National Restaurant Association launches 'Made in Restaurants' initiative

September 9, 2026

The National Restaurant Association has launched "Made in Restaurants," a national initiative designed to showcase the restaurant industry's role in shaping…

Why QSRs are betting on the Sun Belt

by Valerie Gritton

Restaurant growth continues to concentrate across the Sun Belt, where population growth, development and shifting consumer demographics are creating new…

4 reasons (and a raccoon) why you can't miss the Fast Casual Executive Summit

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Keynoters, Perfect Pitch contestants and a trash panda walk into Arlington; here's your Fast Casual Executive Summit October 4–6 game plan.

How Steele Smiley sold a fitness empire to bet on healthy fast food

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

Steele Smiley spent 15 years building a fitness empire with more than 900 U.S. franchisees and locations in more than 35 countries, sold it, and founded CRISP…

How QSRs can drive customer engagement through round-up donations

With more than half of Americans willing to round up their purchases for charity, these small contributions can collectively generate millions for causes…

Yum! Brands completes U.S. sale of Pizza Hut

September 2, 2026

Yum! Brands has announced in a press release the completion of its sale of Pizza Hut, excluding Mainland China, to LongRange Capital. The sale, for…

Jeremiah’s Italian Ice adds Lisa McGill as VP of franchise development

September 1, 2026

Jeremiah's Italian Ice has appointed Lisa McGill as its first vice president of franchise development. In her role, McGill will lead the brand's national…

Iconex Introduces Patent-Pending RFID Linerless Label Technology

Iconex, an M2S Group Company, and global leader in innovative labeling solutions and linerless technology, today announced the launch of its patent-pending…

Restaurant operators choosing growth over retrenchment in 2026

August 28, 2026

Despite persistent inflation and labor challenges, restaurant operators are entering the second half of 2026 with a surprisingly durable outlook.

Loyalty programs have become new front line of QSR fraud

by Stuart Mann — Head of Industry Product Engagement, Accertify

A recently disclosed data breach at Chick-fil-A made headlines for the type of accounts that were targeted. It was reportedly a credential stuffing attack that…

Accuracy is the new loyalty: How smart labeling protects restaurant profits

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Star Micronics' upcoming webinar, "Accuracy Is the New Loyalty," will explore how integrating smart labeling with existing restaurant technology eliminates…

Shawarma Press, Chicken Salad Chick, Firehouse Subs execs to talk operational complexities at Fast Casual Executive Summit

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

The upcoming "Complexity Killers" session at the Fast Casual Executive Summit will guide restaurant operators in auditing and streamlining their bloated tech…

Fry Station Turnover Could Be Costing Multi-Unit Restaurant Operators Millions Annually. Here’s How to Fix It.

New analysis shows a single automated fry station can turn one of a restaurant's most expensive turnover problems into a profit center, with the math…

Church's Texas Chicken to donate $100K to Big Brothers Big Sisters

August 26, 2026

Church's Texas Chicken and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America have a new national partnership aimed at expanding access to youth mentorship, backed by a…

Pizza Hut partners with Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen for game day campaign

August 26, 2026

Pizza Hut has launched a national campaign alongside Pepsi and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, aiming to remind football fans that "gameday starts with…

Restaurant traffic rebounds post Cyclospora

August 26, 2026

The newest data from Placer.ai reveals restaurant traffic is recovering from the Cyclospora outbreak.

From the boardroom to the prep line: How Stonefire Grill's CEO is fueling legacy growth

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Stonefire Grill CEO David Youngberg joins the Restaurant Operator Podcast to share how his hands-on leadership, people-first culture and strategic use of guest…

New study reveals revenue gaps from missed calls

August 24, 2026

Revmo, a provider of voice-enabled conversational AI for restaurants, released a comprehensive five-chapter report, "The State of Restaurant Calls 2026.…

Murphy USA to test White Castle kiosks at convenience stores

August 24, 2026

Murphy USA plans to introduce automated White Castle food kiosks at select larger-format convenience stores, according to a CSP Daily News report, giving…

Long John Silver's details fall menu strategy following strong sales growth

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Long John Silver's is launching a comfort-focused fall menu featuring hand-battered fried pickles and ongoing $6 value baskets while continuing to remodel and…