Hardee's returns to NASCAR as official partner, teams with Bubba Wallace

January 22, 2026

Hardee's has become the official Quick Service Restaurant of NASCAR in a multi-year agreement.

Why the Restaurant Labor Crisis Is a Retention Problem, Not a Recruitment Problem

The restaurant industry is facing a staffing problem. But in reality, it's facing a retention problem. From dangerous work environments to boring, repetitive…

Cicis Pizza teams up with Twitch streamer for specialty pizza

January 21, 2026

Texas-based Cicis Pizza has teamed up with Twitch streamer and longtime Cicis fan CaseOh to introduce the Mac & CaseOh Pizza, a renamed of its Mac &…

Dunkin gives away Megan Thee Stallion's limited-edition cups

January 16, 2026

Dunkin' guests may can score a limited-edition Megan Thee Stallion "Hot Girls Run on Dunkin" reusable cup with the purchase of any Dunkin' Protein Refresher…

Pizza Nova franchisee believes in quality, consistency, brand culture

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Driven by a lifelong connection to the brand, franchisee Chi-son Phu has successfully grown his Pizza Nova business in Toronto by strictly following the…

Little Caesars launches Detroit-style Slices-N-Stix box

January 14, 2026

Little Caesars has launched Detroit-style Slices-N-Stix, a single-serve meal option that includes two slices of Detroit-Style Deep Dish Pepperoni Pizza, four…

The countdown is on: 10 ways RFIS will change your life

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Think of this as your official invite to the industry family reunion. Matching shirts not required!

21 states just raised their minimum wage - and automation demand is surging

California leads the way as 21 states raise their minimum wage in January 2026, forcing restaurant operators to either adapt or face increase financial…

Chick-fil-A kicks off 80th anniversary celebration with largest marketing campaign

January 5, 2026

Chick-fil-A is launching its biggest marketing campaign ever today, according to a press release.

Refresh your XM strategy with this clear, practical checklist

A simple visual guide to help strengthen your customer and employee experiences.

Presented by Service Management Group

Frontline first: Connecting employee and customer experience for stronger results

Learn how a connected employee and customer experience can boost engagement, loyalty, and performance.

Presented by Service Management Group

Jack in the Box kicks off 75th anniversary with throwbacks, collectibles

December 29, 2025

Jack in the Box is kicking off its 75th anniversary with throwback menu items, exclusive collectables, deals and surprises, according to a press release.

Your frontline is your superpower. Here’s how to unlock it.

Frontline employees carry your brand every day, yet many feel overlooked and unheard. Learn how empowering them with trust, training, and meaningful feedback…

Emerging Sports, Emerging Restaurant Opportunities

Sports that may have been overlooked in the past are capturing the public’s imagination and creating fresh opportunities for restaurant operators. These new…

The future of experience management: 10 trends shaping 2026

Explore the top 10 experience management trends shaping 2026. From practical AI to personalization, each has the potential to help brands build stronger…

Dirty Dough owner succeeds on transparency, great cookies

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Restaurant Operator Podcast host Mandy Detwiler talks to Bennet Maxwell, owner of Dirty Dough, about the cookie brand's launch and what keeps it successful.

Popeyes partners with Blumhouse's upcoming Five Night at Freddy's 2 for menu collab

November 18, 2025

Popeyes is partnering with Blumhouse's Five Nights at Freddy's 2 horror film with a menu collab available now for a limited time, according to a press release.

Taco Bell, Venmo introduce the Venmo Taco Bellt - yes that's spelled right

November 18, 2025

The Venmo Taco Bellt is available today for a limited time only, according to company news.

Chicken Salad Chick, Main Squeeze Juice Co, Original ChopShop, Dog Haus leaders talk marketing on a limited dime

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

A panel of fast casual executives shared that maximizing social media ROI with limited budgets is best achieved through deep community involvement, leveraging…

Carl's Jr. releases value friendly Cali XL Burger

November 12, 2025

As more Americans seek value from restaurants, Carl's Jr. is stepping in with its new Cali XL burger. The brand says it has double the beef of a McDonald's Big…