Top Fast Casual News

PizzaRev to Offer Coca-Cola Freestyle Machines

Coca-Cola Freestyle, the fountain dispenser, will soon make its debut at all PizzaRev locations. PizzaRev, a leading made-to-order pizza concept, announced a new multi-year agreement with The Coca-Cola Company. Under this new agreement, all current and future PizzaRev locations will exclusively serve Coca-Cola products through Coca-Cola Freestyle. With Coca-Cola Freestyle, PizzaRev guests can choose from […]

Rev Burger Gears Up For Opening

Rev Burger will open its doors on Tuesday, February 25 at 415 Schmale Road in Carol Stream, Illinois. This fast-casual burger concept offers healthier versions of the American fast food staple. Rev tables also come equipped with iPads to order on. When owners Wendy and William Spatz, who live in Chicago, looked around the burger […]

Design Group, Celeb Chef Develop Mexican Concept

Ideation Design Group (IDG), an award-winning, Phoenix-based interior architecture and design firm, is celebrating the successful opening of a new Mexican restaurant concept at Arizona Mills in Tempe, Arizona. The team is working to finish a $4 million remodel of the entire food court by March 2014. IDG worked with local celebrity chef and James […]

Uncle Maddio’s Accelerates Growth for 2014

Uncle Maddio's Pizza Joint is diving into 2014 with aggressive growth and new market penetration. Since opening its first location more than five years ago in Atlanta, Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint grew by 250 percent in 2013 (from 7 to 18 units) and is now the fastest growing create-your-own pizza franchise. Opening the first Uncle […]

Barberitos Signs New Locations

In recent weeks, Barberitos finalized its 2013 Yearly Sales Report. The company experienced record-breaking growth for the year with a 25 percent system-wide sales increase. Barberitos is committed to its plans of expansion and growth into 2014 with the announcement of seven new store contracts signed in January. The company has now launched past the […]

Kneaders Adds Third Phoenix Area Location

Residents of the Phoenix suburb of Ahwatukee, Arizona, are about to awaken to the smell of freshly baked bread. Kneaders Bakery & Café, a fast-casual restaurant and retail shop, will open its newest location at 4730 East Ray Road, Phoenix, Arizona, on Thursday, February 20. The first 100 customers will receive free French toast in […]

Tin Drum Buys Six Franchised Units in Atlanta

Tin Drum Asiacafé completed the purchase of six franchised restaurants in Atlanta from three of its franchisees, establishing Atlanta as a cornerstone market for the brand.  As part of the plan, Tin Drum will open five new company-owned restaurants throughout Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia, in 2014. The fast-casual franchise with nine Atlanta-area locations (five company-owned […]

McAlister’s Deli Opens New Irving, Texas, Location

Dallas-based restaurant group, The Saxton Group, is adding to its title as largest McAlister’s Deli franchisee with the opening of their newest location near I-635 and Beltline in Irving, Texas. To celebrate, McAlister’s Deli will make a 10-percent donation of all sales from the grand opening day, Friday, February 14, to Irving-based Mothers Against Drunk […]

CaliBurger To Enter Sweden

  CaliBurger announced it has signed an agreement to open restaurants in Sweden.  The first restaurant is expected to open in Stockholm later this year. The local franchisee operates hotels, ice cream shops, and other quick-service chains in Sweden. CaliBurger’s newly formed European regional management team, based in London, will provide ongoing support and assistance […]

Giardino Gourmet Salads Introduces Grain Bowls

This February, Giardino Gourmet Salads, the fast-casual salad concept of South Florida, introduced Grain Bowls to their menu of signature salads, garden wraps, and boccata sandwiches. Grain Bowls combine warm quinoa, brown rice, or jasmine rice with a wide variety of toppings and dressings. “In our efforts to instill nutritional empowerment in our guests, Grain […]

Uncle Maddio’s to Open in Nebraska

Soon, Nebraskans will get 50 million ways to enjoy fast-casual pizza. Mike Simmonds and Shawn Simmonds will open Nebraska’s first Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint in Omaha this fall. The restaurant will offer made-to-order pizza, salad, and sandwiches and will be the first of six units as part of the Simmonds’ multi-unit agreement. Additional locations are slated to […]

Phil Friedman Takes the Reins at Salsarita’s as CEO

After acquiring the company in 2011, Phil Friedman is stepping forward into a new active role as chief executive officer of Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina to begin the company’s major expansion efforts for 2014. Friedman, who was behind the planning and execution of growth at McAlister’s Deli and Panda Express, among other national brands, will use […]

Moe’s Southwest Grill Lands at Orlando International Airport

“Welcome to Moe’s!” can now be heard by travelers in the main terminal of the Orlando International Airport, as Moe’s Southwest Grill recently opened in the airport. Ranked the No. 1 Mexican food concept by Technomic in 2013, Atlanta-based Moe’s Southwest Grill serves made-to-order burritos and southwest fare in a fun and laid back environment. […]

Qdoba Mexican Grill Fires Up Menu with Two New Quesos

Qdoba Mexican Grill announced the addition of two new queso flavors to its menu. The new Queso Diablo and Queso Verde, both drawing inspiration from Qdoba’s original 3-Cheese Queso, will launch in participating restaurants on February 10, but only for a limited time. The new Queso Diablo features a blend of jalapenos and smoky chipotles, […]

La Madeleine Opens First Franchised Cafe

La Madeleine Country French Café is making company history. The highly anticipated opening of its new bakery café in Lubbock marks the endearing brand’s first franchise location. Lubbock-based French Twist, owned by Buddy Beach, a well-known local entrepreneur and seasoned franchise investor and operator, is opening the location at 4406 19th Street in the recently renovated […]

Fast Casual Sees Traffic Growth in 2013

Fast casual restaurants continue to be a bright spot for the foodservice industry, which has yet to fully recover from the Great Recession, according to The NPD Group, a leading global information company. NPD’s foodservice market research shows visits to fast casual restaurants up eight percent in 2013 over prior year compared to no growth […]

Chicken Salad Chick To Make Panama City Beach Debut

Chicken Salad Chick, a new fast-casual restaurant concept, is scheduled to open its new franchise location in Panama City Beach, Florida, on March 5, 2014. “We are so excited to expand in Florida and join the Pier Park community,” says Kevin Brown, president of Chicken Salad Chick. “It has been such a blessing to have […]

Salsarita’s Focuses on Texas for Expansion

Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina is expanding its presence in Texas thanks to a new multiunit development agreement with Barton & Agha LLC for North Texas, Plano, and Allen. Comprised of franchise veterans Mohammad Agha, Cayce Barton, and Chris Barton, who have over 100 years of franchising experience combined between them, the group will open six Salsarita’s […]

Snappy Salads Opens Seventh Location in Irving, Texas

Snappy Salads, Dallas-based eco-friendly salad concept, is opening its seventh location in Irving, Texas, on Monday, February 10, 2014. Founded in 2006, Snappy Salads continues a determined pace of growth so that consistency, quality, and service are not compromised. The Irving location combines all of the elements that define the Snappy Salads experience. The restaurant […]

Wingstop to Mark 20th Year with Expansion

Texas-based Wingstop has plenty to celebrate for its 20th anniversary. For the past decade, the brand has seen continual year-over-year same-store sales growth, with revenues up 9.9 percent system wide. Dave Vernon, Wingstop’s chief development officer, says the brand’s success has a lot to do with smart site selection and a thorough understanding of its […]

Wingstop Serves Up Record-Breaking Year in 2013

With the opening of 74 new restaurants as well as development agreements representing another 182 domestic and 35 international new units, Wingstop Restaurants enjoyed its most successful year of growth in the 20-year history of the company in 2013. The company now has over 600 restaurants worldwide and signed commitments for more than 500 additional […]

Bradley Ogden and Son Open Chicken Concept in Houston

James Beard Award–winning chef Bradley Ogden and his son, chef Bryan Ogden, announced the opening of their latest venture, Funky Chicken, in the Heights neighborhood of Houston. The fast-casual restaurant features one of America’s favorite comfort foods: roasted and fried chicken prepared using local, farm-to-table ingredients.  At Funky Chicken, guest can expect farm-raised, organic birds. […]

Juice It Up! Brings News of Expansion at Franchise Expo

Juice It Up! will showcase its rising success in the raw juice market and announcing its Texas expansion at the upcoming Franchise Expo South, February 6–8 at Reliant Center in Houston. On the heels of inking a three-store development deal in Texas, Juice It Up! will be of interest to attendees looking to expand their […]

Live Basil Pizza Debuts in Los Angeles

Live Basil Pizza, a new Neopolitan fast-casual pizza concept, made its California debut in Los Angeles with the opening of its third location on Tuesday, January 21.  The new spot is located at L.A. LIVE’s Sports and Entertainment District. Live Basil Pizza will serve its made-to-order pizzas topped with organic ingredients including baby arugula, spinach, […]

Veggie Grill Ups Healthy Options with “Mindful” Menu

West Coast fast-casual restaurant Veggie Grill is redefining calorie-smart menu options with its new “Mindful Living” menu, now available at all 23 locations. The newly curated menu shines the spotlight on items that are lower in calories, high in protein, and nutrient-dense. The “Mindful Living” menu includes a variety of existing menu items along with new […]