Off-premise blitz: Turning pandemic survival tactics into long-term growth engines

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Industry leaders at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit highlighted how the shift from convenience to a permanent off-premise model requires a…

Ovation, Tap leaders share tips on crafting a guest feedback strategy

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

A panel talk at the upcoming Restaurant Marketing Workshop will deliver insight on not only getting a guest feedback approach up and running but tips and…

The future of QSR brand experience: How to win on value, personalization, and customer trust

Explore 5 trends we’re seeing in the quick-service restaurant space and how experience management helps brands act on these trends.

Mellow Mushroom VP shares secrets to long-term franchise success

In this episode of the Pizza Marketplace podcast, Mellow Mushroom VP of Franchise Development Jamie Cecil discusses the brand's 50-year history of "unicorn…

Hundreds of Dunkin’ locations planned for Canada in new partnership

May 12, 2026

Foodtastic, a Canadian restaurant operator, has signed a master franchising agreement with Inspire Brands to open hundreds of Dunkin' locations across Canada…

How the Best Franchise Groups Get Franchise Communication Right

The bigger your franchise gets, the harder team communication becomes to manage. This guide covers what every franchise operator needs to know about keeping…

The Power of One Direction: one of the most important and underutilized factors of greatness

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

The "Power of One Direction" is a leadership discipline where Founders transition from keeping strategies in their heads to creating a written plan, providing…

Wendy’s Q1 sales decline 7.8% as Project Fresh turnaround gains momentum

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Wendy's reported its Q1 2026 results on May 8, focusing on its Project Fresh initiatives.

From scribbles to savings: Why precision labeling is the new profit protector

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Star Micronics is showcasing its versatile mC-Label series at the National Restaurant Association Show this weekend, highlighting how high-precision labeling…

Presented by Star Micronics America

What Every Multi-Location Business Needs to Know About Team Communication

Here's what every multi-location business needs to know about getting team communication right at scale.

Papa Johns maintains 2026 outlook despite 6.4% North America sales drop

May 8, 2026

Papa John's International Inc. reported a decline in first-quarter profit and North American sales this week, as the pizza chain struggled with a cautious…

5 restaurant marketing mistakes that cost traffic, leads, revenue

by Mike Kresch — VP of Strategy, Moburst

Restaurants often fail to see a return on marketing when they treat it as a series of disconnected efforts rather than a cohesive, data-driven system focused…

How McDonald’s 'three-for-three' strategy drove Q1 gains

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

May 8, 2026

McDonald's earnings call discussed how the company's three-for-three concept helped drive numbers in Q1 2026.

White Castle continues Florida growth with Kissimmee restaurant opening

May 7, 2026

White Castle has opened its third freestanding Central Florida restaurant. The restaurant is open in Kissimmee, according to a press release.

Taco John's updates POS, loyalty systems across 21 states

May 6, 2026

Taco John's has completed the deployment of a cloud-based technology platform across its 324 locations to manage point-of-sale systems, digital ordering and…

Papa Johns, Disney team up for global 'Toy Story 5' marketing campaign

May 6, 2026

Papa Johns has partnered with Disney and Pixar to celebrate the upcoming release of "Toy Story 5," which arrives in theaters June 19, according to a press…

How R&R Brands scaled from a single brand to a multi-brand platform

I sat down with Scott Taylor, Founder and CEO of R&R Brands, a visionary and an industry icon whose fingerprints are on some of the most important…

HTeaO partners with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for May fundraiser

May 5, 2026

Iced tea franchise HTeaO is partnering with Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation this May to raise funds for childhood cancer research, according to a press…

McDonald's to phase out self-serve soda fountains

May 5, 2026

McDonald's plans to remove self-serve beverage stations from its U.S. dining rooms by 2032, signaling the end of a long-standing fast-food tradition, according…

6 Signs Your Restaurant Team Communication Is Out of Control

If any of these signs sound familiar, it’s worth seriously rethinking how your team communication is set up.