White Castle is nation's 1st fast food brand to deploy Flippy 'robot-on-a-rail'

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

White Castle will test fry-cook robot, Flippy, in September, in its newest incarnation as a robotic arm on a rail. With White Castle, Flippy's starting as a…

June US restaurant industry sales are best since February

Fast casual falters a bit, while pizza, chicken and burgers fare well in June.

The tricky business of covering a QSR's COVID-19 costs

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Masks, gloves, anti-viral sprays and all the many other additional costs QSRs have to take on in order to also take on business in a pandemic really add up.

What QSRs stand to gain (or lose) by taking a stand

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

This year —  more than most —  there are plenty of issues up for debate, and many brands are choosing sides. New research shows this act of social…

Uber pays $2.65B in stock for Postmates

The third-party delivery version of "big fish eats smaller fish" just changed the stakes in the highly competitive and ever-more-valuable restaurant delivery…

FastCasual accepting nominations for 2020 Perfect Pitch

FastCasual is accepting nominations until July 31 for the annual Perfect Pitch.

Pandemic puts single-use packaging in a new light

Even before the Spanish Flu pandemic struck the world more than a century ago, single-use packaging was getting its start as a problem-solver when it comes to…

How franchisees can drive mid-market growth in the digital age

Using digital tech to maximum effect is the focus of an hour-long discussion with two leaders at Ohio-based pizza chain, Romeo's Pizza on July 14.

QSR customer satisfaction: Dunkin' outdoes Starbucks, Domino's dominates Papa John's

In the fine art of keeping happy customers, there were a few upheavals and a newcomer or two.

How one Swedish QSR used tech to increase sales, implement social distancing

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Sometimes the answers to your QSR's business conundrums are right outside your window.

Is your QSR a brand of ... influence?

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Want to really pull in that up-and-coming Gen Z-er? Better get to know their online "friends" and fast.

Networld Media employees honor late founder Alan Fryrear

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Alan Earl Fryrear, co-founder and chairman of Networld Media Group, died at the age of 81 on June 10, 2020.

Is Subway's problem bigger than a footlong?

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

The North American Association of Subway Franchisees — representing thousands of U.S. franchisees — said its survey of members showed that 75% of those…

Expert preparation tips for QSR boycotts, vitriol in presidential election year

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

The boycott of Wendy's that ensued after the online "pile-on" under the hashtag #Wendysisoverparty, could happen to any QSR, but these three marketing and…

From eating pods to touchless everything: Where COVID-19-era QSR design is headed

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

From the introduction of novel ideas like eating "pods," to the use of things like German Burger King's tongue-in-cheek social distancing crown, the places we…

Nearly a year after chicken sandwich wars, a major QSR claim to fame comes out of the coop

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Burgers and fries have always been the instant word associations with QSRs, but now, almost one year after last August's storied chicken sandwich wars, that…

Firehouse Subs '5-alarm' tech emergency highlights value of evaluating systems

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

For Firehouse Subs, the emergence of COVID-19 on the American landscape triggered nothing short of a five-alarm emergency to get the sandwich brand in sync…

Making 'masked' hospitality work: Cost, customer engagement challenge QSRs

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

In a COVID-19 world, masks have become a fact of life for restaurant operators and employees. The question now is how to use them safely and cost-effectively…

COVID-19 pandemic coverage on QSRweb

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

We've gathered all the ongoing coverage across our food service websites here in one story, which will be added to on a daily basis as news breaks.

'Converting to Curbside and Delivery' webinar is lesson in pandemic-era adaptability

When the pandemic flipped the operational model for a Texas taco brand to totally off-premise, Crush Taco and POS provider, Revention, responded, exemplifying…