North Carolina Senator Chuck Edwards, wife, sell McDonald’s restaurants

July 13, 2026

Republican Sentator Chuck Edwards (NC-11) and his wife, Teresa, have sold their McDonald's franchise restaurants, according to a news release.

Charleys Cheesesteaks & Wings opens Maryland restaurant

July 13, 2026

Charleys Cheesesteaks & Wings has opened a location at Olde Forte Village, located at 970 E. Swan Creek Road, in Fort Washington, Maryland, providing a new…

A masterclass in munchies: Why Kahala Brands is betting big on twist and scoop

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Kahala Brands is pairing Cold Stone Creamery and Wetzel’s Pretzels under one roof as a strategic co-branding initiative designed to reduce franchisee overhead…

HTeaO to host grand opening celebration in Lowell, Arkansas

July 8, 2026

Iced tea franchise HTeaO will host the grand opening of its first Lowell, Arkansas, location on Saturday, July 11, according to a press release.

The World Pizza champion who 'Let go to grow'

13-time world pizza champion Tony Gemignani spent 17 years honing his craft before betting on himself. In this episode of Founderology - Built to Breakthrough…

HTeaO expands Texas footprint with Katy location

July 7, 2026

Iced tea franchise HTeaO will celebrate the grand opening of its newest location in Katy, Texas, on Saturday, July 11, according to a press release.

KFC opens 60th Scotland location

July 6, 2026

KFC has opened its first restaurant in Airdrie, marking the brand's 60th location in Scotland, according to a press release.

International Dairy Queen marks return to Puerto Rico

July 1, 2026

International Dairy Queen Inc., through its subsidiary American Dairy Queen Corporation, has announced a deal to open 20 DQ Grill & Chill restaurants in…

How Velvet Taco CEO Chris Schultz scales a cult brand without losing its soul

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

During his keynote at the Fast Casual Executive Summit in Texas, Chris Schultz will discuss restaurant growth, brand culture, leadership, international…

Krispy Kreme entering Estonia

June 29, 2026

Krispy Kreme has signed a five-year development and franchise agreement to open up to 25 units across the Baltic States between 2026 and 2030, expanding its…

Taco Bell operator Southpaw expands Midwest footprint with Columbus acquisition

June 29, 2026

Southpaw, a quick-service restaurant operator, has acquired 43 Taco Bell locations in the Columbus, Ohio, area, according to a press release.

How Church’s Texas Chicken uses real estate discipline to drive franchise growth

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Church’s Texas Chicken is bucking the fast-food trend of large, expensive experiential builds by pivoting to a "simplify and amplify" strategy, utilizing…

LV Petroleum opens 32nd Sbarro in portfolio

June 23, 2026

LV Petroleum, a developer and operator of travel centers, convenience stores and quick-service restaurants throughout the United States, recently opened a…

KFC expands Cheshire footprint with Winsford Gateway restaurant

June 22, 2026

KFC opened a new drive-thru restaurant at Winsford Gateway on Friday, creating 45 new jobs for the local community, according to a press release.

Wonder, Dave’s Hot Chicken Real Estate VPs reveal growth strategies

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Real estate strategy is central to growth for restaurant brands, and Wonder and Dave's Hot Chicken are taking different approaches to scale. In a podcast…

Krystal makes Northeast debut with 1st New Jersey restaurant in Union

June 17, 2026

Krystal, the quick-service chain known for its signature square sliders since 1932, opened its first New Jersey restaurant June 4 at 2210 Route 22 East in…

How Jae Kim is Scaling Chi’Lantro

Jae Kim emptied his $30,000 in savings and maxed out his credit cards to launch a Korean food truck in Austin in 2010. Now he is leading 13 Chi'Lantro…

What Is the Best Team Communication App for Multi-Location Restaurant Groups?

Everything multi-location restaurant groups need to know about choosing the right work chat app.

Wetzel's Pretzels opens location inside West Palm Beach Walmart

June 12, 2026

Wetzel's Pretzels is expanding its presence in Florida with a bakery inside the Walmart at 9990 Belvedere Rd. in West Palm Beach, Florida, according to a press…

70 years old and 'restarting': Shakey’s Pizza VP outlines fresh strategy for expansion

In this episode of the Pizza Marketplace podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace, chats with Sonia Barajas-Najera, vice president of…