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Fast Casual

Emerging Brands

One of the biggest açai suppliers wants to be the In-N-Out Burger of the Brazilian superfood

 By Lisa Jennings on Mar. 01, 2024

Growing the Sambazon Açai Bowls concept will mean competing with its own CPG products and foodservice clients, but the CEO says it's about communicating the brand's mission.

Operations

GoTo Foods' 4-year path to overnight transformation

 By Lisa Jennings on Mar. 01, 2024

The company formerly known as Focus Brands is now GoTo Foods and a "platform business." What does that really mean for franchisees of Cinnabon, McAlister's Deli, Carvel, Jamba, Schlotzsky's, Auntie Anne's and Moe's Southwest Grill?

Operations

Sweetgreen's robotic makelines show 10% sales lift

By Lisa Jennings on Mar. 01, 2024

But the multi-tier Sweetpass subscription program is not showing results. CEO Jonathan Neman says it needs to be simpler.

Operations

Food halls: A fad still figuring it out

By Lisa Jennings and Nancy Kruse on Mar. 01, 2024

Nancy and Lisa debate the up and downsides of these multi-concept outlets that are a leading cause of Choice Paralysis.

Food

Panera Bread unveils a major new menu overhaul

By Lisa Jennings on Feb. 29, 2024

A streamlined menu launches in April with nine new dishes and recipe upgrades for 12 classics. But say goodbye to flatbread pizzas.

Operations

Chipotle doubles down on Cultivate Next

By Lisa Jennings on Feb. 28, 2024

To celebrate the venture fund's two-year anniversary, the fast-casual chain commits another $50 million to bring the investment pool to $100 million.

Financing

Portillo’s sees opportunity in catering, pickup-only stores

By Heather Lalley on Feb. 27, 2024

The Chicago-style fast casual opened 12 new restaurants in 2023, a record number, and said same-store sales rose 5.7% during the year.

Operations

Watch out casual-dining chains, Cava is coming for your guests

By Lisa Jennings on Feb. 27, 2024

The Mediterranean fast casual is planning to enhance restaurant ambiance to make locations more inviting for dine-in. Also steak is coming to the menu.

Operations

Cava wraps landmark year with traffic growth exceeding 10%

By Lisa Jennings on Feb. 26, 2024

Now comes the hard work of lapping a strong first year as a public company, but the fast-casual chain is well positioned for more "normalized" growth.

Food

Mendocino Farms masters a meaty Philly cheesesteak sandwich—without the meat

By Patricia Cobe on Feb. 22, 2024

Behind the Menu: The fast casual uses a mushroom-based meat alternative for its Philly Shroomsteak Sandwich, a new menu item targeted to flexitarians, not just vegans.

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