Cherryh Cansler

Cherryh Cansler is Publisher of FastCasual.com and Vice President of Connect Food. She has been covering the restaurant industry since 2012. Her byline has appeared in Forbes, The Kansas City Star and American Fitness magazine, among many others.

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Recent Contributions

What the 2026 midterm results could mean for restaurants

by Cherryh Cansler , Valerie Gritton

The 2026 midterm election results could reshape federal policy affecting restaurant brands, putting immigration reform, credit card processing fees and trade…

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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?

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Beverage innovation comes to drive-thru and delivery

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

In this two-part series, we highlight two emerging businesses, Sunfly and CoffeeNow, as the next wave of beverage-brand startups. Up first, how Sunfly is…

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5 site selection lessons Dairy Queen uses to drive smarter QSR growth

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Dairy Queen’s Tara Fried Vigil shared why using AI-driven data, boots-on-the-ground research and a realistic look at municipal timelines should shape a QSR’s…

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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…

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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.

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Stop being reactive: How restaurants can double catering sales

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

August 21, 2026

CaterZen founder and former restaurant operator Michael Attias will share strategies for finding new catering customers, winning back former buyers and growing…

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Restaurant Catering Workshop keynote to reveal the 'hidden' drivers of catering growth

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

The keynote opens a full day of education focused on helping restaurant operators build stronger catering businesses. Throughout the workshop, attendees will…

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Pinkbox owner acquires Hot Dog on a Stick

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Stephen Siegel, the founder of Amazing Brands, said the acquisition of the 80-year-old brand will launch a new phase of national and international expansion…

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