San Francisco chef allegedly robs 3 bank branches due to financial struggles

September 19, 2025

Valentino Luchin, 62, a chef from San Francisco, is accused of robbing three bank branches in one day.

Einstein Bros launching new store design

September 8, 2025

Einstein Bros. Bagels is rolling out a new store design, "Elevate the Morning," aimed at upgrading the customer experience and accelerating nationwide growth.

How small eateries leverage local appeal to boost business

September 5, 2025

In a world dominated by national chains, what makes a small, family owned restaurant truly stand out? The answer lies in the unique flavors, personalized…

Rhone acquires Freddy's to drive market expansion

September 5, 2025

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers has been acquired by investment funds affiliated with Rhone, a global private equity firm. The Wichita-based…

Andy Wiederhorn returns to CEO role at FAT Brands

September 3, 2025

Andy Wiederhorn is back at the helm of FAT Brands Inc., the parent company of Fatburger, Johnny Rockets, Round Table Pizza, and 15 other restaurant concepts.

Wonder adds Grubhub-powered restaurants to app

September 2, 2025

Wonder, a mealtime platform that acquired Grubhub last year, is allowing customers to order from Grubhub's restaurant partners through the Wonder app…

Dave's Hot Chicken signs 180-unit European deal

September 2, 2025

Dave's Hot Chicken, a Los Angeles-based fast casual chain, has finalized an agreement with the UK-based Azzurri Group to develop 180 restaurants across 1…

Chef Bobby Flay's Burgers signs 65-unit deal for Canada

August 26, 2025

Celebrity chef Bobby Flay is bringing his fast casual concept, Bobby's Burgers, to Canada, thanks to a multi-year, 65-unit development deal with The Falcon…

FastCasual's 2024 Perfect Pitch winner inks major expansion deal

August 26, 2025

Co-founders Cassie Ghaffar and Sandy Nguyen, will serve as advisers at this year's Perfect Pitch, a round robin featuring eight founders vying to see which…

Craveworthy CEO denies wrongdoing in franchise lawsuit

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

August 19, 2025

A franchise development company has filed a lawsuit against Craveworthy Brands and Dirty Dough, alleging breach of contract.

Sambazon to open 10 shops in Cincinnati

August 18, 2025

Sambazon has partnered with veteran franchise operator Parin Chokshi to open 10 açaí bowl shops in the Cincinnati area over the next five years.

GoTo Foods partners with DoorDash for drone delivery service

August 13, 2025

GoTo Foods has partnered with DoorDash to provide drone delivery. The fast-mile delivery service, enabled by Wing, is currently live in three Texas markets…

Some restaurant sales sizzle, others fizzle

August 12, 2025

Summer sales have been hot and cold for U.S. restaurants this summer, with some areas seeing significant growth while others struggled, according to Toast's…

1st co-branded Round Table Pizza, Fatburger opens in California

August 11, 2025

FAT Brands Inc., parent company of 18 restaurant concepts, has opened its first co-branded Fatburger and Round Table Pizza in Rancho Cordova, California…

Dave & Buster's pushing international expansion

August 11, 2025

Dave & Buster's is expanding its global footprint with the opening of its second location in India. The 22,000-square-foot entertainment venue is located…

Naya lands capital to accelerate growth

August 6, 2025

Naya, specializing in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, is poised for national expansion after a major financial transaction from TriSpan. The private…

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…

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…