McDonald's unveils 'Next'-gen plans for growth, productivity as competition increases

June 2, 2026

McDonald's is launching a new strategic initiative dubbed McDonald's > Next to drive its next phase of growth and counter a changing competitive landscape…

Navigating the tightest restaurant real estate market in 20 years

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Ebere Anokute, head of retail research for CBRE, during the ICSC real estate conference in Las Vegas, reveals the shifting dynamics of restaurant real estate…

Built to Breakthrough: Make your brand stand out by being outstanding

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

This installment of the Built to Breakthrough series explains that building a clear, consistent brand with a strong unique strategic position (USP) is…

Learn how Popmenu is reinventing restaurant marketing and menu technology

Popmenu can help bring your restaurant into the 21st century.

Presented by Popmenu

Part 2: Cool technology at the NRA Show 2026

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Editor Mandy Wolf Detwiler spent time in the tech pavilion at the NRA Show checking out the modern tech and wares the show had to offer.

What the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show Told Us About the Future of Restaurants

The 2026 National Restaurant Association Show made one thing clear: operators are no longer asking whether kitchen automation works. They are asking how fast…

The Execution Gap: What the 2026 Restaurant Technology Report Reveals About Operator Priorities

Qu's 2026 State of Digital & Beyond Report (168 brands, 94,000+ locations) reveals the real story behind restaurant tech spend: 48% are increasing investment…

The Power of One System: Systematize your standards to scale

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

To transition from a chaotic, founder-dependent business to a scalable enterprise, leaders must define, document and continuously improve a unified operating…

Part 1: Cool technologies at the NRA Show 2026

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Editor Mandy Wolf Detwiler spent time in the tech pavilion at the National Restaurant Association Show.

The 'people-first' philosophy that turned a broke delivery driver into Domino’s largest U.S. franchisee

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Former delivery driver Brian Bailey scaled his Domino’s franchise from a single New Mexico location into a massive 160-store empire by maintaining a strict…

The success formula that took Everbowl from 1 to 400 locations

I sat down with Jeff Fenster, who built five eight- to nine-figure companies, exited three, and grew Everbowl to more than 100 open locations with almost 40…

AI Won't Save Your Restaurant, But Unified Data Will

Despite 73% of operators investing in AI, only 9% see real results. Leaders from Dave's Hot Chicken and Taco John's share why: fragmented data, over-reliance…

The Power of Financial Planning, Financial Visibility leads to business sustainability

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

To achieve sustainable growth and avoid the "stuck zone," Founders must overcome the emotional avoidance of their financials by owning their P&L, hiring expert…

Off-premise blitz: Turning pandemic survival tactics into long-term growth engines

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Industry leaders at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit highlighted how the shift from convenience to a permanent off-premise model requires a…

Ovation, Tap leaders share tips on crafting a guest feedback strategy

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

A panel talk at the upcoming Restaurant Marketing Workshop will deliver insight on not only getting a guest feedback approach up and running but tips and…

Innovation in every sip: How Tractor Beverage Co. is changing the beverage landscape

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

John Murphy, chief revenue officer of Tractor Beverage Co., discusses the company's award-winning revival of the 17th-century "switchel" and how its organic…

Presented by Tractor Beverage Co.

Mellow Mushroom VP shares secrets to long-term franchise success

In this episode of the Pizza Marketplace podcast, Mellow Mushroom VP of Franchise Development Jamie Cecil discusses the brand's 50-year history of "unicorn…

How the Best Franchise Groups Get Franchise Communication Right

The bigger your franchise gets, the harder team communication becomes to manage. This guide covers what every franchise operator needs to know about keeping…

The Power of One Direction: one of the most important and underutilized factors of greatness

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

The "Power of One Direction" is a leadership discipline where Founders transition from keeping strategies in their heads to creating a written plan, providing…

Wendy’s Q1 sales decline 7.8% as Project Fresh turnaround gains momentum

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Wendy's reported its Q1 2026 results on May 8, focusing on its Project Fresh initiatives.