Aloha, Innovation: Why L&L’s Eddie Flores Jr is a must-see at RFIS 2026

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Anyone who knows Eddie knows he brings a witty, frank and refreshingly honest perspective to the table. He's going to talk about the "unconventional…

Fast Casual Nation reveals top 2026 restaurant trends

Join Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler as they sit down with industry expert Suzy Badaracco from Culinary Tides to forecast the biggest restaurant trends for…

Hot Head Burritos marks 2025 with record growth

January 7, 2026

Hot Head Burritos enters 2026 with sustained momentum following a year of steady expansion, product breakthroughs and digital investments designed to help…

FastCasual opens nominations for 2026 Top 100 Movers & Shakers

January 7, 2026

Nominations close Feb. 8.

Blaze Pizza names John Owen CEO, launches GLP-1 pizza

January 6, 2026

Blaze Pizza has named industry veteran John Owen as its chief executive officer, signaling a push for global expansion and technological innovation.

The 24% boost: How Shipley Do-Nuts is winning the AI race

Join Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler on Fast Casual Nation as they dive deep into AI's transformation of the restaurant industry with Kerry Leo, VP of…

1 question every Founder should ask (Most never do)

In our latest Founderology podcast episode, Ellis Winstanley and I discuss his Founder’s journey, from being an 18-year-old who refused to accept he couldn't…

Alonso Castaneda creates Taco Culture

January 6, 2026

After a quarter century of building some of the fastest-growing restaurant brands in the country, industry veteran Alonso Castaneda is stepping into the…

How to amplify your leadership impact by leading with influence

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

Leading with influence focuses on building trust, empathy and a shared vision to inspire teams toward higher engagement and growth, moving beyond traditional…

Speaker Spotlight: Chris Demery, CTO of Blaze Pizza

Chris Demery, CTO of Blaze Pizza, shares a look at his career, his achievements and industry trends ahead of his appearance at the Restaurant Franchising …

Unlock New Customers: Leverage Delivery Aggregators for Restaurant Growth

A food delivery aggregator solution can provide significant return on investment because it’s an online platform that simplifies delivery operations for…

Presented by SpeedLine Solutions

Driving traffic in 2026: 4 coffee chain strategies fast casuals should embrace

by Shira Petrack — Content Manager, Placer.ai

Fast casual brands can drive traffic in 2026 without freebies by learning from Scooter's, Starbucks, 7 Brews and Dunkin.

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

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, 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 — Editor, FastCasual.com

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