53 stories · last 7 days by relevance
Houston TX Hot Chicken is opening a second U.K. location in London's Brunswick Centre through a master franchise agreement with PizzaExpress, signaling potential for U.S. hot chicken concepts to gain
7 Brew has made a $143 million offer to acquire 73 Salad and Go locations in bankruptcy, outbidding Dutch Bros for the assets.
Chipotle opened its first Asian location in Seoul through a joint venture with Sangmidang Holdings, signaling a strategic test market for potential further regional expansion.
Chipotle opened its first Asian location in Seoul, South Korea, through a partnership with Sangmidang Holdings, signaling an expansion beyond North America.
Sweetgreen's Q2 earnings are being evaluated alongside other modern fast-casual chains, suggesting investor interest in how this segment is performing relative to broader QSR peers.
Jimmy John's secured an official sponsorship partnership with ESPN's College GameDay, gaining presence at the show's stops throughout the college football season and relaunching its Fan Feast meal as
Evergreens, a Seattle-based fast-casual chain founded in 2012, has launched a franchise program targeting 12 Western states, signaling a shift from company-operated growth to franchisee-led expansion.
Evergreen is offering reduced royalty rates to attract its first franchisees, with the chain's top-performing company-owned locations (excluding airports) averaging over $1.45 million in annual sales
Minor Food and Serruya Private Equity have completed their acquisition of Bonchon, the Korean fried chicken chain.
WOWorks, which operates six restaurant brands including Saladworks and Zoup!, has opened 23 locations year-to-date with 15 more in development, signaling continued momentum in its multi-brand expansio
Former fitness entrepreneur Steele Smiley exited his 900+ franchise fitness business to launch CRISP & GREEN, a healthy fast-food brand now operating 53 locations; the move signals entrepreneur convic
CAVA's COO Douglas Thompson purchased 6,500 shares valued at $432,000, expanding his stake by 51%; insider buying activity may signal management confidence in the company's direction.
Panera modified its rewards program structure, signaling an effort to deepen customer retention through revised earning mechanics.
Fast Casual Executive Summit (Oct. 4-6 in Arlington, Texas) will explore how integrating fragmented tech systems into a unified customer view can improve returns for fast casual brands.
Farmer Boys is discounting its Big Cheese cheeseburger to $3.99 for rewards members on National Cheeseburger Day, a promotional move that signals chains are using calendar-driven occasions to drive lo
Commercial real estate dynamics are shifting the restaurant landscape, with industry experts discussing how operators should adapt to changing lease and location strategies.
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers signed an eight-unit franchise agreement to expand in Arkansas and Texas, continuing its franchise growth strategy in the South.
Wing Snob, a fast-casual chicken wing chain using never-frozen chicken, plans to open seven locations in the greater Indianapolis area through Indiana-based operator JHN Group.
Panda Express is bringing back Cantonese BBQ Brisket, a limited-time menu item that previously generated consumer interest and is now returning to locations.
Capriotti's is running a month-long promotional campaign in September offering weekly deals to rewards members, part of its 50th anniversary marketing push.
Seattle-based salad chain Evergreens is pursuing franchising to expand into 12 new states, signaling confidence in a replicable unit model as fast-casual concepts seek growth beyond their home markets
Mo' Bettahs promoted Kylee Arreaga to VP of Marketing after two years leading efforts that strengthened the brand's marketing organization during its national expansion.
CAVA is targeting 75–77 net new restaurant openings in 2026, supported by strong performance from recent vintages and broad-based demand signals.
Chipotle's stock performance over the past decade illustrates the potential returns of long-term investment in established restaurant companies.
Culver's is opening another location in Florida as part of its expansion in the state.
Chicken Salad Chick is launching two new fall-themed menu items, including a spicy Nashville Hottie chicken salad variant, alongside returning favorites starting August 31.
A Sweetgreen customer spent 25 days eating exclusively at the chain for over $900, and the company is now recruiting 30 more people for a 30-day challenge—signaling a bet on user-generated content to
A founder's fourth restaurant prototype with a drive-thru tests a regional expansion model, but the single-unit focus and pre-launch timing limit immediate relevance to chain operators.
Dillas Quesadillas is running loyalty-program promotions tied to National Queso Day and National Quesadilla Day across its 11 Texas and Louisiana locations.
Qdoba is running a September promotion called 'Diptember' that showcases its lineup of dips, salsas, and sauces, including a newly launched queso.
Sweetgreen is rolling out its Fall Harvest menu nationwide, featuring returning and new seasonal items including a Maple Glazed Salmon plate and Roasted Bacon Brussels side.
Brooklyn Water Bagel has opened its first location on a college campus at Nova Southeastern University.
HB Protein Smoothies appointed Tyler Doolittle to lead real estate and expansion efforts.
Pokeworks is running September-long promotions including tiered bonus points for loyalty members and Labor Day offers, signaling continued focus on member engagement and seasonal traffic drivers.
SoFresh opened its 28th location in Nocatee, Florida, expanding its fresh-casual footprint through franchise partnership.
Sweetgreen has relaunched its Fall Harvest menu nationwide, featuring returning and new seasonal items; the move signals continued reliance on limited-time offerings to drive traffic during seasonal t
Single-location opening with no signal on Cava's expansion strategy or market performance.
Hawaiian Bros Island Grill is opening a location in Indianapolis on September 1, marking another expansion for the island-inspired fast-casual chain.
A Flying Biscuit Cafe franchisee is opening a fourth location in Raleigh, signaling continued confidence in the brand's expansion potential within the market.
Seasonal menu rotation at one major chain—routine LTO execution with no broader operator insight.
Limited-time menu item at sub-$10 price point — routine promotional tactic without strategic insight into category or brand positioning.
Menu change triggered social backlash — signals risk of consumer alienation in fast-casual innovation, though details are missing.
Single-brand expansion story with a 'localization' angle — no multi-location operator insight or replicable model presented.
Case study of a regional chain's loyalty marketing leadership — useful for peer benchmark, but limited to vendor audience context.
Two-location opening in one market — routine expansion announcement with no chain strategy or multi-location operator insight.
Single-location opening announcement — no strategic insight for multi-location operators.
Single-location opening in new geography — no multi-unit operator signal.
Back-to-school BOGO promo tied to one university — tactical local offer without strategic multi-location relevance.
Seasonal menu refresh announcement — routine promotional calendar with no operational or strategic relevance.
Single-location opening in Iowa — no relevance to multi-location brand growth or operational strategy.