Join top restaurant leaders at the 20th annual Fast Casual Executive Summit to tackle industry challenges, explore hot trends, and gain actionable insights - all while building valuable connections. #FCSummit will be held on Oct. 5-7 in Austin. Sign up ➡️ fastcasualsummit.com/registe…

📊👥 A Toast survey of 702 restaurant workers found that while raises and benefits are improving, pay, scheduling and management remain key factors influencing employee retention. fastcasual.com/blogs/5-thing…

🥤💰📈 Customized sodas can help restaurant operators drive traffic and boost profitability through simple recipes, strategic pricing and beverages designed to encourage repeat purchases. fastcasual.com/blogs/dirty-s…

🥗✨ Sweetgreen has refreshed its housemade beverage lineup, introducing two new flavors and updating the recipes of two existing drinks fastcasual.com/news/sweetgre…

🧀🎙️🚀 Dillas Quesadillas co-founder Maggie Gordon joins Built to Breakthrough to discuss growing the brand from one Texas restaurant in 2013 to 11 locations across Texas and Louisiana. fastcasual.com/podcasts/the-…

🍽️📊💰 Rising costs continue to challenge restaurant operators, with 85% citing food expenses as their top concern while median menu item prices increased 5% to $9.99 over the past year. fastcasual.com/blogs/report-…

🍗🎉📈 Dave's Hot Chicken opened its 500th restaurant Thursday in Phoenix, marking a milestone for the fast-casual chain that has added about 100 locations since reaching 400 units earlier this year. fastcasual.com/news/daves-ho…

🍽️🤝🌐 Deliverect has partnered with Yext to automatically synchronize live restaurant data across digital search channels, connecting its network of more than 80,000 locations in over 70 countries. fastcasual.com/news/delivere…

🥤📍🚀 Juice It Up! has opened a new location in Santa Fe Springs, California, expanding its Southern California footprint. fastcasual.com/news/juice-it…

🚀📈 Fork Hospitality co-founders Matt Bailey and John Brennan are aiming to open 50 locations within five years. fastcasual.com/articles/sunf…

🍔🏈🤝 Star Burger has partnered with University of Miami Athletics to become the official burger of the Miami Hurricanes for the 2026–2027 season, marking its first collegiate partnership. fastcasual.com/news/star-bur…

👔📈 Dillas Quesadillas has promoted Michael Mabry to chief operating officer, overseeing operations, marketing and franchise sales as the 11-unit brand aims to reach 50 locations by 2028. fastcasual.com/news/dillas-q…

🤝📈 Hawaiian Bros Island Grill has signed a 52-unit development agreement with Southern Rock, marking the restaurant chain's planned entry into Florida. fastcasual.com/news/hawaiian…

🕊️👨‍🚒 Chris Sorensen, former firefighter and co-founder of Firehouse Subs alongside his brother Robin, has died at age 65. fastcasual.com/news/firehous…

🤝📈 Atlanta-based Tropical Smoothie Cafe has signed a 40-unit franchise development agreement with Aurify Kingstar to expand its restaurant footprint. fastcasual.com/news/tropical…

🐔📍🎉 Chicken Salad Chick will open a new location on Oct. 26 at the Hub at Peachtree Center in downtown Atlanta. fastcasual.com/news/chicken-…

🏦📈 Naked Farmer's founder shares how SBA-backed loans and traditional financing helped launch its first 11 locations, with plans to expand to 25 over the next year. fastcasual.com/articles/nake…

🍽️👀📈 Foodservice brands are increasingly embracing behind-the-counter transparency, giving customers a closer look at food preparation as a strategy to build trust and drive growth. fastcasual.com/blogs/fast-ca…

🍗📍 OHG Brands has opened a co-branded Fatburger and Buffalo's Express restaurant in Eagle Pass, Texas, featuring a drive-thru and operated by the De Los Santos family. fastcasual.com/news/ohg-bran…

🍽️📈 Explore foodservice growth forecasts, profitability and pricing pressures, leading brands, menu trends and consumer demand for value and innovation shaping strategies for 2026 and beyond. fastcasual.com/resources/sta…

💄🥤🤝 Café Rio Fresh Modern Mexican has partnered with beauty brand Poppy & Pout to launch three limited-edition beverage-inspired lip balms: Mucho Mint, Lotta Horchata and Berry Bueno. fastcasual.com/news/cafe-rio…