2 Panera VIPs keynoting Fast Casual Executive Summit 2021

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Very few fast casual brands have been as successful as Panera Bread over the years, and that success is directly linked to its willingness to take risks when…

Feds expand Economic Injury Disaster Loan cap, usage options

September 9, 2021

The White House and the U.S. Small Business Administration have overhauled the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, increasing the loan cap and expanding…

BarSight Releases Free Employee Scheduling Software for Restaurants

New free subscription plan from BarSight Restaurant Systems offers unlimited scheduling for restaurants, with automatic labor forecasting and sales…

Munchie Magic revenues hit record high in August

September 7, 2021

Baristas Coffee Company/Munchie Magic revenues in August, from its Munchie Magic restaurants offering Ben & Jerry's ice cream, beer, wine, hard alcohol…

Smashburger, Big Chicken, Focus Brands reveal how to futureproof kitchens

September 7, 2021

As retail space becomes more expensive, restaurants are trying to operate in smaller footprints, which means it's time to reassess ideas surrounding cooking…

Shaq taps restaurant pros to triple-team chicken chain competition

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Shaquille O'Neal, Big Chicken CEO Josh Halpern and Chef and Co-owner Matt Silverman join Fast Casual's Cherryh Cansler for an exclusive interview about the…

Biscuitville adds 2 executives to Virginia, North Carolina locations

September 2, 2021

Biscuitville Fresh Southern, known for authentic fresh-made biscuits, has added restaurant industry veterans Charles Miller and Omar Velagic as region coaches…

Don’t miss ‘Phygital: Where Physical and Digital Intersect’

The Self-Service Innovation Summit, being held Dec. 14-16 in Hollywood, Florida, will explore 'Phygital: Where Physical and Digital Intersect,' in a panel talk…

PizzaRev acquired by Amergent Hospitality Group

September 1, 2021

Amergent Hospitality Group Inc., operator and franchisor of multiple nationally-recognized restaurant brands, has acquired fast casual concept PizzaRev.

Wags Capital acquires Dirty Bird Fried Chxx with $20M investment

September 1, 2021

The McHenry Group, a restaurant group focused on experiential concept creation, has sold the majority of Dirty Bird Fried Chxx to Wags Capital, an industry…

Shake Shack teams up with Milk Bar

August 31, 2021

Shake Shack is partnering with Milk Bar, a chain of dessert and bakery restaurants founded by Chef Christina Tosi, to create two shakes, the Chocolate Birthday…

Sweetfin launches bento box

August 30, 2021

Sweetfin, a California-inspired poke and plant-based bowl concept, has created the Sweetbox, a bento box that allows diners to have four menu items in one…

Fired Pie's Doug Doyle talks winning the fast-casual pizza game

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Fired Pie has 20 locations in Arizona. Co-Owner Doug Doyle explains how the fast-casual market is perfect for pizza, and how quality ingredients and attention…

Chicago sues Grubhub, DoorDash for ‘deceptive, unfair’ business practices

August 27, 2021

The city of Chicago has filed landmark lawsuits against third-party delivery services for "deceptive and unfair" business practices, as outlined in a city…

Restaurant leaders share insight on top challenges, how to succeed

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

A panel talk at Networld Media Group's Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit focused on restaurant leadership development and experts shared insight on…

BurgerFi focused on landing investors

August 27, 2021

BurgerFi International Inc., which was Fast Casuals' brand of the Year for 2021 in the Top 100 Movers and Shakers list has tapped ICR, a strategic…

RFIS 2021 is in the books!

August 25, 2021

We came, we gathered, we partied, we learned. And we'll be back for RFIS 2022 in Nashville.

Hey, fast casuals: It's time to get back out there!

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

It's almost time for the fast casual industry's family reunion. The Fast Casual Executive Summit kicks off on Oct. 3 in Charlotte.

Sweetgreen scooping up Spyce

August 24, 2021

Los Angeles-based Sweetgreen is acquiring Spyce, a Boston-based restaurant company that created Infinite Kitchen, an automated culinary tool designed to…

Afghan-born founders of Iniburger donating sales to aid Afghanistan crisis

August 24, 2021

IniBurger, a San Francisco Bay area concept founded last year, is donating August and September proceeds to the International Rescue Committee of Northern…