Judge requiring Panera franchisee to pay $4.6M to managers

June 3, 2020

Panera Bread's largest franchisee, Covelli Enterprises, must pay $4.6 million to more than 900 assistant managers who alleged Fair Labor Standards Act and Ohio…

Luna Grill hires 'head of People'

June 3, 2020

A week after announcing that it had hired Michelle Goncalves as its VP of Culinary, San Diego-based Luna Grill has named AJ Kamra its first-ever head of…

Starbucks offering unpaid leave to under-scheduled employees

June 3, 2020

Although Starbucks has reopened more than 85% of its U.S. stores, reduced hours are affecting many employees and has sparked the chain to offer unpaid leave to…

&pizza CEO calls for action re: black deaths in police custody

June 2, 2020

The highly socially active pizza brand, &pizza, is taking a firm stance with regards to its leader's views concerning the recent deaths of black…

&pizza gives employees involved in activism paid time off

&pizza takes an active stance on employee activism during a time of national protests around George Floyd's death in Minneapolis.

Blaze Pizza names supply chain, development leaders

May 29, 2020

Pasadena, California-based Blaze Pizza is making some changes in its executive ranks, announcing this week that Marie Zhang is joining the company as its chief…

Pandemic speeds up operational changes at Sweetgreen

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Like so many other restaurants around the world, Sweetgreen shifted into crisis mode COVID-19 hit but is now preparing for its version of the "new normal."

Former Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Johnny Rockets CEO tapped to lead Wahlburgers

May 28, 2020

Wahlburgers, a Boston-based fast casual restaurant with 37 locations in North America, the U.K. and Europe, has hired John Fuller as president and CEO.

Panera hires chief concept officer

May 28, 2020

Eduardo Luz has joined Panera Bread as chief brand and concept officer and will be overseeing marketing, digital, strategy/insights and culinary teams…

Naf Naf names CEO

May 26, 2020

Naf Naf has named Greg Willman as its CEO, effective June 15. Gary Beisler, who has been filling the role on an interim basis, will continue as chairman of the…

Just Salad taps Kenneth Cole for creating, designing employee facemasks

May 22, 2020

Just Sald is teaming up with fashion icon Kenneth Cole to design and create thousands of protective face masks for the restaurant brand's employees across…

Tackling COVID-19 training on QSRs' front lines, plus menu must-haves for a 'to-go' world

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

For QSR operators today, there are two huge questions: "How can I quickly train my staff on all these new COVID-19-related mandates?" and "How should I modify…

Burgerfi launches training app

May 20, 2020

Burgerfi has launched YOOBIC, a mobile training app, for its 3,000 employees across its 125 corporate and franchised restaurants.

Luna Grill nabs former Qdoba exec

May 18, 2020

Luna Grill has named Michelle Goncalves as its VP of Culinary. Coming most recently from Qdoba Mexican Eats, where she served the past four years directing…

NRA names former Sysco, PepsiCo leader as CEO

May 18, 2020

The National Restaurant Association has named former Sysco CEO and PepsiCo president, Tom Bene as its president and CEO, as well as CEO of the NRA's…

Latest dine-in data tells story of cautious customers, vanishing workers

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Restaurant sales data shows the return to dine-in will be a slow and cautious one for customers, according to data and insights provider, Black Box…

TalentReef Named an Indeed Applicant Tracking System Star Partner

Partnership Empowers Employers to Reach More Qualified Candidates and Provides Job Seekers with Optimal Application Experience

Wingstop's ex chief experience officer returns to lead tech team

May 12, 2020

Stacy Peterson Androes, Wingstop's former chief experience officer who left the chain last year, has rejoined the company as chief technology officer.

Raising Cane's distributing $2M in crew bonuses

May 11, 2020

Raising Cane's refuses to let the pandemic slow it down, keeping all but a handful of its 500 restaurants open nationwide. Only those without drive-thrus have…

Pret a Manger reopening select NYC stores

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

April 29, 2020

While many restaurants throughout the United States have opted to stay open for delivery and carry-out during COVID-19, Pret a Manger decided on March 17 to…