Press Room

Nominations are now open but close June 1. Over the past decade, FastCasual’s Perfect Pitch has propelled emerging restaurant brands onto the global stage, offering a platform to showcase their concepts. Held annually during the Fast Casual Executive Summit, the competition has facilitated crucial partnerships and investments, enabling small businesses to expand. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the […]

The Self-Service Innovation Summit is now the Automated Retail and Kiosk Innovation Show (ARKI), an event focused on the future of automated retail, December 10-12, 2025, in Tampa. Reflecting on last year’s Self-Service Innovation Summit brings it all into sharp focus. It was my first dive into this world, and one thing was crystal clear: […]

Honors include the “Signal to Noise Award,” “Emerging Fast Casual of the Year, “”Most-Loved Delivery Brand and “Fast Casual Woman of the Year.” Attendees will vote for the winners of the “Stacey Kane and Zack Oates Best Dressed” award. The 10th annual Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers gala is approaching quickly, and we have a […]

Chef Bryant “Baul” Williams and Daniella Williams, the husband-and-wife founders of Atlanta-based Binky’s, specializing in soul food, and brunch hot spot Betty Sue’s, are keynoting the 20th annual Fast Casual Executive Summit, Oct. 5-7 in Austin and will share how they overcame adversity to build two popular restaurant brands. Baul is a former tour chef for music icons […]

Cicis Pizza was awarded the Visionary in Technology Award by XRobotics, a provider of robotic solutions for pizza restaurants, at the Pizza Marketplace Top 100 Movers & Shakers awards dinner held in Las Vegas on March 25. “From AI-driven support tools to real-time digital menu boards and an integrated online ordering platform, Cicis is leading […]

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 the top executive for the year. California-based Mountain Mike’s Pizza took top honors on Pizza Marketplace’s 2025 Top 100 Movers & Shakers list and was honored last Tuesday at a […]

At the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit in Myrtle Beach, Maribeth dela Cruz, president North America for QSR chicken brand Jollibee, said the brand is poised to reach 350 units in the next several years. With a focus on its roots, innovation and uniqueness, the brand is beginning to franchise. In the last several years, […]

FastCasual is bringing you even more catering tips and tricks when we meet in Austin after the Fast Casual Executive Summit. After a successful inaugural Restaurant Catering Workshop last year in Denver, FastCasual is bringing you even more catering tips and tricks when we meet in Austin after the Fast Casual Executive Summit, which is […]

Cherryh Cansler will be taking the reins of Fastcasual.com as the newly named Publisher. “Cherryh has served as senior editor, covering the fast casual market, for more than a decade,” said Kathy Doyle, CEO of Networld Media Group, the parent company of FastCasual and several other B2B publications. “She’s a renowned expert covering the industry through news […]

Big things are happening at Networld Media Group! As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we’re kicking things off with a bold new look for our media websites — starting with QSRweb.com. The redesigned site features a cleaner, more streamlined layout, making it easier than ever for readers to find the latest quick-service restaurant news, trends […]

Fast Casual Nation will be the restaurant industry’s first in a Podcasting 3.0 revolution that will focus on new interactive engagement models and build a new education frontier for information on the fast-casual restaurant industry. FastCasual editor Cherryh Cansler is joining Paul Barron as co-host of the newly revamped podcast, Fast Casual Nation, the longest-running podcast […]

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: A Conversation with Jollibee President Maribeth Dela Cruz,”  at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit, March 11-13, in Myrtle Beach. Although fried-chicken chain Jollibee was born in the Phillippines, the 2,000-unit chain […]

Episode 1 features Cameron McNie, co-founder and executive chairman of Hawaiian Bros Island Grill, revealing the strategy behind covering health insurance for employees and their families, tapping experts to redesign kitchen operations to become a national concept and avoiding the trap of the “We made it,” mindset. We’ve all heard the stats about 30% of restaurants […]

Nominations close Feb. 20, and winners will honored at an awards ceremony during the Restaurant Marketing Workshop, June 2-3, in Indianapolis. Ever wonder what makes a restaurant go viral while one with a similar menu fails? Two words: Amazing marketing. These winning restaurants aren’t just serving delicious food; they’re serving experiences. And more importantly, they […]

Hundreds of restaurant execs will kick off the annual summit by making over 2,000 sandwiches to help feed those in need in South Carolina. My favorite part of the annual Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit is the giveback party we host to kick off the event. Over the past seven years, event attendees, sponsors and speakers have […]

FastCasual’s fifth annual report, “20 Brands to Watch,” reveals the industry’s up-and-coming leaders. The U.S. fast casual industry will grow $65.2 billion to hit $149.96 billion by 2028. Trends driving that growth include the use of high-quality ingredients, locally sourced produce, fresh food, ethnic-inspired dishes, customization and the use of technology to enhance the customer experience. […]

The partnership will help restaurant operators stay up-to-date with consumer demand for crave-worthy and innovative plant-based offerings. Demand for plant-based meat in the United States is forecasted to increase at a CAGR of 6.2% and reach a market value of $ 2.8 billion by the end of 2034, which means fast casual and QSR brands are looking […]

The newly created Fast Casual Index will help determine the Top 100 rankings. Nominations are open now, close Feb. 3. There are few things I love more about my job than creating the Fast Casual Top 100 report and hosting the awards gala in May in Chicago, where rankings are revealed. As the industry grows, however, it […]

The early bird deadline ends Friday, Dec. 20. The Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit is making its Myrtle Beach debut March 11-13 at the Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes. Although there are several reasons for restaurant operators and vendors to attend, I’m focusing on my Top 5. Also, we’ve extended the early bird discount […]

The Self-Service Innovation Summit announced the winners of its fifth annual Automation & Self-Service Awards on Dec. 10, recognizing the most innovative solutions in kiosks, vending, artificial intelligence and more. One purpose of the Self-Service Innovation Summit is to recognize products and technology innovation contributing to the dynamic industry. Hence, a key event at the summit is […]

Gong cha’s successful implementation of self-service kiosks, highlighted at the Self-Service Innovation Summit, enhances customer experience, boosts efficiency and drives business growth, especially among Gen Z. In a keynote address at the Self-Service Innovation Summit, Rebecca Kahn, franchise business leader of Gong cha US and Canada, shared insights into the brand’s successful implementation of self-service kiosks. Gong […]

Dr. Anora Morton, CEO and founder of The Nori Project, a pioneering “Food Equi-Tech” company, will be a keynote speaker at the upcoming Self-Service Innovation Summit, which brings together industry leaders, innovators and B2C brands to explore the future of self-service technology. Dr. Anora Morton is redefining the landscape of self-service innovation as CEO and founder […]

This digital marketing workshop, co-hosted by FastCasual Editor Cherryh Cansler and Rev Ciancio, co-founder/CMO of Handcraft Burgers & Brew, Salad House CMO and Crazy Pita marketing director, provides tactics, tips and playbooks for restaurant marketers focused on growing brand awareness, guest acquisition, retention and creating brand evangelists. Restaurant marketers looking to master the tactics and […]

This special report from Pizza Marketplace will shine a spotlight on the pizza brands and executives of pizza brands that are shaping the future of the pizza segment. Nominations are now open and close Jan. 10, 2025. Call all pizza brands operators, franchisees and executives! Pizza Marketplace’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers nominations are now open for […]

Steven King is a keynote speaker at the Self-Service Innovation Summit, where he will discuss how AI-powered robots are revolutionizing industries. The summit is from December 9-11 in Tampa, Florida. As artificial intelligence continues to advance, so does its integration into the realm of robotics. The powerful combination is reshaping industries, from manufacturing to retail […]

Pizza Marketplace’s fourth annual Pizza Brands to Watch 2025 report will highlight pizza brands of note. The nomination deadline is Oct. 31. Nominations are open for Pizza Marketplace’s “Pizza Brands to Watch 2025,” a special report highlighting up-and-coming pizza concepts and established brands that excel at customer service, innovation and sales. The report will highlight brands poised […]

The winners will be honored during an awards presentation on Dec. 10 during the upcoming 2024 Automation and Self Service Summit. One purpose of the Self-Service Innovation Summit is to recognize products and technology innovation contributing to the dynamic industry. Hence, a key event at the summit is the Automation & Self-Service Awards, formerly known as the Self-Service […]

AI is here to stay, but it’s moving so fast, it’s hard to know where it’s going. From our daily lives as consumers to our operations in business, it’s hard to keep up with the changes and trends that are transforming entire industries virtually overnight — and sometimes repeatedly. AI is here to stay, but […]

Saigon Hustle has won The Perfect Pitch, a “Shark Tank” style contest at the Fast Casual Executive Summit in Denver, Colorado. Following a global contest seeking the best new concepts in fast-casual dining today, Saigon Hustle has won The Perfect Pitch. The contest, a “Shark Tank” style event, was held at the Fast Casual Executive Summit on […]

Jason Rusk gave the keynote address at the Fast Casual Executive Summit in Denver Aug. 13. Rusk spoke about the rapidly evolving world of fast-casuals, and how innovation is paving the way for great things in the industry. Jason Rusk is the EVP of restaurant operations for Wonder Group Inc., a VC-backed food-tech startup company […]

In anticipation of her keynote address at the Self Service Innovation Summit this December, Kiosk Marketplace sat down with Gong cha’s Rebecca Kahn to discuss the brand’s digital journey and the challenges and opportunities presented by self-service technologies. In anticipation of her keynote address at the Self Service Innovation Summit taking place this December, Rebecca Kahn, Gong […]

The virtual talk show airs Nov. 13 and features c-level leaders from White Castle, A&W, Taco John’s, FAT Brands, Haven Hot Chicken, The Halal Guys and Smalls Sliders. Roland Gonzalez, the U.S. COO of Church’s Texas Chicken, will be the first guest on this year’s #QSRNEXT, a virtual podcast produced by the creators of QSRWeb, FastCasual and Pizza Marketplace. The show […]

Neely Woodson Powell, founder and CEO of the Charleston Shoe Company, shared insight on the value customer engagement in her keynote at the ICX Summit held in Charlotte, North Carolina. Neely Woodson Powell, founder and CEO of the Charleston Shoe Company, is focused on three strategies: selling her popular shoe portfolio, empowering store employees and creating […]

Regina DeMars, director of content marketing and social media strategy at FNBO, delivered a keynote session about content strategies that work at the Bank Customer Experience Summit. Content is king. But it’s one thing to say it, it’s another to treat it like a king. Banks in particular are working at developing content strategies that […]

The list recognizes top catering leaders from 30 brands, incuding Cava, Subway and Five Guys, who are drivers in one of 2024’s fastest-growing restaurant segments. FastCasual and Lunchbox, an enterprise restaurant technology provider, have unveiled the Top 30 Movers & Shakers: Catering, recognizing 30 of the most influential leaders shaping the future of restaurant catering […]

The BCX Awards honored SF Fire Credit Union, Talkdesk and Chongqing Rural Commercial Bank for innovation in banking. The winners of the 2024 Bank Customer Experience Awards were announced at the Bank Customer Experience Summit, held in Charlotte, North Carolina from Sept. 9 to 11. This year’s winners delivered innovative experiences that transformed the branch experience […]

The Interactive Customer Experience Summit announced winners of the 2024 Elevate Awards Tuesday evening during the annual summit in Charlotte, North Carolina. One of the top events at the annual Interactive Customer Experience Summit, taking place this week, is the Elevate Awards, which honor innovators in customer experience technology. The summit is being held in Charlotte, North Carolina, from […]

Shawn Nelson, founder and CEO of Lovesac, a keynote speaker at the ICX Summit, shared insight on how sustainability impacts the retail customer experience. There’s one prime fact to know when it comes to sustainability in the retail realm: it’s likely not going to drive any massive sales and it is pretty much a bust […]

Five fledgling concepts will vie for The Perfect Pitch title and a prize on Oct. 14 at the Fast Casual Executive Summit in Denver, Colorado. The Perfect Pitch is a “Shark Tank”-style competition at The Fast Casual Executive Summit in Denver October 13-15. Five fledgling concepts will vie for The Perfect Pitch title, a $3,500 […]

Nominations are open for the inaugural Top 30 Movers & Shakers in Catering in partnership with Lunchbox. Closing Sept. 1, the list will highlight the restaurant industry’s most innovative and influential leaders in catering. You may nominate yourself or another leader here. “Our industry has always been impressive — it’s why we launched our annual Top 30 Women in Food list […]

Professor Steven King shares a preview of his upcoming keynote at the ICX Summit in Charlotte on the future of retail. ICX Summit will be hosted by Networld Media Group from September 9-11. The retail experience is changing as fast as the tech underpinning it, both for operators and customers. Artificial intelligence, virtual reality, blockchain, wirelessly-powered […]

Jason Rusk, SVP of operations for Wonder and a former Red Robin executive, will discuss growth and leadership in the evolving world of fast casual restaurants. As innovation and scale become more important than ever to the success of restaurants, leaders must learn how to lead brands into a new age, said Wonder SVP of Operations Jason […]

Wednesday marks the 3rd annual Pizza Leadership Virtual Summit, and there’s still time to register. Qualified pizza executives and pizzeria owners can register for the event for free. The Pizza Leadership Virtual Summit starts at 11 a.m. on July 31, 2024. The half-day livestream event starts with an opening keynote interview with David McKillips, CEO of […]

Regina DeMars at First National Bank of Omaha and this year’s keynote speaker for the Bank Customer Experience Summit, shared how banks can develop content that works. Content is king. But how should content rule? In order to properly serve customers, banks need a solid content strategy that both retains current customers and brings in […]

Nominations are now being accepted for the Automation & Self-Service Awards (formerly Self-Service Innovation Awards). The awards honor innovators who are leading the way in the advancement of automation and self-service technologies, including vending, kiosks, robotics and AI. Nominations are now being accepted for the Automation & Self-Service Awards (formerly Self-Service Innovation Awards). The Automation & Self-Service […]

L&L Hawaiian and Original ChopShop also received awards for technology deployments. As part of our Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers gala, which recognized the industry’s top 75 brands and 25 executives Sunday night in Chicago, FastCasual also presented four “special awards” in partnership with four companies focused on helping restaurants grow their businesses via technology […]

Nominations close June 30. At FastCasual, we are passionate about spotlighting up-and-coming brands, which is why we created the Perfect Pitch 10 years ago to allow emerging brands to ask for advice and find investors. We are excited to open nominations for this year’s event, featuring five brands pitching their concepts to attendees of the Fast […]

Over 240 fast casual executives attended the gala to find out their rankings. Shaquille O’Neal-owned Big Chicken had much to cluck about Sunday when it took top honors at the Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers awards gala in Chicago at the LondonHouse. Josh Halpern, president, accepted the award for the 40-unit brand, which […]

The Restaurant Catering Workshop will provide a blueprint for restaurant operators focused on catapulting catering sales. Although order management technology is the heartbeat of any solid catering framework, catering expert Erle Dardick, founder of The Off Premises Growth Academy, understands it’s just one piece of the overall business strategy. The fact that many independent and multi-unit […]

Neely Woodson Powell, founder of the Charleston Shoe Company, will be a keynote speaker at the upcoming ICX Summit taking place Sept. 9-11 in Charlotte, North Carolina. When Neely Woodson Powell, founder of the Charleston Shoe Company, opened her first retail location in Savannah, Georgia, she knew success was all about enticing shoppers into her […]