Mici Italian has big plans for 2022

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

Mici Italian has seven units in the Denver area. The company is poised for growth and has plans to double its size in 2022.

Chicken Salad Chick soars in 2021

February 11, 2022

In a year when many brands struggled, Chicken Salad Chick saw a nearly 50% increase in sales and added 30 restaurants. Specifically, it reported $255 million…

7Shifts raises $80M in funding round

February 10, 2022

7shifts, a team management platform for restaurants, has raised $80 million in Series C funding led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2. The round also includes…

Original ChopShop same-store sales up 35%

February 9, 2022

Original ChopShop CEO Jason Morgan said the Arizona-based chain's 2021 sales results were proof that it has been meeting guests' needs to "Just Feel Good about…

Chipotle CEO open to price increases

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Chipotle's Q4 earnings mostly beat analysts' expectations, despite higher food and labor costs. Its December price increase helped to offset their impact…

Modern Market moving HQs, focusing on catering

February 8, 2022

Modern Market Eatery has big plans for 2022, including moving its headquarters to downtown Denver, placing a heavier focus on a refined catering program and…

C3 running foodservice operations at Vegas hotel

February 8, 2022

Sam Nazarian's C3, a global food tech platform, is taking over daily operations of in-room dining and local deliveries at The Westin Las Vegas Hotel & Spa.

Restaurant gift card sales up in 2021, still down over 2019

February 8, 2022

Restaurant gift card sales were up 22% in 2021, compared to 2020, but still down 13% than 2019, according to Paytronix's Restaurant Gift Gard Sales Report 2022.

Starbird 'popping up' in Southern California

February 8, 2022

In anticipation of its expansion across west Los Angeles in 2022, Starbird is entering the Southern California market with a pop-up kitchen in the South Bay to…

Jimmy John's opening Château Jé Jé

February 8, 2022

Jimmy John's is opening Château Jé Jé, a one-time-only, fancy sandwich experience in Austin, to celebrate Valentine's Day, according to CMO Darin Dugan.

Sonny's BBQ CEO reveals how to connect with customers

Sonny's BBQ CEO Jamie Yarmuth outlines current restaurant trends and how to emphasize catering to the consumer who values connection.

Jimmy John's testing drive-thru only store

February 3, 2022

Bartow, Florida, is home to Jimmy John's first drive-thru only site.

MOD Pizza donating 6.2M meals to Feeding America

February 3, 2022

MOD Pizza has committed to donating 6.2 million meals to Feeding America, the largest food hunger-relief organization in the United States, with funds raised…

Wingstop launching 'restaurant of the future'

February 3, 2022

Wingstop has opened a restaurant doubling as an innovation lab to test equipment and layouts. Located on Lovers Lane in Dallas — near the chain's Global…

Wow Wow hoping to roll growth into 2022

February 2, 2022

Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade is on track to double its nationwide footprint in 2022 after increasing its store count by 25% in 2021. The Hawaii-based brand also…

Lunchbox raises $50M in funding

February 2, 2022

DoorDash, Sweetgreen and &pizza have invested in the company.

Consumer spending, restaurant visits rose in 2021

February 2, 2022

Consumer spending at restaurants grew by 16% in 2021 compared to a year ago when spending declined by 12% and was 2% above the pre-pandemic year ending…

Starbucks' Q1 miss triggering price increases

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

February 2, 2022

Starbucks is raising prices thanks to high inflation, supply chain issues, COVID-19 resurgences and labor shortages, CEO Kevin Johnson said Tuesday during the…

Atomic Wings adding drive-thru

February 1, 2022

Atomic Wings, a New York-based franchise with dozens of locations, is unveiling its first drive-thru restaurant in Hagerstown, Maryland.

Panera rolling out contactless dine-in

February 1, 2022

Panera is rolling out contactless dine-in to locations across the United States. The feature in the Panera mobile app allows guests to place orders on their…