The future is collaborative: 17 female restaurant leaders reveal power moves

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Guided by the colors of progress, 17 industry trailblazers reveal how they are trading the grind for a new era of radical community.

WaBa Grill names Afshin Compani president, COO

March 6, 2026

WaBa Grill, a Southern California-based rice bowl chain, has promoted industry veteran Afshin Compani to president and chief operating officer.

Fuku planting Florida flag

March 5, 2026

Fuku, a fried chicken restaurant founded by chef David Chang, will open its first standalone location next week in Coral Gables, Florida.

Top 10 leadership lessons shared in 2025

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

We take a look at 10 essential insights from successful entrepreneurs featured on the Founderology podcast, offering hard-earned wisdom on maintaining purpose…

How Velvet Taco avoids 'Starbucks-style' drift

Chris Schultz, CEO of Velvet Taco, joins Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler on Fast Casual Nation to break down the operational blueprint behind one of the…

Presented by Momos

Bankruptcy may not be the end for Pinky Cole

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Pinky Cole has built an empire on grit. She's faced the worst before, and she's come out on the other side. As she navigates this latest chapter, the question…

Buffalo Wild Wings GO expanding in Teays Valley

February 28, 2026

Buffalo Wild Wings GO is bringing its takeout-focused model to Teays Valley with the official opening of a location on Wednesday, March 4.

How to empower employees through autonomy, ownership

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

Effective leadership requires balancing autonomy with support to transform organizational culture, drive innovation and boost performance by empowering…

5 strategic plays behind Cava's $1B year

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Cava Co-founder and CEO Brett Schulman didn't just report numbers during the company's Q4 and full-year 2025 earnings call on Tuesday; he reported a…

The legacy glow-up: How Paul Damico is tech-enabling Perkins, Huddle House

Make Every Location Your Best Location: Drive More Revenue From Your Underperforming Stores

Fixing your bottom 10% locations beats building new ones. Momos' AI platform shows how multi-location brands can recover over $28 million in annual revenue per…

Presented by Momos

Pinky Cole stripping down Slutty Vegan’s business realities on ‘Real Housewives’

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

By bringing the fast casual world to one of reality TV's biggest stages, Slutty Vegan founder Pinky Cole is betting on the idea that authenticity — not just…

Strategic sizzle: Why Houston TX Hot Chicken prioritizes smart growth over rapid expansion

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Houston TX Hot Chicken is leveraging its "electric" brand energy and massive social media following to drive organic franchise leads and fuel a strategic…

The Real Reason Your Team Is Burning Out (It's Not What You Think)

The way your team communicates is burning them out. And if you're running your internal communication through personal messaging apps like WhatsApp or…

The Fast Casual Paradox: Why the future isn't either/or

Full-service restaurateur and fast casual operator Dan Simons examines the macroeconomic pressures driving the industry and explains why the winners won't be…

6 Signs Your Team Communication Isn't Secure Enough

Here are six signs your team communication isn't as secure as you think. If any of these sound familiar, it's time to rethink how your team communicates at…

Building unity through community

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

By fostering shared experiences and intentional connections, the restaurant industry serves as a vital "community connector" that accelerates growth for…

Speaker Spotlight: Liz Williams, CEO, El Pollo Loco

Liz Williams, CEO of El Pollo Loco, shares a look at her career, her achievements and industry trends ahead of her appearance at the Restaurant Franchising …

La Madeleine eyes accelerated growth following 'Ignite the Joy' turnaround

February 20, 2026

French-inspired bakery-cafe la Madeleine is entering 2026 with its strongest expansion pipeline in nearly a decade, following a year of operational…

Can Dave’s Hot Chicken leaders conjure magic from Mike's Red Tacos?

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Mike's Red Tacos, a beef birria concept born just four years ago, has deals in place to open more than 200 locations. While the rapid expansion is turning…