleatPak innovative burger wrappers to platform

August 11, 2026

PleatPak, which makes foodservice packaging designed for burgers and sandwiches, is now available to restaurant operators nationwide through the US Foods…

Healthy fast casual goes convenient: Konala, Clean Eatz redefining drive-thru, grab-and-go

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Two brands, two models — one goal: making nutritious food as fast and effortless as fast food.

Technology drives 100% franchisee adoption of Beyond Juicery + Eatery pricing strategy

August 10, 2026

Beyond Juicery + Eatery said all of its franchise owners have adopted pricing guidance developed in partnership with restaurant pricing and decision…

Moe's Southwest Grill franchisee files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

August 10, 2026

Moe's Southwest Grill franchisee Quality Fresca filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Aug. 4 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of…

Jersey Mike's tops Chick-fil-A in customer satisfaction rankings

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

August 10, 2026

Jersey Mike's Subs, which announced IPO plans last month, has achieved something few restaurant brands have managed in the last decade: the fast-casual…

4 misses in Founder-led negotiations

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

Although Founders know their businesses best, their deep emotional investment and daily operational pressures often compromise their negotiating leverage…

Voting now open for 2026 Top 30 Movers & Shakers: Catering

August 10, 2026

Voting is officially open for 2026 Top 30 Movers & Shakers: Catering, recognizing the restaurant professionals driving growth, innovation and excellence in…

Print vendor serving restaurant brands expanding nationwide after acquisition

August 7, 2026

Sandy Alexander, a commercial printing and marketing services company that counts restaurant chains among its clients, has been acquired by the Marth Group…

Sweetgreen turnaround plan: 5 strategies to drive restaurant traffic and profitability

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Following its Q2 2026 earnings report, Sweetgreen executives outlined how the fast casual chain plans to improve operations, increase transactions, leverage AI…

5 restaurant pricing trends operators must know from Q2 2026 consumer data

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Revenue Management Solutions’ latest consumer report reveals how restaurant guests are responding to higher prices, changing value expectations and shifting…

Bain Capital to acquire Gong cha Global from TA Associates

August 6, 2026

Bain Capital has agreed to acquire Gong cha Global, a Taiwan-born tea brand, from TA Associates and other shareholders. Terms of the deal were not disclosed…

How Tony Roma's is using fast-casual strategies to reinvent itself

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

CEO Mina Haque explains how the 54-year-old brand is adapting to changing consumer habits without abandoning its casual-dining roots.