As states return to dine-in, slight improvement noted in restaurant sales

May 4, 2020

U.S. restaurant chain transactions showed improvement for the second week in a row in the week ending April 26 with total industry customer transactions down…

How the pandemic solidified contactless payment

by Jessica Shelcusky — Senior Marketing Specialist, Paytronix

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, mobile payment uptake was largely driven by convenience. While convenience is still important, the pandemic has put a spotlight…

Eating up profits: The high cost of restaurant POS downtime, and the surprising difference SD-Branch can make

One tenth of 1 percent. It might not seem like much, but it adds up. And when that one tenth of one percent is POS downtime, it adds up to a lot: A lot of…

Boston Market CEO talks Covid-19 strategy

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Although Boston Market has been able to keep the majority of its restaurants open for delivery and curbside orders, CEO Eric Wyatt said he's had to make…

Free webinar to help restaurant operators get up-to-speed in response to COVID-19

April 30, 2020

The COVID-19 outbreak has forced QSRs and fast casual restaurants to revamp their operations in response to new consumer buying habits. To help operators adapt…

Gott's opens San Franciso location

April 30, 2020

Gott's Roadside, a Northern California roadside restaurant emphasizing locally sourced ingredients, reopened its San Francisco Ferry Building location…

Boston Market under new management

April 29, 2020

Boston Market has a new owner. 

Starbucks fiscal Q2 earnings hit by COVID-19

by David Jones — Editor, Networld Media Group

April 29, 2020

Starbucks Corp., one of the first global companies to feel the sting of COVID-19, reported a 47% drop in earnings during its fiscal second quarter, yet managed…

Why Schlotzsky's isn't ready to reopen dining rooms

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Although based in Georgia, where restaurants are now allowed to reopen dining rooms, Schlotzsky's has decided against welcoming in-store dining. COO Tory…

To reopen or not to reopen: How soon is too soon?

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

In all things, someone has to go first, and in the pandemic in which we are now living, the state of Georgia has taken the lead in allowing restaurants to…

Restaurant365 launches lending program to help restaurants access capital

April 28, 2020

Restaurant365, an all-in-one restaurant management platform, has created R365 Capital, a program designed to help restaurants quickly access the capital they…

Tools for Restaurant Success in a Post-COVID World

Set your restaurant up for success when restrictions begin to lift. In this infographic, you will learn why you should double down on off-premise capabilities…

Presented by SynergySuite

Chicken Salad Chick pivots to 'Quick Chick' operations model

April 16, 2020

Chicken Salad Chick has quickly adapted operations to adhere to mandates across the nation suspending restaurant dine-in services by introducing online…

Lyft pilots delivery service for food, health supplies amid COVID-19 outbreak

April 16, 2020

Lyft is getting into the food and supply delivery business. Its latest pilot program — Essential Deliveries — allows drivers at the ride-sharing service to…

Potbelly hires former Panera exec as CFO

April 14, 2020

Potbelly Corporation has hired Steven W. Cirulis as SVP, CFO and chief strategy officer. Cirulis, who has been with Potbelly since December 2019 in a strategic…

Paul Damico leaves Naf Naf Grill to oversee Global Franchise Group

April 13, 2020

Paul Damico has left Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill to take on the CEO role at Global Franchise Group, a brand management company and franchisor of Great…

Stacey Kane joins King Street as CMO

April 9, 2020

King Street Consultants has tapped Stacey Kane as CMO for its "fractional C-Suite" consulting firm. With more than 25 years of restaurant and franchise…

El Pollo Loco rescinds annual outlook on 1.5% Q1 sales drop

April 9, 2020

The 480-unit mostly Western U.S. chain, El Pollo Loco, reported that its Q1 sales fell 1.5% for the period that ended March 25. Still, before the pandemic…

Starbucks on mission to close gender pay gap

March 31, 2020

Starbucks created and launched an infographic Monday showing that it was committed to 100 percent gender pay equity.

8 franchisors waiving royalty fees

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburger, Barberitos, Dickey's Barbecue Pit, Firehouse Subs, Gyroville, Muscle Maker Grill, Qdoba and Schlotzsky's are cutting…