Restaurant Business

JUNE 27, 2025

The families became fast friends. News Emerging Brands franchising Lisa Jennings is a veteran restaurant industry reporter and editor who covers the fast-casual sector, independent restaurants and emerging chain concepts. She reached out. View All Articles by This Author Want breaking news at your fingertips?

Fast Casual 177

Fast Casual Franchise Franchising Leadership 177

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 234

Restaurant Business

JUNE 6, 2025

But it wasn’t quite so bad for fast-casual concepts , which outpaced other categories with 9% growth in 2024, according to Technomic. Fast-casual chicken chains, including Dave’s Hot Chicken, saw double-digit sales growth, while fast-casual pizza continued to falter. By Heather Lalley on Jun.

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Fast Casual Leadership 2025 2024 147

Restaurant Business

JUNE 11, 2025

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. News food drink Joe Guszkowski is a senior editor with Restaurant Business covering technology and casual-dining chains.

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Fast Casual Front of House Back of House Leadership 188

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 164

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 178

Restaurant Business

JUNE 23, 2025

For fast-food restaurants, where every second counts, this could be a particularly valuable tool, especially as more transactions come through digital channels. Retail media network “A type of advertising platform that allows retailers to sell ad space on their digital channels to third-party brands.”

Hiring 177

Hiring Mobile Ordering Advertising Leadership 177

Restaurant Business

JUNE 12, 2025

News technology delivery finance Joe Guszkowski is a senior editor with Restaurant Business covering technology and casual-dining chains. Premium Emerging Brands Pepper Lunch carves a niche in the Panda Express-dominated world of Asian fast casual The Japan-born franchise brand has 540 units globally, but only nine in the U.S.

Delivery 191

Delivery Leadership 2025 Advertising 191

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. Photo: Shutterstock 7-Eleven is ready to do battle in the summer value wars.

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Fast Casual Cash Management Retail Leadership 177

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 146

Fast Casual Leadership Point of Sale Social Media 146

Restaurant Business

JUNE 6, 2025

The eight-unit fast-casual concept Off The Hook Restaurants is beefing up its executive team as it plans growth in Louisiana. She also led a turnaround at Jamba as vice president of operations, and spent 14 years with Starbucks, rising to director of business operations. Blaze is now based in Atlanta. Have consumers moved on?

Fast Casual 147

Fast Casual Leadership Franchise Franchising 147

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 9, 2025

Joe Gale has more than 30 years of sales, operations and account management experience, including 20 years with Coca-Cola North America Foodservice where he worked closely with numerous QSR and fast casual brands. Joe Gale What are the key challenges for the franchising landscape?

Franchise 221

Franchise Franchising Loyalty Program Training 221

Restaurant Business

JUNE 17, 2025

17, 2025 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn DoorDash now offers services like reservations and advertising. Then last week, DoorDash revealed that it had acquired Symbiosys, an ad tech startup that will allow restaurants to advertise themselves on places like Google, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. Is that a good thing for restaurants?

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Leadership Advertising 2025 Reservations 188

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? Since the menu at this fast-casual chain is rooted in Mediterranean flavors, this dessert is not a big culinary stretch. Photo courtesy of Nick the Greek.

Bar 164

Bar Fast Casual Leadership Back of House 164

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 147

Fast Casual Leadership 2025 Loyalty Program 147

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.

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Leadership Fast Casual 2025 Franchise 162

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 31, 2024

This final edition of Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Research Roundup for 2024 features news of operator challenges and priorities, delivery trends, wages and hourly worker considerations. Monthly QSR Traffic by Sales Channel Delivery moved to the top-performing fast-food sales channel in November, with traffic up +25.0

Franchise 221

Franchise Franchising 2024 Mobile Ordering 221

Modern Restaurant Management

AUGUST 17, 2020

This edition of Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Research Roundup features consumers' dining desires, the power of personalization and the untapped opportunity in localized marketing. Quick service and fast casual segments continue outperforming full-service restaurants by a very wide margin.

2020 493

2020 Mobile Ordering Loyalty Program Food Safety 493

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 18, 2020

Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine asked restaurant industry movers and shakers: "What do you feel is going to cause disruption in the restaurant industry over the next decade?” In the short term, it’s QSR that will experience labor improvement, then fast-casual. Alex Canter of Ordermark.

Mobile Ordering 539

Mobile Ordering Front of House Customer Service Customer Experience 539

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 31, 2025

This edition of Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Research Roundup features news of dramatic Valentine's Day shift, best food scenes, and the evolution of c-store foodservice. Fast-casual visits overall were down 3.8 In December, QSR restaurants overall saw visits decline 2.9 percent in December and 11.3

Marketing 221

Marketing Loyalty Program 2024 2025 221

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 21, 2020

Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine asked restaurant industry insiders for their perspection on 2020: What lessons did you learn and what do you feel the restaurant industry learned this year? Here are their responses. Click here for part two. Anita Adams, CEO of Black Bear Diner. GJ Hart, CEO of Torchy’s Tacos.

2020 450

2020 Online Ordering Customer Experience Point of Sale 450

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 16, 2021

Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine asked restaurant industry insiders for their views on trends. Concepts that captured strong market share like fast casual chains will continue to outpace growth in full service locations. Here are their insights. Frances Allen CEO at Checkers & Rally’s.

2022 450

2022 Food Supply Back of House Kitchen Safety 450

Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 12, 2020

Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Franchise Feed offers a glimpse at what's new in the restaurant franchise and MUFSO environment. His previous experience also includes acting as CFO and controller for numerous hospitality and fast casual brands such as Rubio’s, Carl’s Jr., and Del Taco.

Franchise 420

Franchise Franchising Food Safety Kitchen Safety 420

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Franchise Feed offers a glimpse at what's new in the restaurant franchise and MUFSO environment. Ascend Hospitality Group held the grand opening of Real Famous BBQ, a fast casual prototype and brand evolution of Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que, part of the BBQ Holdings family.

Franchise 383

Franchise Franchising Fast Casual 2019 383

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 10, 2020

Please send plant-based news to Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Barbara Castiglia at bcastiglia@modernrestaurantmanagement.com. 42 of the country’s favorite fast food and restaurant chains still don’t offer a plant-based entrée, according to a report released today by The Good Food Institute (GFI).

Hospitality 459

Hospitality Food Consumer Goods 2019 459

Modern Restaurant Management

JULY 1, 2020

This edition of Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Research Roundup features the rise of eCommerce, economic impact, dining during COVID and hot dog insights. In addition, the cheaper price tag that most fast food outlets offer may be appealing to consumers tightening their budgets amid the pandemic. Instagram Impact.

2020 450

2020 Travel Food Safety Consumer Goods 450

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 7, 2020

Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's People & Places column features news of company hires and promotions, charitable efforts and product introductions. With a modern look, designed to perfectly fit small spaces in quick service and fast casual restaurants, the napkin system saves restaurant operators both time and space.

Food 324

Food Food Supply Small Business Fast Casual 324

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 13, 2019

HOP® Restaurants announced plans to launch Flip’d by IHOP™, a new fast-casual concept in the U.S., “In looking at what exists today in terms of fresh, fast menu options — particularly at breakfast — there’s still tremendous opportunity for growth,” said Jay Johns, President of IHOP.

Mobile Ordering 251

Mobile Ordering Catering POS Online Ordering 251

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 12, 2019

Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Franchise Feed offers a glimpse at what's new in the restaurant franchise and MUFSO environment. “Salata is on an upward trajectory to become “the” premiere national fast-casual salad restaurant,” said Wheeler. More Tropical in Colorado.

Franchise 275

Franchise Franchising Loyalty Program Book 275

Restaurant Business

JUNE 10, 2025

Louisville-based QSR Automations provides digital kitchen display systems for many large casual-dining brands. News technology mergers Joe Guszkowski is a senior editor with Restaurant Business covering technology and casual-dining chains. chains as the restaurant tech market continues to consolidate. Sign up here.

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Fast Casual Leadership 2025 Technology 273

Single Platform

SEPTEMBER 11, 2018

A CNN Money report from mid 2008 noted that casual dining chains were taking a major hit as people turned to cheaper food alternatives. Fast-casual chains like sweetgreen and Dig Inn pride themselves on mindful farm-sourced menu items that include rotating seasonal selections. This concept translates to restaurants as well.

2008 36

2008 Fast Casual Social Media 2017 36

7 Shifts

MARCH 30, 2022

Answer: restaurant advertising and marketing. Dining habits and options have changed in the past two years, and restaurant advertising needs to change in turn. On-Site Restaurant Advertising Ideas. Online Restaurants Advertising Ideas. Offline Restaurant Advertising Ideas. On-Site Restaurant Advertising Ideas.

Advertising 370

Advertising 2022 Social Media Email Marketing 370

Single Platform

SEPTEMBER 11, 2018

A CNN Money report from mid 2008 noted that casual dining chains were taking a major hit as people turned to cheaper food alternatives. Fast-casual chains like sweetgreen and Dig Inn pride themselves on mindful farm-sourced menu items that include rotating seasonal selections. This concept translates to restaurants as well.

2008 28

2008 Fast Casual Social Media 2017 28

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 28, 2020

Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine asked restaurant industry experts for their opinions on what we can expect in 2021. I predict we'll see foot-traffic studies rise in importance as a method to measure advertising success for QSR brands. Here are their responses. To read part one, click here. Most definitely.

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2021 Mobile Ordering Kitchen Safety Loyalty Program 576

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 15, 2020

This edition of Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Research Roundup features a gloomy start to the new year, dining trends for 2020, the importance of discounts, holiday gift card sales results, delivery frustrations, soda curiosity and a consumer culture report. An Uncertain Start to 2020? For more information, click here.

2020 275

2020 Point of Sale Online Ordering Consumer Goods 275

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 28, 2020

Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine asked restaurant industry experts for their opinions on what we can expect in 2021. I see flat-fee QSR, hybrid or fast casual restaurants with fixed-price approachable menus of typically unattainable offerings, such as Burger Lobster (lobster) and Sugarfish (sushi, omakase) becoming more popular.

2021 497

2021 Kitchen Safety Food Safety Mobile Ordering 497

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 31, 2019

Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine asked restaurant industry insiders and experts for their insights on what will impact restaurants in 2020 and the response was overwhelming. We remodeled our stores, changed advertising/marketing strategy and invested in technology for the business to be more efficient and effective.

2020 345

2020 Kitchen Safety Consumer Goods Food Safety 345