Press Room

In a keynote address at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit, three restaurant execs discuss launching Buena Onda, which now has five locations. Seven more locations have been sold. Strategic partnerships between restaurant brands and hospitality groups can result in success. That’s the thought process behind the keynote address at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit in […]

Seattle-based Dué Cucina, a fast casual Italian brand that competed in the 2019 Perfect Pitch at the Fast Casual Executive Summit, has landed a $2.5 million investment from Mac Haik Restaurant Group, a Houston-based restaurant investment company, according to a company press release. The funding, which allows Dué Cucina to open three locations in Texas within the next […]

Attendees will become mini experts in all-things NFT, digital innovation, fixing the labor shortages and meeting food insecurity needs. Speakers include Blaine Hurst, former Panera CEO, and Bryce Fluellen, executive director of Everytable. What if you could become a mini expert in all-things NFT, digital innovation, fixing the labor shortage and meeting food insecurity needs? […]

Big Chicken’s Sam Stanovich, Dog Haus’ CJ Ramirez and Ovation CEO Zack Oates will help attendees evaluate their customer experiences and provide dozens of strategies to improve them, during the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit, March 20-22 in Coral Gables, Florida. Early bird pricing ends Feb. 10. For hundreds of years the restaurant guest experience […]

Nominations close Feb. 28. Wingstop was the winner of the 2022 Excellence in Food Safety award, and past winners have included Panda Express, Chipotle and Fazoli’s. As part of the 2023 FastCasual Top 100 Movers & Shakers list, FastCasual and Steritech, a provider of food safety assessments, will honor one brand with the fifth annual Excellence in Food […]

2023 will be a big year for the Bank Customer Experience Summit, which gathers bankers, self-service vendors and fintechs to network and discuss banking trends. This year, the summit will be combined with the ICX Summit from Sept. 12 to 13 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This year’s Bank Customer Experience Summit will be co-located with the Interactive Customer […]

Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit attendees will learn about Tony Roma’s transition into the fast casual market, Duck Donuts’ growth strategy and Tropical Smoothie’s secret to expanding in a tough market. UFG and PreciTaste leaders will weigh in on industry challenges as well. The Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit, being held March 20-22 in Coral Gables, […]

Kathy Doyle has been promoted to CEO of Networld Media Group, a publisher of nine business-to-business websites, including FastCasual and ATM Marketplace. She most recently served as publisher and president of the company and replaces Tom Harper, who will become chairman. Harper joined the company in 1997 following a career in radio advertising and became CEO in 2014. Doyle, […]

Winners of the third annual Self-Service Innovation Awards accepted their plaques during the Self-Service Innovation Summit in Hollywood, Florida. For the third straight year, the Self-Service Innovation Awards honored the products that earned top honors for self service excellence during the Self-Service Innovation Summit. Networld Media Group, host of the event, honored six winners during a […]

For many, December signals the start of holiday shopping and wrapping, but at FastCasual, it’s nomination season for the annual Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers. As always, the Top 100 recognizes the top 75 brands as well as 25 executives leading the fast casual restaurant industry, recognizing growth and sales accomplishments and honoring menu […]

As businesses and organizations work to extend their customer reach, 5G offers innovative opportunities previously unattainable with wired or other types of connections. During the Self-Service Innovation Summit this week in Hollywood, Florida, attendees will have a chance to learn how companies are using 5G to transform their business and lead their competition in a “Lunch and […]

We have some good news for pizza operators, franchisees and executives of pizza restaurant brands who need a little time to nominate themselves for the inaugural Pizza Top 100 Movers & Shakers. We’ve extended the deadline to Dec. 16, so you have an extra week to complete your nominations by clicking here. Winners will be notified next […]

Kiosks have been around for decades, but a variety of industries are embracing them now more than ever. Brands and retailers are finding that self-service kiosks offer an effective and efficient way to improve the customer experience for a variety of products. Some of those retailers will discuss why they’ve turned to kiosks and how […]

A host of new technologies — artificial intelligence, computer vision, machine learning and other technologies — offer convenience services operators new tools to improve operational efficiencies as well as the customer experience. While innovation brings new opportunities, identifying what technologies to add and when to introduce them has become more challenging than ever. Operators must […]

The Self-Service Innovation Awards will be presented on Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 5 p.m. at the Self-Service Innovation Summit. For the third straight year, the Self-Service Innovation Summit will honor products and companies that have excelled in improving the self-service experience. The annual Self-Service Innovation Awards are a highlight of the Summit, which will be Dec. 14-16 […]

Keeping up with all the new capabilities that technology can offer vending and related services has become one of the biggest challenges for companies active in convenience services. Which of today’s up-and-coming innovations — such as artificial intelligence, computer vision, biometric identity verification, machine learning, virtual reality, augmented reality, cryptocurrency — have proven to boost […]

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 Dec. 9. Calling all pizza brand operators, franchisees and executives! Pizza Marketplace is honoring the brands and executives shaping the future […]

S.G. Ellison, president of Diversified Restaurant Group, a Taco Bell and Arby’s franchisee, spoke about how both companies innovate at the #QSRNext event hosted by Networld Media Group and sponsored by Leasecake. Diversified Restaurant Group, a franchisee of 300 Taco Bell restaurants and 29 Arby’s, is among the top innovators for both brands. Helmed by […]

Glen Ryniewski will present an overview of the self service offerings in the works at Chicago airports during a keynote at the Self-Service Innovation Summit, Dec. 14-16 in Hollywood, Florida. Travelers making connections are usually in a hurry. Which is why Chicago’s O’Hare Airport — one of the busiest airports in the country — is […]

In the interest of providing readers with insight on how fast the kiosk industry is growing and what user segments are growing the fastest, Kiosk Marketplace is asking readers for input for its annual Kiosk Marketplace Census. Readers can click here to fill out a questionnaire to the staff in compiling the sixth annual Kiosk Marketplace Census. […]

Ideation Hospitality COO Scott Campanella will join Chef Jose Garces and Ballard Brands CDO Davis Mesa in a keynote panel at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit being held March 20-22 in Coral Gables. The trio will share how they’ve created a franchise opportunity that addresses the future of the restaurant industry. Although Jose Garces […]

Attendees at the Self-Service Innovation Summit on Dec. 14-16 in Hollywood, Florida, will have a chance to hear first-hand how Luke Saunders identified the need for high quality convenience food and designed and executed a business plan to make it a reality. Who said eating on the go has to be a bad experience? People […]

As e-commerce has increased, more retailers are introducing pickup lockers, and technology providers have introduced a wealth of locker systems to allow retailers to enhance the customer journey. With all the new products on the market, how do retailers decide what systems to invest in? A panel of experts will offer insights for meeting this […]

The first-ever edition of Food Truck Operator’s free ‘Food Trucks to Watch in 2023’ report offers an insider look at two dozen food truck operations across the U.S. — from how they got rolling to marketing approaches. The first-ever edition of Food Truck Operator’s free “Food Trucks to Watch in 2023” report offers an insider […]

Recognizing that QSR leaders needed a convenient way to exchange ideas, tips and advice with one another, Networld Media Group — the publishers of QSRWeb.com and the producers of the Fast Casual Executive Summit — have created #QSRNext, a one-day virtual event taking place Nov. 9 catering specifically to fast food brands. In a session titled “The Delivery Dilemma,” Neil […]

To qualify for the list, each brand had to be no more than six years old, have at least one location open and have never appeared on this list in the past or on the annual list of Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers. Although the fast casual industry is only about 25 years […]

Following a global contest, five fledgling brands competed for a cash prize and the title of The Perfect Pitch at the Fast Casual Executive Summit on Oct. 10 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The companies’ executives addressed Summit attendees as well as a panel of advisors who offered advice on how to grow their concepts. Advising this year’s contestants […]

Five years after Amazon Go made headlines, automated stores have become one of the fastest-growing retail channels. However, retailers and restaurants face many challenges in how to utilize this expanding technology, and one size does not fit all. Attendees at the Self-Service Innovation Summit, Dec. 14-16 in Hollywood, Florida, will have an opportunity to learn from […]

Recognizing that QSR leaders needed a convenient way to exchange ideas, tips and advice with one another, Networld Media Group — the publishers of QSRWeb.com and the producers of the Fast Casual Executive Summit — have created #QSRNext, a one-day virtual event taking place Nov. 9 catering specifically to fast food brands. 1Huddle CEO and Founder Sam Caucci joins top restaurant […]

While cashless payment continues to expand, retail and convenience services industry experts say consumers continue to use cash and do not foresee its demise any time soon. Certain fast growing industry verticals, such as gaming and cannabis dispensaries, rely heavily on cash while the masses of unbanked and underbanked Americans rely exclusively on cash for […]

It is now up to the readers to vote on the nominations to decide the Reader’s Choice Innovator of the Year, to be honored at the Self-Service Innovation Summit in December. Self-service is on the move like never before, and astute consumers and businesses are finding ways to get things done faster and more effectively. […]

Recognizing that QSR leaders needed a convenient way to exchange ideas, tips and advice with one another, Networld Media group — the publishers of QSRWeb.com and the producers of the Fast Casual Executive Summit — have created #QSRNext, a one-day virtual event on Nov. 9 catering specifically to fast food brands. Katie Cavuto, the vice president of culinary of Saladworks, […]

As mobile order-and-pay options expand for consumers, some believe the role of self-serve kiosks may lessen, while others think they are more important than ever. This is just one conundrum that a panel of experts will tackle during “Mobile pay and self-serve kiosks: Partners or competitors?” which is part of the annual Self-Service Innovation Summit, Dec. […]

Recognizing that QSR leaders needed a convenient way to exchange ideas, tips and advice with one another, Networld Media Group — the publishers of QSRWeb.com and the producers of the Fast Casual Executive Summit — have created #QSRNext, a one-day virtual event taking place Nov. 9 catering specifically to fast food brands. Phil Crawford, the man behind CKE’s digital ecosystem, […]

Recognizing that QSR leaders needed a convenient way to exchange ideas, tips and advice with one another, Networld Media group — the publishers of QSRWeb.com and the producers of the Fast Casual Executive Summit — have created #QSRNext, a one-day virtual event on Nov. 9 catering specifically to fast food brands. SG Ellison, president of Diversified Restaurant Group, owner of […]

Supply chain shortages, third-party delivery battles, labor headaches and evaluating technology are just a few of the conundrums facing QSR operators, and are the topics up for debate during Networld Media Group’s second annual talk show #QSRNext. Co-hosted by yours truly and Leasecake’s Taj Adhav, the show will air from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on […]

Following a global contest, five concepts will compete in The Perfect Pitch at the annual Fast Casual Executive Summit. Here’s a sneak peek of the presenters. Following a global contest, five concepts have been selected to compete in this year’s The Perfect Pitch, our annual contest during the Fast Casual Executive Summit, being held Oct. 9-11 […]

The Bank Customer Experience Summit, held this year in Chicago from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1, recognizes innovation in the banking sphere with its annual awards show. This year was no exception as the winners run the gamut of the banking world. The Bank Customer Experience Summit, held this year in Chicago from Aug. 31 […]

Pizza Marketplace’s inaugural Pizza Brands to Watch 2022 report will highlight pizza brands of note. Nominations are open through Sept. 23. Nominations are open for Pizza Marketplace’s “Pizza Brands to Watch 2022,” 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 […]

Food Truck Operator’s ‘Top Food Trucks to Watch 2022’ special report will highlight the best, brightest and most innovative food trucks. Foodies, brands and food truck operators are welcome to submit nominations through Sept. 19. Nominations are open for Food Truck Operator‘s inaugural “Top Food Trucks To Watch 2022,” a special report that will highlight the […]

If you are involved in the financial industry, banking, fintechs or self-service banking, you have an opportunity to network and learn at the Bank Customer Experience Summit, held in Chicago from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1. But you have to act fast as online registration closes Aug. 26. If you are involved in the financial […]

Leaders will chat about how they are handling labor shortages, supply chain delays and higher food costs during the CEO Roundtable at the annual Fast Casual Executive Summit being held Oct. 9-11. Fast casual brands around the world are facing many of the same issues — labor shortages, supply chain delays and higher food costs […]

Financial industry leaders will gather at the Bank Customer Experience Summit in Chicago from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1 to hear from thought leaders on the pressing issues in the financial industry. Secure your spot soon, as online registration closes Aug. 26. Banks, ATM providers, fintechs and other financial industry experts will gather at the Bank […]

Fazoli’s former CEO Carl Howard, Native Foods CEO Carin Stutz and Blaine Hurst, former Panera Bread CEO, make up the inaugural class of the Fast Casual Hall of Fame and will be honored at the annual Fast Casual Executive Summit. For over 20 years, fast casual concepts have been at the forefront of innovation in […]

FastCasual’s annual “20 Brands To Watch” focuses on 20 brands that are setting trends. Nominations close Aug. 22. Just a few months ago, we celebrated the annual Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers, which recognizes the industry’s most innovative companies. Now it’s time to honor 20 emerging brands that boast the potential to become major […]

The banking industry has had to make significant adjustments in recent years in response to both the COVID-19 pandemic and changing economic and customer expectations. The Bank Customer Experience Summit, being held from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1 in Chicago, will cover all aspects of current innovations in banking. The banking industry has had to […]

Execs from Chipotle, Jason’s Deli and Ampex Brands will share their journeys into the world of AI at this year’s Fast Casual Executive Summit, being held Oct. 9-11 in Indianapolis. Few will argue the restaurant industry is embracing AI. In fact, one recent report revealed 50% of those polled were planning to implement the technology in the […]

Early bird pricing for the Bank Customer Experience Summit, which will be held in Chicago from Aug. 31 to Sept 1, will end Friday, July 29. By registering before the deadline, attendees can save $200 off registration. The event draws bankers, analysts and fintech experts from a variety of financial institutions and businesses. It will feature […]

Clinton Cheng, VP, global head of the Visa/PLUS ATM Network at Visa, will deliver key insights regarding the future of self-service banking and payments at the Bank Customer Experience Summit, being held in Chicago from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1. The banking world is undergoing a massive shift, as banks continually switch over traditional services […]

Self-service banking will be a major topic at the upcoming Bank Customer Experience Summit, being held in Chicago from Aug. 31 to Sept 1. In fact, an entire panel, entitled “Self-service Strategies for Success,” will address the technology in detail. Self-service banking will be a major topic at the upcoming Bank Customer Experience Summit, being held […]