Innovate, don't react: 12 reasons your competitors are heading to Fast Casual Executive Summit

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Your competition will be there; will you?

Salad Station reports record growth, $1M sales milestone

August 6, 2025

Salad Station reported record growth and a sales milestone for 2024, reporting a 6.5% increase in average gross revenue among its top-performing locations and…

How Slutty Vegan Founder turned $20M in debt into a $100M comeback

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

In this episode of "Founderology – Built to Breakthrough," Pinky Cole Hayes shares her “PhD. lessons” and mindset that fueled her comeback.

Portillo's sees net income rise despite traffic dip

August 5, 2025

Portillo's Inc. reported a 17.7% increase in net income for Q2 despite facing a tough traffic environment, Michael Osanloo, president and CEO, said in a…

Michelin‑starred restaurateur bets on fast casual tacos brand

August 4, 2025

Lola's Taco Bar is set to open its first location in suburban Detroit in September, blending high-end culinary expertise with fast-service efficiency, thanks…

Zaxbys debuts ghost kitchen in Dallas

August 4, 2025

Zaxbys has opened its first-ever ghost kitchen in Dallas. The delivery-only location, powered by CloudKitchens, is near the Design District at 921 W Commerce…

Modern Food Compliance for Restaurants Made Easy

Label smarter, serve safer, and improve efficiency with linerless label solutions.

Presented by Star Micronics America

Zaxby’s Joins CloudKitchens - 921 W Commerce St to Continue Growth in Dallas, TX

Zaxby’s, the fan-favorite fast-casual brand known for its Chicken Fingerz™, Signature Sandwiches, and iconic Zax Sauce®, has officially opened its first-ever…

How Shake Shack CEO is tackling 3 industry challenges

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

To drive traffic in a "value-oriented market," Shake Shack is moving beyond its traditional word-of-mouth marketing. The company has embarked on a paid media…

How Dig Inn maintains quality at scale: A CMO's Guide to brand, loyalty, AI

Dig Inn CMO Jessica Serrano reveals how the chef-driven fast casual chain rebuilt its brand identity, scaled from Manhattan to suburban markets and leveraged…

Cava highlights 'values-driven growth' in Impact Report

July 30, 2025

Cava, a Mediterranean fast casual restaurant brand, has released its first Impact Report, detailing how its mission-driven approach has fostered advancements…

Starbucks CEO reveals 5-step recovery plan

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Despite a 2% decline in global comparable store sales and a 45% year-over-year decrease in EPS, CEO Brian Niccol is spearheading a turnaround strategy…

Criminal charges dropped against Wiederhorn, FAT Brands

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

July 29, 2025

While the criminal charges brought by the U.S. Department of Justice against Wiederhorn and FAT Brands have been dismissed, the SEC's civil fraud charges are…

Nominations now open for Pizza Marketplace's 'Pizza Brands to Watch 2026' report

July 25, 2025

Pizza Marketplace's annual Pizza Brands to Watch 2026 report will highlight pizza brands of note. The nomination deadline is August 15.

Speaker Spotlight: Andy Huang, VP/COO, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

Andy Huang, VP/COO, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is one of dozens of panelists participating in the upcoming Fast Casual Executive Summit.

The $21B kiosk boom: How AI is transforming restaurant profits

Shipley Do-Nuts marks 18th quarter of sales growth

July 25, 2025

Shipley Do-Nuts announced Friday its 18th consecutive quarter of positive sales growth in the second quarter of 2025. The company also expanded its footprint…

Chipotle reports flat comps, lower profit in Q2

July 23, 2025

A slowdown in consumer spending and weather incidents that led to Chipotle's dismal Q1 performance intensified in Q2 as it reported flat comparable restaurant…

3Natives rebrands to broaden menu

July 23, 2025

3Natives Acai and Juicery has rebranded its name to 3Natives Acai Cafe to reflect its expanded menu including hot and cold-pressed wraps, salads, breakfast…

A&W marketing leader's diverse background plays role in brand strategy

In this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of QSRweb and Pizza Marketplace, chats with Amanda Potts, vice president of…