Should restaurants enter the Metaverse?

by cooper, Bradley Cooper — Editor, Connect Media

What is the metaverse good for? A panel at the Interactive Customer Experience Summit debated this topic.

Redefining QSRs: How PDQ journeyed to superior quality, service

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

PDQ - short for People Dedicated to Quality - has 63 traditional units as well as sports arenas and airport locations. The brand is a people-first…

How to cut costs with delivery

by Bradley Cooper — Editor, Connect Media

Third party delivery got big during COVID-19 but can also cost restaurants a lot. How can restaurants save money?

How Dave's Hot Chicken wins with authenticity

by Bradley Cooper — Editor, Connect Media

Dave's Hot Chicken went from a parking lot pop-up to a fast casual juggernaut. The opening keynote at the Interactive Customer Experience Summit in Charlotte…

Checkers & Rally's rolls out Spanish AI at drive-thrus

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Checkers & Rally's has released Spanish AI at the drive-thru in conjunction with Hi Auto. The brand added English AI to its drive-thrus last year.

Subway confirms sale to Roark Capital

Subway has sold to Roark Capital for an undisclosed amount.

'It's a revolution': Jars by Fabio Viviani brings playfulness back to desserts

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Jars by Fabio Viviani is a dessert concept that could be coming to a town near you. Though the brand has one unit open in Chicago, it has sold more than a…

Del Taco launches unit inside Circus Circus Hotel & Casino

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Del Taco has lauched a unit inside the Circus Circus in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Mexican QSR brand plans a unit in the Excalibur soon.

Introducing FastCasual's 2023 Perfect Pitchers

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Founders of Haven Hot Chicken, Mahana Fresh, Pizzawala, Pucci Brothers Fresh Italian and Sankranti Indian Kitchen will take the stage on Oct. 9 to pitch their…

Savvy Sliders' heavy growth potential makes it a QSR standout

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Savvy Sliders is making a name for itself with fresh, never frozen all-beef sliders, hand-breaded chicken strips and hand-spun milkshakes. Company officials…

American consumers in no mood to give up daily coffee

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Americans are still gulping down the coffee despite increasing costs and concerns about inflation.

Smalls Sliders takes the stage as up-and-coming burger brand

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Smalls Sliders offers less than 12 SKUs, but the brand is scaling in a big way.

ICXA to honor Elevate winners at 7th annual summit

by Alicia Lavay — Executive Director, ICX Association

The ICX Association will honor five companies as winners of the 2023 Elevate Awards during a ceremony at its upcoming annual conference, the Interactive…

Inflation exposes gaps in restaurant loyalty, physical experience

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Hope Neiman, CMO for Tillster, explains how restaurants can create more meaningful interactions with the guest and leverage technology for a best-in-class…

2nd annual Pizza Leadership Virtual Summit to aid pizzeria operators with busy schedules

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

The Pizza Leadership Virtual Summit, hosted by Pizza Marketplace and PDQ Signature Systems, offers pizzeria owners and operators learning opportunities from…

'We're all in it together': White Castle a family affair

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

White Castle is a 350-unit family owned company. The brand best known for its sliders now has third-, fourth- and fifth-generation family members at the helm.

Marco's Pizza's chief development officer offers unique perspective with real estate background

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Gerardo Flores is chief development officer for Marco's Pizza. With a background in real estate, Flores brings a unique perspective to the quickly growing…

It’s a sister affair for a California Wetzel’s Pretzels food truck

by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

Peyton and Paige Geyser, sisters in Orange County, California, are owners and operators of a Wetzel’s Pretzels food truck and were longtime fans of the brand…

Taco John's a growing QSR player in Mexican segment

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Taco John's has 375 units, of which seven are corporate owned. With a new store design, savvy multi-unit franchisees and a winning corporate team, the brand…

5 social media tricks to help restaurant marketing succeed

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Social media is more engaging and smarter than ever. Here are five tips for restaurants to get the most out of their social media budgets.