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Fast_Casual

Emerging Brands

Forget coffee. Salad is rising as the next drive-thru concept

 By Lisa Jennings on Jun. 17, 2025

The fast-casual Greenlane is plotting growth across Florida with investor and NFL star Rob Gronkowski working the drive-thru window.

Financing

How Velvet Taco's unique menu gives it permission to go where others can't

 By Jonathan Maze on Jun. 11, 2025

A Deeper Dive: Clay Dover, CEO of the fast-casual taco chain, joins the restaurant finance podcast to talk about the brand’s unique menu and its growth plans.

Operations

Fast casual was the happy place in 2024

By Lisa Jennings on Jun. 02, 2025

Sales in the segment far exceeded industry trends, boosted by growth brands like Chipotle, Wingstop, Raising Cane's and Jersey Mike's Subs. But some brands were left behind.

Food

For fast-casual Rooted, healthy eating lies in streamlining both the menu and packaging

By Patricia Cobe on May 29, 2025

Behind the Menu: Culinary entrepreneur Lily Rivkin keeps her ingredient list below 50 to curate simple, build-your-own meal boxes with unique flavor profiles.

Operations

Shake Shack is betting on casinos

By Lisa Jennings on May 21, 2025

The fast-casual chain is moving into new locations, formats and markets amid a growth push to diversify the portfolio and meet guests where they are.

Financing

What pullback? Cava guests remain resilient

By Lisa Jennings on May 15, 2025

Bucking first-quarter trends, the fast-casual chain reported same-store sales up 10.8%, including a 7.5% increase in traffic.

Operations

Consumers may be pulling back, but not from Cava, according to Placer.ai

By Lisa Jennings on May 15, 2025

The fast-casual chain is one of the last to report first-quarter results on Thursday. This traffic-tracking research firm says visits were up 20%.

Technology

Meet Sizl, the Chicago ghost kitchen that wants to replace groceries

By Joe Guszkowski on May 05, 2025

The two-unit outfit wants customers to order its food every day. It's betting that an ever-changing menu and a gamified loyalty app will keep them coming back.

Food

Cava's pita chip fans have a spicy new option

By Patricia Cobe on Apr. 23, 2025

Hot Harissa Pita Chips follow the wildly successful launch of Garlic Ranch chips last fall, as the Mediterranean fast casual expands its menu into North African flavor territory.

Operations

Chipotle plans first restaurant in Mexico

By Heather Lalley on Apr. 21, 2025

The fast-casual burrito chain said it expects the restaurant to open early next year and that it is eyeing further expansion in the region.

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