Operations News & Media
Hungry Howie's differentiates itself with flavored crust, fresh dough, ingredients
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group
VP of Public Relations Jennifer Jackson discusses the Hungry Howie's pizza brand's strategic marketing and operational planning, including cross-functional…
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Family, not fortune: Why Uncle Sharkii spurned $35M to guard the 'Spirit of Aloha'
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer Raymond Reyes said the fine print didn't read like freedom; it read like control.
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The Efficiency Flywheel: 4 Kitchen Upgrades to Drive Compounding Returns
In a busy kitchen, every second counts. For a fast-casual restaurant serving 250 tickets a day, saving just 20 seconds per ticket adds up to over 500 hours of…
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Barry Bagels expands with major deal in Texas, uses hub-and-spoke model for growth
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group
Barry Bagels' history dates back to 1972. Today, the brand has locations in Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio,
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Nominations open for Top 5 Movers & Shakers: Visionary Restaurant Founders
November 10, 2025
Nominations close Dec. 7
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Crust Pizza Co., L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, Gong cha, Juice It Up execs talk the future of franchising
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group
Executive insights from the Fast Casual Executive Summit reveal that the franchising model is rapidly evolving due to technology, changing consumer and…
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&pizza acquires Tijuana Flats, creates holding company
November 6, 2025
Washington DC-based &pizza has acquired Tijuana Flats and formed a the holding company, Latitude Food Group, to oversee both brands.
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Strategies to lead through a cultural transformation in the workplace
by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker
November 6, 2025
How to successfully navigate the inevitable challenges of organizational culture change by emphasizing clear communication, leading by example, empowering…
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Noodles & Co's 3 steps to profitability: Menu innovation, closures, digital growth
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
Although the company announced a net loss of $9.2 million, or 20 cents per diluted share, recent sales growth and the decision to close underperforming…
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Leading with flavor, heart, vision: The Tacodeli way
by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners
In this episode of the Founderology Podcast, Roberto Espinosa, the Founder of Tacodeli, discusses how his taco shop has grown into one of the most authentic…
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Top 3 learnings from Cava's Q3 earnings about growth in tight economy
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
Cava reported Q3 2025 revenue of $289.8 million, up 20% year over year, with same-restaurant sales growth of 1.9% and restaurant-level profit margin of 24.6%.
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Fast casuals embracing micro-meals, protein as traditional dayparts disappear
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
This focus on smaller, frequent meals reflects a major cultural shift, often referred to as the “death of the daypart,” where consumers are increasingly…
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Portillo's net income plunges 91% in Q3 amid slowdown in same-store sales
November 4, 2025
Portillo's lowered its same-restaurant sales forecast for the full fiscal year to a decline of between 1% and 1.5%, down from previous guidance
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Own your financials: 5 metrics that drive business growth
by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners
Gaining strong financial visibility by overcoming common hurdles and focusing on key metrics like sales, COGS, and net operating income is essential for…
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Chipotle lowers sales forecast as younger diners cut back
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
October 30, 2025
Despite the quarterly volatility, the company remains confident in its long-term goals of surpassing $4 million in average unit volumes and expanding to 7,00…
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Shake Shack's 'operational excellence' fuels earnings beat
by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
October 30, 2025
Shake Shack Inc. demonstrated its resilience and operational prowess, reporting a stellar third quarter for 2025 that blew past Wall Street expectations and…
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Starbucks' turnaround plan takes hold
October 30, 2025
The chain reported its first global comp growth in seven quartersfueled by service and international markets.
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Limited-service visits decline as customer service, value perceptions hit new lows
October 29, 2025
There may be a growing crisis for the limited-service restaurant industry, according to the 2025 QSR Reputation Ranking Report by Chatmeter, which analyzed…
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