Biscuit Belly acquires 35 Maple Street Biscuit Company locations to triple footprint

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Co-founder Lauren Coulter opens up about the "once-in-a-lifetime" deal — from how it will reshape the brand's growth strategy to the plan for winning over…

How Scooter's Coffee expanding supply chain to support 1,000 stores

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Scooter's Coffee invests in its supply chain as the company's number of stores approaches 1,000.

Juice It Up reports 13% systemwide sales growth through midyear

July 22, 2026

Juice It Up reported 13% year-over-year systemwide sales growth through the first half of 2026, driven by higher customer traffic, menu innovation and…

True Food Kitchen names Jeff Chandler as CEO

July 21, 2026

Jeff Chandler has been synonymous with Hopdoddy Burger Bar over the last decade, but the Texas-based executive is now leading True Food Kitchen, a…

What the data says about restaurant catering today

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

As corporate catering transforms into a critical growth engine for the restaurant industry, top brands will share their battle-tested, data-driven playbooks…

Toastique Founder Brianna Keefe details growth from single toast bar to national franchise

Toastique founder Brianna Keefe opened her first location at 24 with no investors, a personal guarantee, and a vision for a concept that didn't yet exist. In…

The 'Slutty' Empire: How Pinky Cole turned vegan burgers into a national brand

Slutty Vegan founder and CEO Pinky Cole Hayes joins Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler to share her journey from television producer to…

FDA says Taylor Farms Cyclospora test a false positive as outbreak weighs on restaurant traffic

by Valerie Gritton — Editor, Connect Food

Taylor Farms is reporting the CDC has found a fast-positive for the cyclospora outbreak linked to its products.

Jersey Mike's launches IPO, plans to list on NYSE

July 20, 2026

After months of speculation, Jersey Mike's Subs Inc. said Monday it has begun a roadshow for its initial public offering, moving forward with plans to sell…

Build your leadership team: The team that reports directly to you

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

True organizational growth and scalability require distinguishing between mere managers and genuine leaders.

Smalls Sliders celebrates first Ohio opening

July 17, 2026

Smalls Sliders is opening its first location in Ohio. The location, in South Point, Ohio, will be led by local operators and brothers Beckett and Sam Gue and…

Wonder raises $650M in Series D funding at $9B valuation

July 16, 2026

Food technology platform Wonder announced Thursday it has closed a $650 million Series D funding round at a pre-money valuation of $9 billion, which will fuel…

Taco Bell responds to Cyclospora outbreak, becomes first major chain to pull at-risk ingredients

by Valerie Gritton — Editor, Connect Food

A Cyclospora outbreak has restaurant leaders on alert.

Hot dogs jump 3.6%, coffee up 7.1%: Toast's June price data

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Toast's June 2026 data shows hot dogs, cold brew and coffee posting the steepest year-over-year price increases across the industry.

Gen Z, millennial franchisees want purpose, flexibility, tech — not just a second career

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Gong cha, Chicken Salad Chick, PrimoHoagies and Yougurtland execs reveal why franchising has become a popular career choice for millennials and Gen Z.

How Mendocino Farms is winning the 'Sandwich Wars'

Mendocino Farms CMO Alicia Mowder joins Fast Casual Nation to break down how the fast-casual chain hit its 100th location while staying true to chef-driven…

Presented by LoopAI

Interface report: Restaurant security risks center on people, not property

July 16, 2026

Restaurant security concerns increasingly focus on protecting employees and customers from disruptive behavior rather than preventing theft, according to…

Team Communication Tools for Restaurants: What to Look for in 2026

There are a lot of team chat apps out there, but how do you know which one fits how your team works and will get used? Here's what to look for before choosing.

HTeaO to expand Oklahoma footprint

July 15, 2026

Iced tea franchise HTeaO will celebrate the grand opening of its new Altus, Oklahoma, location on July 18, according to a press release.

Dodo Pizza’s playbook for international success

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

In this Pizza Marketplace podcast, executives from Dodo Brands discuss how the company uses its proprietary technology platform and a balance of global…