Design experiences that earn loyalty from day one

Traditional experience management starts after the interaction, but with Ignite Communities, people are brought into the process much earlier.

Presented by Service Management Group

Bubbakoo’s Burritos taps Bikky to power data strategy, fuel growth

April 13, 2026

Bubbakoo's Burritos has partnered with Bikky to centralize customer data and strengthen its technology as a foundation for growth.

Resilient but restless: Fast casuals outpace industry as 2026 competition heats up

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

In 2025, fast-casual brands outperformed despite challenges. Predictions for 2026 include sector expansion with a focus on health, pricing, and competition.

Square report: Neighborhood customers generate 6 times more revenue for local businesses

March 18, 2026

Community "regulars" are key profit drivers for local businesses, generating six times more revenue than transient customers through higher tips and repeat…

Beef costs jump 32%, burger prices rise 14% since 2023

March 18, 2026

Hamburger menu prices increased 14% from January 2023 to December 2025, while federal Food Away From Home inflation rose about 13% during the same period…

Toast releases Q4 trends report, February price monitor

March 11, 2026

Toast has released its Q4 2025 Restaurant Trends Report and the February 2026 Menu Price Monitor.

Make Every Location Your Best Location: Drive More Revenue From Your Underperforming Stores

Fixing your bottom 10% locations beats building new ones. Momos' AI platform shows how multi-location brands can recover over $28 million in annual revenue per…

Presented by Momos

Chipotle jumping on high protein trend

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

The 4,000-unit chain is launching a menu next week featuring items with protein content ranging from 15 to 81 grams

2026's Top 7 food-packaging trends revealed

by Tomia Smith — Vice President, National Account Sales, Sabert Corporation

As margins become tighter and consumers scrutinize their spending more closely, the fast casual segment must ensure that customers feel they are getting real…

Top 10 Trends in Restaurant Technology

As the restaurant landscape evolves, operators increasingly rely on technology to remain profitable and deliver an outstanding guest experience.

Presented by Oracle

2026 restaurant outlook signaling challenges for fast casuals

December 1, 2025

Consumer spending on restaurants is holding steady, but fast casual operators must redouble efforts to deliver clear, consistent value to maintain momentum…

Straight up with a twist: A cocktail’s reality check

by Suzy Badaracco — President, Culinary Tides Inc

Gallup found drinking still hasn't returned to pre-pandemic levels — only 62% of adults drink now, down from 65% before COVID. Morning Consult says 59% kept at…

Restaurants bet on tech, growth despite inflation, labor challenges

October 10, 2025

Restaurants are increasingly turning to technology and strategic growth plans to weather ongoing inflation and labor shortages, according to Toast's Voice of…

From Pilot to National Presence in 5 Years with CloudKitchens

Hawaiian Bros has grown from a single pilot to a national brand—thanks to a strategic partnership with CloudKitchens. Known for its fresh, craveable Plate…

Presented by CloudKitchens

Discipline Over Distraction: Lessons from Restaurant Leaders Who Know Their Brands

At FSTEC 2025, top restaurant leaders from Checkers & Rally's, GoTo Foods, and Shake Shack shared the secrets to balancing tech innovation with brand identity…

How AI can help in operational efficiency, labor productivity, productized compliance

August 28, 2025

In a recent webinar "Labor Forecasting 2.0: Predicting Future Demand and Staffing for Efficient Growth with AI," presented by Deputy and hosted by Networld…

The $21B kiosk boom: How AI is transforming restaurant profits

HungerRush data shows diners want speed, accuracy, personalization from QSRs

June 19, 2025

Cloud software provider HungerRush conducted a consumer survey revealing how inflation, evolving consumer expectations and technology preferences are reshaping…

7 Game-Changing Trends That Will Define Fast Casual & QSR in 2025

Explore 7 key trends shaping fast casual and QSR in 2025—from kitchen tech to loyalty 3.0—and learn how top brands are using data to drive smarter operations.

Campuses Turn to Automation to Improve Student Life

Dining leaders are turning to platforms like Botrista to cut costs, ease labor demands, and keep up with Gen Z’s thirst for trending drinks like boba. The…