Yum Brands promotes Chris Turner to CEO

June 17, 2025

Yum Brands has promoted its chief financial and franchise officer to CEO effective Oct. 1, 2025, according to a press release.

Former Raising Cane's exec named COO of Smalls Sliders

June 16, 2025

Smalls Sliders, a cheeseburger slider concept, has named Clint Penfield as chief operating officer. He brings more than two decades of experience from Raising…

Taco John's taps Jackie Secor as COO

June 11, 2025

Mexican QSR Taco John's has appointed Jackie Secor as its COO. Secor has more than 25 years of experience leading high-performing teams and driving strategic…

Jack in the Box taps Dawn Hooper as CFO

June 5, 2025

Jack in the Box has permanently brought on Dawn Hooper as its CFO. Hooper previously served as interim principal financial offer for the brand from Aug. 202…

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…

LV Petroleum bets on late-night cravings with Checkers & Rally's franchise

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

May 16, 2025

LV Petroleum, led by Jeanette Davis, has introduced a new Checkers & Rally's franchise to Las Vegas, marking a significant step in their ambitious QSR…

McDonald's to hire up to 375K employees this summer

May 13, 2025

McDonald's and its franchisees expect to hire up to 375,000 restaurant employees across the country this summer. This comes as the brand expects to expand its…

Haven Hot Chicken founders find room for Nashville hot chicken brand

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Haven Hot Chicken has gone from four stores to nine in just 10 months. Learn how the Connecticut-based brand is growing from its co-founders in our latest…

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…

Popeyes UK hires 1st CMO

May 8, 2025

Popeyes UK has hired Jo Vaughton as the brand's first CMO. She begins her position in June and most recently served as marketing director for Pizza Express…

Popeyes Canada brings on 2 to leadership team

May 1, 2025

Popeyes Canada has brought on two to its leadership team. Brian Trier has been named general manager and Lisa Mazurkewich joins as senior director of…

Hardee's franchisee association teams with financial wellness provider

April 22, 2025

DailyPay, a provider of on-demand pay solutions, has partnered with the Independent Hardee's Franchisee Association as a silver level associate member.

Charles Watson takes the lead at Smalls Sliders

April 9, 2025

Charles Watson is trading smoothies for sliders; the former Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO is filling the same role for Atlanta-based Smalls Sliders.

The surprising secret to managing rising food prices for QSRs

by Patrick Donovan — Chief Operating Officer, InStride

QSRs facing inflation should prioritize employee training and development as a cost-saving strategy, rather than cutting it, to reduce turnover and improve…

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…

International Dairy Queen brings on Art D'Elia as COO

March 19, 2025

International Dairy Queen has hired former Domino's Pizza chief marketing officer as its COO, U.S. and Canada. He will lead a team of nearly 275 DQ employees…

A&W Restaurants names Amanda Potts VP of marketing, innovation

March 17, 2025

A&W Restaurants has named Amanda Potts as its VP of marketing and innovation. Potts, a seasoned marketing professional with more than 20 years of…

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.

Cherryh Cansler taking reins as publisher of Fastcasual.com

March 6, 2025

Cherryh Cansler will be taking the reins of Fastcasual.com as the newly named Publisher.

CKE Restaurants appoints Joe Guith CEO

March 6, 2025

CKE Restaurants Holdings Inc., parent company company of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's, has named Joe Guith as CEO effective immediately, according to a press…