Restaurant Business

JUNE 6, 2025

2024 was a tough year for restaurants. . 2024 was a tough year for restaurants. But it wasn’t quite so bad for fast-casual concepts , which outpaced other categories with 9% growth in 2024, according to Technomic. By Heather Lalley on Jun. 06, 2025 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Chipotle rose to No.

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Fast Casual Leadership 2025 2024 144

Restaurant Business

JUNE 27, 2025

That led to selling bagels at farmers markets. The families became fast friends. and Bruegger’s, Jeff sees a world of opportunity for bagels made better, especially in markets he sees as “bagel deserts.” The pandemic was in full swing, and we got really busy, like 300-400 DMs whenever we dropped a menu,” he said. We’d sell out.

Fast Casual 172

Fast Casual Franchise Franchising Leadership 172

Restaurant Business

JULY 8, 2025

deals this week as fast-food pizza chains work to reverse stubbornly weak sales. deals this week as fast-food pizza chains work to reverse stubbornly weak sales. As the value leader in pizza, we don’t follow trends, we sell them,” Little Caesars Chief Marketing Officer Greg Hamilton said in a statement. By Jonathan Maze on Jul.

Leadership 221

Leadership Point of Sale Fast Casual Email Marketing 221

Restaurant Business

JUNE 17, 2025

Salad is rising as the next drive-thru concept The fast-casual Greenlane is plotting growth across Florida with investor and NFL star Rob Gronkowski working the drive-thru window. But Tampa-based Greenlane is among a growing number of fast-casual concepts making freshly prepared salads a drive-thru option.

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Fast Casual Leadership Mobile Ordering Casual 159

Restaurant Business

JUNE 17, 2025

Continue to Site >>> Menu C-stores are stealing fast-food tactics. Not quite yet An easy way to bring bold Korean flavors to modern menus From BBQ to beverages, menus are seeing a lot of action Food C-stores are stealing fast-food tactics. Sounds like the hallmarks of any solid fast-food restaurant. By Heather Lalley on Jun.

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Food Fast Casual Leadership Loyalty Program 275

Restaurant Business

JUNE 11, 2025

11, 2025 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Huddle House will add drive-thrus as it moves into more urban and suburban markets. | A rendering of Perkins Griddle & Go fast-casual concept. Simultaneously, the company also created a fast-casual version of Perkins called Griddle & Go, another nod to younger, on-the-go customers.

Fast Casual 182

Fast Casual Front of House Back of House Leadership 182

Restaurant Business

JUNE 13, 2025

The fast-food franchisor is asking a federal court to sign off on its decision to terminate Paradigm Investment Group’s franchise agreement. Private-equity firm Savory Fund made a major investment in casual-dining chain Hawkers Asian Street Food. million last year, that’s more than double the next closest chain.

Operations 221

Operations Leadership 2025 Fast Casual 221

Restaurant Business

JUNE 25, 2025

Fast-casual Panera Bread has been going through significant change over the past two years, with multiple board and leadership changes. News leadership Fast_Casual Lisa Jennings is a veteran restaurant industry reporter and editor who covers the fast-casual sector, independent restaurants and emerging chain concepts.

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Leadership Fast Casual 2025 Casual 224

Restaurant Business

JUNE 23, 2025

They are popping up more often in conversations this year, and they point toward deeper trends in the restaurant tech market. For fast-food restaurants, where every second counts, this could be a particularly valuable tool, especially as more transactions come through digital channels. Add these six terms to your vocabulary.

Hiring 172

Hiring Mobile Ordering Advertising Leadership 172

Restaurant Business

JULY 16, 2025

Photos courtesy of Lime Fresh Mexican Grill With nine locations in Florida, fast-casual Lime Fresh Mexican Grill is David to Taco Bell’s Goliath. . Photos courtesy of Lime Fresh Mexican Grill With nine locations in Florida, fast-casual Lime Fresh Mexican Grill is David to Taco Bell’s Goliath. By Patricia Cobe on Jul.

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Menu Fast Casual Leadership Email Marketing 159

Restaurant Business

JULY 21, 2025

The company under former CEO Chidsey, whose job was to guide the company through a sale process, upgraded the menu, improved marketing and reorganized the corporate structure. But store closures have returned this year amid a difficult operating environment for much of the fast-food space. By Jonathan Maze on Jul.

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Loyalty Program Leadership 2025 Fast Casual 239

Restaurant Business

JULY 9, 2025

To put the new Whopper on the menu, the Miami-based fast-food burger chain had to bring in the brisket, Carolina gold BBQ sauce and crispy onions. “A A fun fact is that the brisket is actually pit smoked. Its smoked slowly over 10 to 14 hours, then shredded and blended with a traditional barbecue sauce,” Young added.

Leadership 144

Leadership Food Supply Loyalty Program Fast Casual 144

Restaurant Business

JUNE 24, 2025

Probably not The Bottom Line: The fast-casual Mexican chain remains a shockingly good value and its first-quarter sales slowdown was not out of the ordinary. Among fast-casual chains, the slowdown was more pronounced. None of this isn’t to say that there aren’t potential issues with the fast-casual chain.

Fast Casual 144

Fast Casual Leadership Point of Sale Social Media 144

Restaurant Business

JUNE 23, 2025

And fast-food customers Chef Jonathon Sawyer discusses his Chicago restaurant, Kindling, and his latest TV appearance Are we reaching peak chicken tender saturation on menus? It’s easy to score what’s marketed as a Dubai Chocolate Bar at specialty retail food stores; in New York City a 7-ounce bar sells for about $19.

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Bar Fast Casual Leadership Back of House 159

Restaurant Business

JUNE 18, 2025

The New Jersey-based fast-casual chain has been acquired by private-equity firm Thompson Street Capital Partners, the company announced Wednesday. News acquisitions franchising Lisa Jennings is a veteran restaurant industry reporter and editor who covers the fast-casual sector, independent restaurants and emerging chain concepts.

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Fast Casual Leadership Franchise Franchising 172

Restaurant Business

JUNE 6, 2025

Formerly with Yum Brands, Davenport worked with Pizza Hut for more than nine years, including as managing director for global franchise markets and managing director for the Middle East, Turkey and Africa. The eight-unit fast-casual concept Off The Hook Restaurants is beefing up its executive team as it plans growth in Louisiana.

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Fast Casual Leadership Franchise Franchising 144

Restaurant Business

JUNE 11, 2025

The convenience-retailing giant on Wednesday announced a Craveables Value Menu, pitting it in head-to-head competition with fast-food chains also looking to win consumers over with low prices. marketing retail News Heather Lalley is the managing editor of Restaurant Business, Foodservice Director and CSP Daily news. Sign up here.

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Fast Casual Cash Management Retail Leadership 172

Restaurant Business

JUNE 12, 2025

The company plans to expand into more markets and expects to have thousands of bots on the ground by the end of the year, which it says will give it the largest autonomous vehicle fleet in the world. News technology delivery finance Joe Guszkowski is a senior editor with Restaurant Business covering technology and casual-dining chains.

Delivery 184

Delivery Leadership 2025 Advertising 184

Restaurant Business

JULY 15, 2025

Chris Tomasso, CEO of First Watch, and Barry McGowan, CEO of Fogo de Chao, are both joining a new board for Hawkers Asian Street Food, the casual-dining chain Savory acquired last month. By Jonathan Maze on Jul. 15, 2025 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Hawkers' board will feature two notable full-service chain executives.

Leadership 172

Leadership Food Fast Casual 2025 172

Restaurant Business

JUNE 5, 2025

News independents chefs Lisa Jennings is a veteran restaurant industry reporter and editor who covers the fast-casual sector, independent restaurants and emerging chain concepts. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Fast Casual 144

Fast Casual Leadership 2025 Loyalty Program 144

Restaurant Business

JULY 25, 2025

market Subway names Jonathan Fitzpatrick CEO The late chef Michael Chiarello's estate files lawsuit to prevent alleged hostile takeover of assets by investors Leadership BJ’s Restaurants, Shake Shack, Bonchon and more make executive moves Executive Summary: Here are the latest leadership changes in the restaurant industry.

Leadership 144

Leadership Fast Casual Email Marketing Food Supply 144

Restaurant Business

JUNE 24, 2025

News Emerging Brands technology Lisa Jennings is a veteran restaurant industry reporter and editor who covers the fast-casual sector, independent restaurants and emerging chain concepts. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

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Leadership Food Fast Casual 2025 228

Restaurant Business

JULY 15, 2025

OpenTable says the bot will save customers time and will help restaurants capture more bookings by providing needed information fast. News technology consumers Joe Guszkowski is a senior editor with Restaurant Business covering technology and casual-dining chains. Sign up here. Get today’s need-to-know restaurant industry intelligence.

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Leadership Technology Book Fast Casual 191

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 11, 2025

These changes have become permanent shifts in how they target customers, market themselves, and design their offerings." In 2024, we launched Mad Dash, which totally changed curbside pickup. The pandemic changed how businesses market, no doubt about it. This trend has held on in the last five years.

Loyalty Program 471

Loyalty Program Mobile Ordering Customer Experience Online Ordering 471

Restaurant Business

JUNE 17, 2025

Last month, DoorDash announced plans to acquire reservations and marketing service SevenRooms for $1.2 It will allow DoorDash to help restaurants grow their on-premise business by turning reservations data into targeted marketing opportunities. billion in a deal that officially closed last week.

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Leadership Advertising Reservations 2025 182

Restaurant Business

JUNE 11, 2025

In addition to delivery, it now offers software such as online ordering and mobile apps, and will soon add reservations and marketing tools with the pending acquisition of SevenRooms. “At News marketing delivery technology Joe Guszkowski is a senior editor with Restaurant Business covering technology and casual-dining chains.

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Advertising Fast Casual Social Media Leadership 223

Restaurant Business

JULY 14, 2025

She is the president of Market Mentors, a marketing agency based in Springfield, Massachusetts, that has been embracing AI as a marketing tool. said Kyle Drenon, CEO of marketing agency Supper Co., Michelle Abdow has been thinking about AEO a lot. on a recent episode of Restaurant Business’ A Deeper Dive podcast.

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Social Media SEO Leadership Technology 167

Restaurant Business

JUNE 5, 2025

On Thursday, the casual-dining chain promoted Lyle Tick, its president and chief concept officer, to the top job. News casual_dining Joe Guszkowski is a senior editor with Restaurant Business covering technology and casual-dining chains. By Joe Guszkowski on Jun. Sign up here. Get today’s need-to-know restaurant industry intelligence.

Leadership 157

Leadership Fast Casual 2025 Franchise 157

SpotOn

DECEMBER 30, 2024

At the beginning of 2024, the NRA reported that 73% of operators expected profit to be less or the same over the year, with 38% saying they didn't make any profit in 2023. Quick-service restaurants—like cafes, fast food, and fast casual—are estimated to have decent profit margins with lower food and labor costs.

Operations 52

Operations Loyalty Program Online Ordering Fast Casual 52

Restaurant Business

JULY 18, 2025

The casual-dining chain confirmed that it laid off a small number of employees to align with its new First Choice plan , which calls for the chain to refranchise some company-owned locations in order to pay down debt. It said the deal boosted traffic by a few percentage points in test markets. By Joe Guszkowski on Jul. Sign up here.

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Fast Casual Leadership Point of Sale Food Supply 247

Restaurant Business

JUNE 10, 2025

chains as the restaurant tech market continues to consolidate. chains as the restaurant tech market continues to consolidate. Louisville-based QSR Automations provides digital kitchen display systems for many large casual-dining brands. By Joe Guszkowski on Jun. Sign up here. Have consumers moved on?

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Fast Casual Leadership 2025 Technology 270

Restaurant Business

JULY 1, 2025

shops Value pressure comes to the fast-casual sector Financing These full-service restaurant chains opened the most locations last year In an overall down year for full-service unit growth, these five brands bucked the trend. It finished 2024 with 140 Go outlets, an increase of 77% year over year. By Joe Guszkowski on Jul.

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Fast Casual Leadership 2024 2025 172

Restaurant Business

JULY 24, 2025

With just one report, the fast-casual burrito chain lost its sense of invincibility. Almost every publicly traded fast-casual chain, outside of previously struggling Noodles, faced some sort of sales slowdown. By Jonathan Maze on Jul. Photo: Shutterstock. Chipotle’s stock was down 12% this year as it was.

Operations 267

Operations Fast Casual Point of Sale Leadership 267

Restaurant Business

JULY 11, 2025

We do not comment on rumors or market speculation,” a US Foods spokesperson said in an emailed statement. US Foods bought IWC Foodservice in 2024 and Renzi Foodservice and Saladino’s Foodservice in 2023. And though PFG is the larger company, US Foods has the higher market value: Its market capitalization is $18.6

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Food Leadership Email Marketing 2025 313

Restaurant Business

JULY 1, 2025

Ana Malmqvists title changed from chief marketing officer to chief brand officer. News franchising leadership Joe Guszkowski is a senior editor with Restaurant Business covering technology and casual-dining chains. Investors are leery about fast-food chains and they’re jumping onto a few key casual-dining bandwagons.

Leadership 159

Leadership Franchise Franchising Fast Casual 159

Restaurant Business

JULY 11, 2025

Cheek served in the role from 2014 to 2019, before moving to Modern Market. In addition, Beans & Brews has hired Carrie Cohen as senior manager of digital marketing. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Lee Ruiz. Chris Cheek has returned to Newk’s Eatery as chief development officer. family backed by CapitalSpring.

Leadership 184

Leadership Hotels Food Supply Email Marketing 184

Restaurant Business

JULY 1, 2025

The Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream founder got Floura off the ground with a Kickstarter campaign launched in March 2024, which generated excitement and backing. Investors are leery about fast-food chains and they’re jumping onto a few key casual-dining bandwagons. Floura Bars are not currently sold at Jeni’s scoop shops.

Waste 235

Waste Bar Leadership Fast Casual 235