Voting now open for 2026 Top 30 Movers & Shakers: Catering

Voting is officially open for 2026 Top 30 Movers & Shakers: Catering, recognizing the restaurant professionals driving growth, innovation and excellence in…

How Jollibee protects brand culture while expanding franchise operations

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Defying the industry's rapid-growth mentality, Jollibee is executing its North American franchise expansion through a highly selective, 90-day vetting process to ensure partners align with the brand's culture and possess the operational maturity to handle its high-volume restaurants.

Touchdown: Little Caesars scores big with Justin Jefferson, Jared Goff, George Kittle

Little Caesars is returning for its fifth year as the Official Pizza Sponsor of the NFL with its 2026 campaign featuring national partnerships with Justin…

4 misses in Founder-led negotiations

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

Although Founders know their businesses best, their deep emotional investment and daily operational pressures often compromise their negotiating leverage, making it essential to partner with an objective advisor to maximize the true value of their deals.

AI and the Future of Restaurants: From Foot Traffic to Predictive Insight

As consumer behavior and privacy expectations evolve, restaurants need smarter ways to understand diners and drive growth. Gladys Kong of Azira and Isabelle Soriano of Goodway Group explore how AI and location intelligence can inform site selection, media strategy, audience engagement, and faster, more informed decisions.