2021 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers Awards Ceremony

Join us as we announce this year's Fast Casual Top 100 Movers and Shakers.

Presented by Fast Casual

20 Fast Casual Brands to Watch in 2021

Although the pandemic has forced thousands of brands — old and new — to shutter, the newbies on our list of “20 Fast Casual Brands to Watch” are finding ways…

Deadline extended for FastCasual Top 100 nominations

February 1, 2021

Fast Casual brands hoping to be considered for the 2021 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers have a few more days to nominate themselves. Nominations are…

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Fast Casual Top 100 nominations now open

December 11, 2020

Nominations will close Jan. 31, and the results will be revealed at an annual awards gala in May in Chicago coinciding with the National Restaurant Association…

Fast Casual Top 100 brands share these 3 traits

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

For the past 14 years, FastCasual has recognized the industry's leading brands in its annual Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers report. Sweetgreen, a…

El Pollo Loco launches loyalty program

September 3, 2020

El Pollo Loco Inc. has launched a loyalty program, Loco Rewards, that allows customers to earn more points and rewards for their favorite menu items …

Meatless Farm Survey Says Over a Quarter of Americans Will Opt for Plant-Based Meat Alternatives When Restaurants Reopen

With Americans champing at the bit to get back to daily routines and neighborhood restaurants, this survey's findings are a telling sign of what restaurant…

Green Market Cafe launching franchising amid pandemic

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Although the pandemic isn't yet behind us, two restaurateurs are moving ahead with franchise plans for their up-and-coming concept, Green Market Cafe.

Keeping tabs on Top 100 winners' traits plus Oracle expert's pandemic-era performance tips

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

On today's podcast, FastCasual Editor Cherryh Cansler gives her take on top traits of this year's Top 100 Movers & Shakers winners, while an Oracle restaurant…

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."

20 Fast Casual Brands to Watch in 2020

In the second edition of this report, FastCasual reveals 20 of the year’s most newsworthy fast casual concepts and discusses why they not only have the…

Sweetgreen named FastCasual's top brand of 2020

Sweetgreen, a 104-unit salad chain, topped the 2020 list of Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers, and Fazoli's took home the Excellence in Food Safety Award.

2020 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers

The 2020 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers honors the top 75 brands and 25 executives in the fast casual industry.

10 reasons Fast Casual's Top 100 will be 'the virtual event of the year'

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

The 2020 Fast Casual Top 100 winners will be revealed during a live, virtual gala May 15.

PizzaRev opens 1st Virginia store Friday

April 28, 2020

Los Angeles-based PizzaRev will open its first Virginia store Friday, this one located in Virginia Beach. And though the store will only offer delivery and…

Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers Awards [On-Demand]

Each year, FastCasual names 75 brands and 25 people to its Top 100 Movers & Shakers list, which honors the brands and executives leading the fast casual…

Does your brand have what it takes to make the 2020 Fast Casual Top 100?

Nominations for the Top 100 and the Excellence in Food Safety awards close Jan. 17.

[WEBINAR]: How to achieve excellence in food safety: Best practices to drive your food safety performance

An in-depth look at the criteria that lend to food safety excellence – Watch Now!

The innovators that ARE this year's Top 100 Movers & Shakers, this week with Balance Pan Asian Grille

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

Fast Casual's best and the brightest gathered last week at the Sofitel hotel in Chicago to celebrate their innovations and creations. This week, Fast Casual…

Wow Bao CEO accepts Top 100 award

Cherryh Cansler, VP of Networld Media Group and editor of FastCasual, reveals that Chicago-based Wow Bao took the No. 1 spot on this year's Fast Casual Top 10…