Whataburger to open 1st Tampa Bay-area restaurant

February 6, 2026

Whataburger is coming to the Tampa Bay area. The burger brand will open its first Largo, Florida, restaurant on Feb., 12. Swag for the first guests in line and…

The most overlooked payment security mistakes in QSRs

by Chris Brown — Senior Product Marketing Manager, SecureTrust

Despite the high-speed nature of the fast food industry, operators must prioritize payment security by updating legacy hardware, securing third-party…

Kitchens are not ready for Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl Sunday exposes how QSR kitchens break under extreme demand, with fry stations becoming bottlenecks as orders surge. The article argues automation…

Applications now open for LDEI 2026 Awards

February 5, 2026

Applications are now open for the 2026 Les Dames d'Escoffier International (LDEI) Legacy Awards, supported by The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the…

Yum Brands reports Q4, year-end results; Pizza Hut to close 250 units

February 5, 2026

Yum Brands, Inc. released its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended Dec. 31, 2025, highlighting significant profit growth and a…

Grubhub eliminating fees on orders over $50

February 5, 2026

Grubhub is moving to eliminate the industry's most persistent pain point by waiving delivery and service fees on larger orders, a shift the company will debut…

Bridging the restaurant coaching gap: LEAD announces leadership events in KC, Dallas

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

As the publisher of FastCasual.com and a proud Kansas Citian, I've always said that some of the best leadership in the restaurant industry is bred right here…

Loop AI secures $14M Series A to scale restaurant back-office technology

February 3, 2026

Loop AI, an enterprise AI platform for restaurant and retail back offices, has raised $14 million in Series A funding, according to a press release.

Empowering restaurants to thrive: How smart technology is transforming the guest experience and the bottom line

by Fast Casual

Amid modern restaurant challenges lies a powerful opportunity – by embracing innovative technology, restaurants can not only survive but truly thrive.

Presented by Oracle

Thriving through uncertainty: the power of resilience in leadership and business

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

Resilience is the essential "superpower" for navigating modern uncertainty, serving as a developable skill that enables individuals and organizations to…

Speaker Spotlight: Jeff Perera, co-founder, vice president, Jeff's Bagel Run

Jeff Perera, co-founder and vice president of Jeff's Bagel Run, shares a look at his career, his achievements and industry trends ahead of his appearance at…

1B served: Why Potato Olé is the side dish that built an empire

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Taco John’s corporate Chef Brad Bergaus explores the history, sensory science and enduring cult status of Potato Olés, a signature spiced-potato side dish that…

How top franchise brands turn culture into direct profitability

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Industry leaders will gather at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit to share actionable strategies for transforming workplace culture and…

Pan pizza returns to Papa Johns; brand says they got it right this time

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

After years of development, Papa Johns is relaunching its pan pizza with a refined recipe featuring a garlic-Parmesan crust and a six-cheese blend, supported…

Carl's Jr offers free hangover burger, $20 promo cards on Feb. 9

January 28, 2026

Carl's Jr. is offering a free Hangover Breakfast Burger exclusively to Carl's Jr. My Rewards Members on Feb. 9, according to a press release.

A Restaurant Owner's Guide to Secure Team Communication

Using personal chat apps for work puts your business data at risk. This guide breaks down the challenges of unsecured team communication, the real costs to…

5 ways Super Bowl delivery success translates to year-round revenue

by Alex Vasilkin — Co-Founder & CEO, Cartwheel

By leveraging AI dispatch, hybrid fulfillment models and transparent communication, pizza operators can transform the extreme logistical pressure of Super Bowl…

Why Your Company Has 40 Group Chats and Nobody Knows What’s Going On

Personal chat apps give you zero control over company data. When employees leave, they take years of business information with them—and removing them takes…

4 ways to freshen up your QSR

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

QSR operators can freshen their brand by moving away from muted design trends toward vibrant, brand-aligned colors, upgrading flooring with luxury vinyl and…

Nathan's Famous to be acquired by Smithfield Foods

January 23, 2026

Smithfield Foods Inc. will acquire hot-dog brand Nathan's Famous in a $450 million deal, according to a press release.