Voting now open for 2026 Top 30 Movers & Shakers: Catering
Voting is officially open for 2026 Top 30 Movers & Shakers: Catering, recognizing the restaurant professionals driving growth, innovation and excellence in…
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Healthy fast casual goes convenient: Konala, Clean Eatz redefining drive-thru, grab-and-go
by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media
Two brands, two models — one goal: making nutritious food as fast and effortless as fast food.
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Pumpkin season arrives earlier than ever as fast casuals race to claim fall season
For coffee and bakery chains, capturing pumpkin-obsessed customers first, before rivals and before summer even ends, has become as much a part of the season as the spice itself.
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US Foods Direct adds PleatPak innovative burger wrappers to platform
PleatPak, which makes foodservice packaging designed for burgers and sandwiches, is now available to restaurant operators nationwide through the US Foods…
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AI and the Future of Restaurants: From Foot Traffic to Predictive Insight
As consumer behavior and privacy expectations evolve, restaurants need smarter ways to understand diners and drive growth. Gladys Kong of Azira and Isabelle Soriano of Goodway Group explore how AI and location intelligence can inform site selection, media strategy, audience engagement, and faster, more informed decisions.
How Urban Bird Hot Chicken turned a bad lease into a fast-growing brand
Brandon and Chantel Gawthorp built 32 Wingstop franchises across three states over 20 years, then let it all go to bet on themselves. They opened the first Urban Bird Hot Chicken in 2020, in a space another restaurant left behind. Six years later, they have 24 locations open, many more on the way, and every single one built 100% debt-free
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The 1:1 Personalization Playbook: Using AI to send every guest their own offer
In this session, Hang CEO Matt Smolin, whose platform powers millions of AI-personalized offers a month for restaurant brands, and Rev Ciancio, CMO of Salad House & Handcraft Burgers and Brew, walked through the playbook to start personalizing your own offers right away.
2026 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers
Welcome to the 2026 edition of the Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers. Each year, this report serves as a pulse check for the industry, celebrating the brands and leaders who aren’t just keeping pace with the market—they are redefining it.
