One Stop Nutrition Taps SynergySuite and CBS NorthStar to Fuel AI-Driven Growth Across Franchise Network

One Stop Nutrition selects SynergySuite and CBS NorthStar to power AI-driven growth across its franchise network, unifying POS and back-of-house operations to…

ConverseNow, Deliverect partner to integrate Voice AI into restaurant management

April 16, 2026

ConverseNow, a Gen-AI voice solution for restaurants, and Deliverect, a digital ordering restaurant tech company, have announced a strategic partnership to…

Be featured: Help us build the ultimate resource for prospective franchise operators

April 15, 2026

Get your franchise brand in front of qualified leads—on us. We're embarking on a new franchise industry initiative and want your input.

Graeter’s Ice Cream partners with Churchill Downs for Kentucky Derby LTO flavor

April 15, 2026

Graeter's Ice Cream has released a limited-edition flavor, Backstretch Bourbon Cherry, as an officially licensed ice cream of the Kentucky Derby, according to…

Golden Chick secures exclusive branding rights on crew gear in Texas Rangers extension

April 15, 2026

Golden Chick is expanding its partnership with the Texas Rangers by incorporating the club's 2026 City Connect primary logo into its employee uniforms…

HTeaO reports Q1 growth with new stores in 4 states, leadership hires

April 15, 2026

Iced tea franchise HTeaO opened 2026 with a strong first quarter. The brand opened seven locations across Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and Tennessee, according to…

Design experiences that earn loyalty from day one

Traditional experience management starts after the interaction, but with Ignite Communities, people are brought into the process much earlier.

Presented by Service Management Group

The real cost of a broken customer experience (CX): Revenue loss, operational drag, and brand damage

The true cost of a broken CX extends far beyond a single transaction. It compounds over time, affecting revenue, operational efficiency, employee engagement…

Toast launches integrated drive-thru platform for quick-service restaurant chains

April 14, 2026

Toast has launched Toast Drive-Thru, a digital platform designed for quick-service restaurants to manage order accuracy and labor efficiency through a single…

Flavor sheriffs wanted: Carl’s Jr. to trade free sandwiches for photos of bland food

April 14, 2026

Carl's Jr. is launching a new campaign to target what it calls criminally bland chicken sandwiches by offering a reward for those who help round up the usual…

Built to Breakthrough Playbook: How to go from stuck to scale

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

To help founders overcome the "Stuck Zone" where business complexity stalls momentum, this playbook introduces the Power of One System and its Six Factors of…

Taco Bell to launch Diablo Dusted Crispy Chicken Nuggets nationwide April 16

April 13, 2026

Taco Bell is expanding its crispy chicken lineup with the launch of Diablo Dusted Crispy Chicken Nuggets, a menu item that transforms the brand's spiciest…

Blaze Pizza, Farmer Boys, Mike's Red Tacos, HigherMe experts discuss recruitment, retention

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Industry experts at the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit emphasized that sustainable restaurant profitability and successful scaling depend on…

Wetzel's Pretzels opens in California Walmart

April 10, 2026

Wetzel's Pretzels has opened a new bakery inside the Porter Ranch Walmart at 19821 Rinaldi St. in Porter Ranch California, marking the brand's latest expansion…

Dunkin' to leave India after 14 years

April 10, 2026

Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd. will end its franchise agreement with U.S.-based Dunkin' when the current contract expires on Dec. 31, 2026, according to a Reuters…

Meet the Top 30 Movers & Shakers: Restaurant Marketing

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

We’re proud to honor the 2026 Restaurant Marketing Top 30 Movers & Shakers, who will be recognized at the Restaurant Marketing Workshop on June 2–3 in Boston.

Marco's Pizza inks 12-store franchise deal for Southern California

April 9, 2026

Marco's Pizza has signed a 12-unit franchise agreement with experienced franchisee Baljit Gill to expand the brand across Southern California, according to a…

Hungry Howie's offers National Pet Day secret menu

April 9, 2026

Hungry Howie's is partnering with Happy Howie's to launch a limited-time secret menu for National Pet Day, offering pairings for both pizza fans and their dogs…

Deliverect AI debuts autonomous workforce to manage menus, protect digital revenue

April 9, 2026

Deliverect, a global restaurant technology platform serving more than 95,000 locations across 78 countries, has launched Deliverect AI: a digital workforce of…

Saucy by KFC adds Drips by Pepsi beverages to menu

April 8, 2026

Saucy by KFC, KFC's fast casual brand, has upped its beverage offerings with the addition of Drips by Pepsi to the menu. The 16-ounce drinks combine PepsiCo…