Operations News & Media
3 ways to keep customers ordering your 'not-so-cheap' eats
by CJ Gaffney — VP Brand Strategy, Partners + Napier
A few Fridays ago, I found myself in the Wendy's drive-thru with three boys in the backseat and a trunk full of baseball gear. The sun was setting, nerves were…
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Rapper helping Zaxbys intro Lemon Pepper Wings
July 7, 2025
Atlanta-based Zaxbys is entering the dry rub market for the first time with the launch of its Lemon Pepper offerings, available for a limited time. To…
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Cali Coffee grinds away at Starbucks, Dunkin'
Join Fast Casual Nation host Paul Barron as he interviews Craig Avera, founder and CEO of Cali Coffee, a Florida-based drive-thru coffee chain that's doubled…
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Fast casual restaurants see June sales dip
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
July 2, 2025
Sales at small business restaurants, including many fast casual concepts, saw a slight year-over-year increase of 0.4% in June, but experienced a sharper 2.6…
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Fast casuals hanging on as consumers prioritize groceries amid cuts
July 1, 2025
While U.S. consumers are spending more than twice as much on groceries as on food at restaurants, fast casual brands remain a significant portion of their…
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Culinary Tides, Buona Companies, Roll Mobility leaders to give executive perspectives at Fast Casual Executive Summit
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group
Four speakers will give their executive perspectives in an address at the Fast Casual Executive Summit October 7, 2024 in Austin, Texas.
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Jamba CBO: Snacking is becoming the main course
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
Nathan Louer, chief brand officer of Jamba, reveals the brand's 'snackification' strategy.
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How Fry the Coop founder traded everything for freedom (and fried chicken)
On this episode of Founderology: Built to Breakthrough, we sit down with Joe Fontana who went from being stuck in a cubicle to running one of the most…
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Shake Shack: 'Home of the Braves'
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
The location, which is the chain's second-largest unit, features seating for over 100, its first bar, a wall of free arcade games, kiosks and over a dozen TVs…
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Cousins Maine Lobster surpasses $1B systemwide sales
June 30, 2025
Cousins Maine Lobster, a national food truck and fast-casual dining concept, has surpassed $1 billion in systemwide sales since its founding in 2012. The…
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Can protein, "back to basics" approach re-energize Starbucks?
by R.J. Hottovy — Head of Analytical Research, Placer.ai
If Starbucks can give its large, established customer base new reasons to visit, it can unlock significant growth.
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Speaker Spotlight: Seth Larsen, chief relationship officer, Cheba Hut Toasted Subs
by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com
Seth Larsen, chief relationship officer at Cheba Hut Toasted Subs, is one of dozens of panelists participating in the upcoming Fast Casual Executive Summit.
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3 Ways Unified Data Drives ROI & Value for Enterprise Restaurant Brands
Discover how leading brands use restaurant operations, data, and analytics to boost ROI, streamline performance, and scale unit-level profitability.
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Qdoba opens 800th location
June 26, 2025
Qdoba has opened its 800th location in North Miami Beach, Florida, marking a significant step toward its goal of doubling its footprint to 1,600 restaurants by…
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Wonder serving TikTok star's cupcakes, salad
June 26, 2025
Melissa Ben-Ishay, a New York Times bestselling cookbook author and founder of Baked by Melissa, has partnered with Wonder to offer her Rainbow Kale Salad and…
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Fast casuals tapping into alcohol to boost profits
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
Margaritas, in particular, have been a key driver in Taco Cabana's growth, proving that even in a fast casual setting, customers are eager for a refreshing…
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Taco John's CEO talks balancing innovation with brand's rich history
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group
Heather Neary, president and CEO of legacy brand Taco John's, chats with podcast host Mandy Detwiler about balancing the brand's history with the innovation…
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Dave's Hot Chicken COO: Winning the Top 100, growing from 4 to 300 units
Join Restaurant Masterminds hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler as they sit down with Jim Bitticks, president and COO of Dave's Hot Chicken, to discuss…
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Restaurant AI adoption remains on the back burner
June 23, 2025
Although a majority of restaurant executives plan to increase their investments in artificial intelligence, adoption is slow going, according to a Deloitte…
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