Naf Naf Grill, investor group buy minority share

March 18, 2021

Chicago-based Naf Naf Grill and an investor group have acquired the entire minority ownership in the company previously held by affiliates of Roark Capital.

Luckin Coffee announces restructuring plan

March 18, 2021

China based Luckin Coffee Inc., a pioneer in self-service coffee machines in addition to being a coffee shop chain, has entered into a restructuring support…

Dillas Quesadillas launching operating partner program

March 17, 2021

Dillas Quesadillas, a North Texas-based restaurant featuring cooked-to-order quesadillas, has launched an operating partner program to help it enter new…

Olo tops $450M IPO

March 17, 2021

Olo Inc., a food-ordering software company, has raised $450 million in an initial public offering of its Class A common stock.

Torchy's testing ghost kitchen in Ohio

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

March 17, 2021

Torchy's Tacos has chosen Columbus, Ohio, as the home of its first ghost kitchen, opening this spring in partnership with CloudKitchens, a real estate company…

Taffer's Tavern adds food lockers for contactless carryout

March 16, 2021

Taffer's Tavern, a restaurant founded by Jon Taffer, the star of Paramount Network's "Bar Rescue," is providing contactless carry-out service via food lockers.

Juice It Up opens 2nd Santa Ana location

March 15, 2021

Juice It Up has opened its second Santa Ana, California, location. Featuring a new store design and owned by husband-and-wife duo, Burcin and Aycan Ekener, the…

From bakesales to big sales: The Cupcake Collection founder shares path to success

Mignon Francois, the founder of The Cupcake Collection, reveals how she went from baking and selling cupcakes out of her home to opening storefronts in…

Billion dollar dreams: Olo’s IPO could be valued at $3B

by Dmytro Spilka — CEO, Solvid

Restaurant software company, Olo, plans to raise as much as $306 million in an IPO. The New York-based business is pitching the offering to investors as the…

Saladworks' owner acquires The Simple Greek by Marcus Lemonis

March 12, 2021

WOWorks, the parent company of Saladworks, has added a big name to its portfolio. The Simple Greek — a Mediterranean franchise founded in 2015, in Youngstown…

Buffalo Wild Wings, BetMGM launch sports betting experience

March 12, 2021

Sports fans now have access to a sports betting experience when via the BetMGM app available inside Buffalo Wild Wings sports bars in Colorado, New Jersey…

CORE using prepaid cards to disburse funding

March 12, 2021

In hopes of helping restaurant employees struggling to survive the coronavirus pandemic, the nonprofit, Children of Restaurant Employees, has been collecting…

Restaurateurs: American Rescue Plan is beacon of hope

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

With today's presidential signature on the nearly $2 trillion American Rescue Plan stimulus, a collective sigh of relief is being heard from restaurateurs…

Bad February weather proves stormy for restaurant transaction activity

March 11, 2021

Severe weather in many areas of the U.S. in February didn't do much to resuscitate restaurant customer transactions at major chains which were already…

Congress approves $1.9T stimulus bill

March 10, 2021

Congress on Wednesday approved President Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus package by a vote of 220-211 to provide pandemic aid, one of the largest federal aid…

Atmosphere Adds First Media’s Blossom as Partner Channel

Blossom features as a dedicated channel on Atmosphere’s streaming service for businesses. Reaching 15 million viewers per month out-of-home.

How Famous Dave's fueled growth during pandemic

Famous Dave's Chief Operating Officer Al Hank discusses why the nearly 130-unit chain has been focusing on off-premise service since 2017 and how that strategy…

Cardlytics acquires Dosh

March 9, 2021

Cardlytics, a digital advertising platform, has acquired Dosh, a cash-back offers platform. Previously announced on March 1, the acquisition will combine the…

FastCasual reveals 2021's '20 Brands to Watch'

March 9, 2021

Being the new kid on the restaurant block is always scary, but few would argue that moving in during a global pandemic would be terrifying. After all, there…

Celebrating International Women's Day: Dickey's, Jack In The Box, Blaze among leaders featured

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Female execs, including leaders from Dickey's, Freddy's, Jack in the box and Blaze, talk about how they've handled discrimination and what they want Gen Z to…