Boloco CEO: 'Most real change requires irrational passion, effort, behavior'

Although a Boloco located on the Boston Common sustained smashed glass, stolen computers and cash amid George Floyd protests last week, CEO John Pepper…

Portland eatery installs vending machine to serve guests during COVID-19

June 8, 2020

Pix Patisserie, a Portland restaurant, installed a refrigerated vending machine to serve rotating trays of pork dumplings, squid, crème brûlée, macarons and…

Webinar to explore how mid-market restaurateurs hyper-focus on digital channels

June 5, 2020

Paul Doerner While many fast-casual restaurant concepts have successfully pivoted to off-premise during the coronavirus pandemic, the desire to reopen…

3 Ways to Re-Build Brand Trust & Attract Guests During COVID

Guests have increased anxiety about the food pickup & collection process today. Restaurants need to rebuild brand trust by delivering these 3 things.

Presented by Qu

Just Salad exec: 'A calorie label simply isn't enough'

June 5, 2020

Just Salad is embracing carbon labeling, which means its menu will feature the carbon footprint that reflects the total estimated greenhouse gas emissions…

Webinar offers insightful strategy for retailers in the 'new normal' of business

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

A free on-demand informative webinar, sponsored by LogMeIn, offers critical insight for retailers getting back to business in the wake of COVID-19.

Coolgreens revamps vending strategy, targets residential, office market

June 5, 2020

Coolgreens, an Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-based fast casual restaurant chain, is catering to high-rise residential and office buildings in Dallas, according to a…

Is Starbucks still Starbucks?

by Robert Passikoff — Consultant, Brand Keys

Now that the pandemic has forced Starbucks to change its operating model, Brand Keys' Robert Passikoff wonders what's the difference between Starbucks and a…

Mercato Partners launches $90M investment fund to fuel up-and-coming brands

June 4, 2020

Mercato Partners, an investor for growth-stage companies, has developed Savory, a $90 million fund to help scale up-and-coming restaurant concepts. To create…

Consumers leaning into order pickup

June 3, 2020

When it comes to digital restaurant orders, consumers prefer picking them up compared to delivery and are ordering more meals online than ever primarily due to…

Judge requiring Panera franchisee to pay $4.6M to managers

June 3, 2020

Panera Bread's largest franchisee, Covelli Enterprises, must pay $4.6 million to more than 900 assistant managers who alleged Fair Labor Standards Act and Ohio…

What Captain D’s can teach chefs about mixing batter

by Sam Eppehimer

Larry Jones, VP of Construction with Captain D’s, shares how blender failures inspired it to look for new mixing solutions.

Louisville police fatally shoot restaurant owner amid protests

June 2, 2020

Police shot and killed David McAtee, the owner of YaYa's BBQ in Louisville, early Monday, according to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. State and local police…

Torchy's Tacos reopens nearly all dining rooms

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

CEO of Torchy's Tacos GJ Hart said he is seeing promising numbers in stores where the company has reopened dining rooms in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado and…

Fat Brands reports wider Q1 loss amid COVID-19

June 1, 2020

Fat Brands Inc., the owner of eight fast casual restaurant brands, including Fatburger and Elevation Burger, reported a wider loss in the first quarter as the…

House approves bill to loosen PPP loan requirements

May 29, 2020

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill designed to loosen requirements on hundreds of billions of dollars in small-business loans to help companies…

FastCasual reveals '20 Brands to Watch'

The list, which is in its second year, focuses on 20 brands that are less than six years old but have the potential to become future industry leaders.

'Converting to Curbside and Delivery' webinar is lesson in pandemic-era adaptability

When the pandemic flipped the operational model for a Texas taco brand to totally off-premise, Crush Taco and POS provider, Revention, responded, exemplifying…

Pandemic speeds up operational changes at Sweetgreen

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Like so many other restaurants around the world, Sweetgreen shifted into crisis mode COVID-19 hit but is now preparing for its version of the "new normal."

Peet's Coffee reopens 13 stores

May 28, 2020

Peet's Coffee has fully reopened 13 more locations as of today in California, Colorado, Maryland, and Virginia. Aside from those stores, other locations are…