Qu Releases 4th Annual State of Digital Report for Quick Service & Fast Casual Restaurants

The top findings in the report center around 8 key trends enterprise brands can expect to see in the next 12-24 months—including investment priorities, top…

2023 Top Tech-Savvy Restaurant Brands

As succeeding in the restaurant business becomes ever more complicated, many operators are turning to technology to overcome today’s challenges. Check out 1…

Presented by FastCasual.com

Garces Group, Ballad Brands, Ideation Hospitality make Buena Onda winner

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

In a keynote address at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit, three restaurant execs discuss launching Buena Onda, which now has five locations.

Food Truck Operator names 'Food Trucks to Watch’ in 2023

The first-ever edition of Food Truck Operator’s free ‘Food Trucks to Watch in 2023’ report offers an insider look at two dozen food truck operations across the…

Bad Ass Coffee promotes CMO

March 20, 2023

Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii has promoted Chris Ruszkowski from SVP of marketing to CMO. Having been with the brand since 2020, he will help the brand open over 2…

Beyond the discount: 6 ways to evolve customer loyalty

Loyalty programs have become more intuitive and smarter that ever. Here are six ways brands can optimize their current loyalty initiatives.

Nextbite creates virtual brand with 'Stranger Things' actor

March 16, 2023

Nextbite has launched TenderFix, a virtual brand featuring chicken and plant-based sandwiches, sliders and tenders. Noah Schnapp, an actor who starred in…

Sweet Paris Creperie donates over 359K meals

March 16, 2023

Sweet Paris Creperie & Cafe, which serves sweet and savory crepes, has donated 11,871 additional meals to the Houston Food Bank through its "Eat Here, Feed…

How restaurant operators can reduce labor costs and better manage staff shortages

Between supply chain issues, a labor crisis and changing customer expectations, most restaurant owners are dealing with lower margins, higher staff turnover…

Presented by FastCasual.com

Scooter's hires CMO

March 13, 2023

Scooter's Coffee has hired Malorie Maddox as chief marketing officer.

Dickey's scales down menu

March 10, 2023

Dickey's Barbecue Pit spent the past year collaborating with franchisees to cut its menu by 42% in an effort to combat food inflation, maintain value to guests…

Why Restaurants Should Implement a Branded App

Many restaurants turn the task of designing websites, online ordering portals and creating mobile apps over to online order aggregators. If operators are doing…

Presented by FastCasual.com

Women in the Lead 2023: Honoring 21 of fast casual's top female leaders

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

In honor of International Women's Day, FastCasual interviewed 21 female executives leading the industry.

Cafe Rio opens digital-focused location in Surprise, Arizona

March 7, 2023

Cafe Rio Mexican Grill is opening a digital location this month in Surprise, Arizona. Customers may order via the Cafe Rio App, at the drive-through or at…

FAT Brands CEO stepping aside

March 7, 2023

FAT Brands CEO Andy Wiederhorn is leaving his role in May and will become an outside consultant and strategic adviser to the company, which owns 17 restaurant…

Female-led fast casual incubator launches in NYC

March 7, 2023

Trust Bae opened this week in New York City featuring a "Japanese-style menu with Filipino flair" created by celebrity Chef Frances Tariga, who has appeared on…

Flybuy expands Olo integrations

March 3, 2023

Flybuy, a location-based customer experience platform from Radius Networks, now boasts two new integrations with the open software-as-a-service Olo platform…

Wingstop tests AI powered virtual assistants for order taking

March 2, 2023

Wingstop, a QSR brand, has introduced ConverseNow's voice-AI powered virtual assistants to handle Wingstop's phone orders in select restaurant locations under…

Restaurant industry recovering from pandemic fallout

March 2, 2023

The U.S. restaurant industry is on the mend from the pandemic, which triggered restrictions and closures, according to The NPD Group's fall 2022 restaurant…

Wow Bao amps up US grocery presence

March 2, 2023

Wow Bao has expanded its nationwide grocery presence with Hissho Sushi, which has over 2,000 sushi counters, serving sushi inside grocery stores. Wow Bao's…