First ezCater, now Instacart? Delivery's consolidation wave keeps rolling

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

If DoorDash and Instacart come together, what gets better for the operator?

How digital friction is costing QSR orders before they begin

by Aman Devgan — President and General Manager, Menufy

The digital age has brought many benefits to restaurants, but it's also raised the bar tremendously. Think of it this way – a prospective guest hears about a…

Analysis: KFC’s US Coke switch is about more than the cola wars

by Valerie Gritton — Editor, Pizza Marketplace

KFC's decision to replace Pepsi with Coca-Cola beverage products across its U.S. restaurants marks the end of a nearly 40-year relationship, but the bigger…

Believe, belong and remember: One last lesson from Ted Lasso

I have just spent the last several days at our Fast Casual Executive Summit where I was able to reconnect with old friends, meet new ones and lean into what…

Who's the MVP of your restaurant? Nominate them for Workforce Warriors

Nominations are open through Nov. 10.

Five Ways Multi-Unit Operators Can Cut Kitchen Equipment Costs

by Vijay Sood — Executive Vice President of Corporate Accounts, TriMark USA

As restaurant margins tighten, operators are looking for every opportunity to control costs. Food and labor get the most scrutiny – and for good reason, since…

Life, leadership and restaurants: ‘Ted Lasso’ strikes again

by Valerie Gritton — Editor, Pizza Marketplace

* Please note, this post does contain spoilers for the Ted Lasso episode, "Mae Rides the Bus."

Perfect Pitch winner TAP joins 9 brands in 2026 'Fast Casual Frontrunners'

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

There are plenty of restaurant brands trying to be the next big thing, but discovering those that could actually shape where fast casual goes next is a…

Ted Lasso, an empty office and workplace culture

by Valerie Gritton — Editor, Pizza Marketplace

I once started a new job where, on my very first day, I was shown the empty office of a woman who had died of breast cancer.

Voice AI has rewritten the drive-thru, the future of QSR

Voice AI is transforming the QSR drive-thru. With deployments at brands such as Taco Bell, the technology is helping franchisees streamline operations, reduce…

Latest Ted Lasso serves up Wingstop, Taco Bell and a lesson in brand fandom

by Valerie Gritton — Editor, Pizza Marketplace

Revealed: The 2026 Top 30 Movers & Shakers: Catering

In 2026, catering has become one of the fastest-growing engines of brand loyalty and scale in the restaurant industry, and a new class of leaders is rewriting…

Me, Ted Lasso and something in common

by Valerie Gritton — Editor, Pizza Marketplace

Twenty years ago, I started my career in restaurant journalism. Now, I’m back where it all began as the editor of QSRWeb and Pizza Marketplace.

4 reasons (and a raccoon) why you can't miss the Fast Casual Executive Summit

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Keynoters, Perfect Pitch contestants and a trash panda walk into Arlington; here's your Fast Casual Executive Summit October 4–6 game plan.

How QSRs can drive customer engagement through round-up donations

With more than half of Americans willing to round up their purchases for charity, these small contributions can collectively generate millions for causes…

Loyalty programs have become new front line of QSR fraud

by Stuart Mann — Head of Industry Product Engagement, Accertify

A recently disclosed data breach at Chick-fil-A made headlines for the type of accounts that were targeted. It was reportedly a credential stuffing attack that…

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…

3 leaders every Founder must hire to scale

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

To successfully scale a company and transition from an overwhelmed operator to a confident CEO, founders must stop trying to manage everything themselves and…

How AI-powered digital signage drives QSR growth in 2026

by Misty Chalk — Vice President of Sales, Americas, BrightSign

To navigate economic uncertainty and declining consumer sentiment in 2026, quick-serve restaurants can drive growth by investing in AI-powered digital signage…

Build your leadership team: The team that reports directly to you

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

True organizational growth and scalability require distinguishing between mere managers and genuine leaders.