Operations Features

Speaker Spotlight: Troy Hooper, Pepper Lunch CEO

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

Troy Hooper, CEO of Pepper Lunch, shares a look at his career, his achievements and industry trends ahead of his appearance at Fast Casual Executive Summit…

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How to keep profits high under pressure

by Bradley Cooper — Editor, Connect Media

Struggling with high restaurant costs? A panel at the Fast Casual Executive Summit will offer tips on how to maintain profitability.

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Great American Cookies, Marble Slab Creamery unify digital experience with new co-branded loyalty app

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery launched a new co-branded loyalty app, unifying their digital experience and streamlining ordering for…

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From Florida favorite to franchise frontier: The rise of Cannoli Kitchen Pizza

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Cannoli Kitchen Pizza, a quick-service Italian restaurant that began as a beloved mom-and-pop pizzeria in Boca Raton, is now expanding nationwide through…

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The dough must go on: How Kyle McPhee built a 16-store Papa Murphy's franchise

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Kyle McPhee rose from a teenage prep worker to the owner of 16 Papa Murphy's franchises by revitalizing struggling stores while focusing on customer service…

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Dishing out local store marketing secrets for restaurants

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Hoping to build a loyal customer base in their neighborhoods, restaurant owners can learn actionable local store marketing tactics at the upcoming Restaurant…

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Dave's Hot Chicken named Fast Casual's 2025 top brand

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

The Los Angeles brand launched in 2018 and has grown to over 300 locations. It won the Top 100 two years ago, making it the second brand in history to earn the…

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Beyond the burrito: How Taco John's 'People First' approach drives success

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Taco John's emphasizes a "Putting People First" philosophy to combat employee turnover by investing in its corporate leadership, supporting franchisees and…

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What to do with all this data?

by Bradley Cooper — Editor, Connect Media

What do you do with all that data as a restaurant? The Restaurant Marketing Workshop held from June 2 to 3 in Indianapolis, Indiana plans to tackle that…

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Eggs Up Grill, Hot Palette Holdings, Jeff's Bagel Run execs talk leadership skills

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Leaders from Eggs Up Grill, Jeff's Bagel Run and Hot Palette Holdings discussed leadership skills at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit in Myrtle…

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Salad House, Barcelona Restaurant Group, Knuckies Hoagies execs talk tech, talent acquisition, retention

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

A panel at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit highlighted the importance of balancing technology with human interaction in hiring and retaining…

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Mountain Mike's Pizza takes top honors at Pizza Marketplace's Top 100 Movers & Shakers 2025 event

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Mountain Mike's Pizza took home the top honor at Pizza Marketplace's top brand of 2025. Cicis Pizza won a special award from Xrobotics, and David McKillips was…

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How and why restaurant leaders are serving up AI in operations

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

AI is fast becoming ubiquitous in the restaurant environment, helping to streamline tasks, train employees and deliver a more rewarding customer experience.

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Twisted: How Pretzelmaker's partnership with Great Wolf Lodge increases sales, brand awareness

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Pretzelmaker has several non-traditional units in Great Wolf Lodge retreats, appealing to the young and old alike. The brand's partnership is designed to…

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Jollibee North America president says company is ready for next-level growth

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

At the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit in Myrtle Beach, Maribeth dela Cruz, president North America for QSR chicken brand Jollibee, said the brand…

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Wisconsin's root beer baroness: How Deanne Wells' A&W Restaurants thrive in small towns

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Deanne Wells has six A&W units in smalls towns in Wisconsin. She's paving the way for small-town franchisees to live and work in their respective communities.

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How to dominate restaurant data

by Bradley Cooper — Editor, Connect Media

A panel at the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit will discuss how to use data to drive growth and profitability.

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Krystal building on legacy with new prototype

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Krystal is building on its legacy by remodeling six restaurants in Georgia with the brand's new prototype designed to bring in new and returning customers.

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Do you know what part of your marketing spend is actually working?

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

A panel at the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit in Myrtle Beach will look at how brands are wasting their marketing money and how to get the most out…

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Can Jollibee out-cluck Popeyes, Chick-fil-A?

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Maribeth Dela Cruz will discuss how she plans to compete with the biggest chicken chains in North America, during her keynote, "Bringing Joy to North America…

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