US Foods Direct adds PleatPak innovative burger wrappers to platform

August 11, 2026

PleatPak, which makes foodservice packaging designed for burgers and sandwiches, is now available to restaurant operators nationwide through the US Foods…

Healthy fast casual goes convenient: Konala, Clean Eatz redefining drive-thru, grab-and-go

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Two brands, two models — one goal: making nutritious food as fast and effortless as fast food.

Technology drives 100% franchisee adoption of Beyond Juicery + Eatery pricing strategy

August 10, 2026

Beyond Juicery + Eatery said all of its franchise owners have adopted pricing guidance developed in partnership with restaurant pricing and decision…

Moe's Southwest Grill franchisee files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

August 10, 2026

Moe's Southwest Grill franchisee Quality Fresca filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Aug. 4 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of…

Jersey Mike's tops Chick-fil-A in customer satisfaction rankings

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

August 10, 2026

Jersey Mike's Subs, which announced IPO plans last month, has achieved something few restaurant brands have managed in the last decade: the fast-casual…

4 misses in Founder-led negotiations

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

Although Founders know their businesses best, their deep emotional investment and daily operational pressures often compromise their negotiating leverage…

Voting now open for 2026 Top 30 Movers & Shakers: Catering

August 10, 2026

Voting is officially open for 2026 Top 30 Movers & Shakers: Catering, recognizing the restaurant professionals driving growth, innovation and excellence in…

Print vendor serving restaurant brands expanding nationwide after acquisition

August 7, 2026

Sandy Alexander, a commercial printing and marketing services company that counts restaurant chains among its clients, has been acquired by the Marth Group…

Sweetgreen turnaround plan: 5 strategies to drive restaurant traffic and profitability

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Following its Q2 2026 earnings report, Sweetgreen executives outlined how the fast casual chain plans to improve operations, increase transactions, leverage AI…

5 restaurant pricing trends operators must know from Q2 2026 consumer data

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Revenue Management Solutions’ latest consumer report reveals how restaurant guests are responding to higher prices, changing value expectations and shifting…

Bain Capital to acquire Gong cha Global from TA Associates

August 6, 2026

Bain Capital has agreed to acquire Gong cha Global, a Taiwan-born tea brand, from TA Associates and other shareholders. Terms of the deal were not disclosed…

How Tony Roma's is using fast-casual strategies to reinvent itself

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

CEO Mina Haque explains how the 54-year-old brand is adapting to changing consumer habits without abandoning its casual-dining roots.

HTeaO names former Freddy's executive Brian Wise as CEO

August 5, 2026

Iced tea franchise HTeaO has named Brian Wise as its chief executive officer as the company prepares for further national expansion.

Savvy Sliders, Fat Boy's Pizza announce co-branded Florida locations

August 5, 2026

Savvy Sliders and Fat Boy's Pizza will open co-branded restaurants in Florida later this year, marking the state debut for Louisiana-based Fat Boy's Pizza…

Rōti Modern Mediterranean launches franchise incentive program with first-year royalty waiver

August 5, 2026

Rōti Modern Mediterranean is offering financial incentives to franchisees as it looks to accelerate development across the U.S.

Salad and Go unexpectedly closes all locations

August 5, 2026

Two weeks after launching a menu upgrade featuring recipe enhancements to signature salads, refreshed ingredient combinations and upgraded flavor profiles…

Chipotle pulls jalapenos from some restaurants amid salmonella outbreak investigation

August 4, 2026

After a weeks of worrying about lettuce being contaminated, customers may now need to avoid jalapenos.

How Urban Bird Hot Chicken turned a bad lease into a fast-growing brand

Brandon and Chantel Gawthorp built 32 Wingstop franchises across three states over 20 years, then let it all go to bet on themselves. They opened the first…

5 menu localization myths that could hurt your restaurant brand

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

August 4, 2026

Michael Magerl, Joel Bulger, John Iannucci and Sarah Rooney are the panelists for "From Trend to Table: Operationalizing Regional Promotions in a Multi-Unit…

Savory Fund invests in Zao Asian Grill, targets national growth

August 4, 2026

Savory Fund co-founder Shauna Smith and CEO Clay Dover are keynoting the Fast Casual Executive Summit, Oct. 4-6, where attendees can learn more about the deal.