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Fast_Casual

Financing

Why Sweetgreen is at a crucial point in its history

 By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 16, 2026

The Bottom Line: The fast-casual salad chain is rethinking its menu pricing after a tough year. But a focus on menu prices above all may create more damage over the long run.

Emerging Brands

Former Legal Sea Foods CEO debuts new concept at Boston airport

 By Joe Guszkowski on Mar. 11, 2026

Six years after selling Legal, Roger Berkowitz is back with Roger’s Fish Co., a fast-casual spinoff of his online retail business. It was built with travelers in mind.

Emerging Brands

Rice Mediterranean Kitchen brings Persian flavors to the table

By Lisa Jennings on Mar. 11, 2026

This Iranian-American family has been slowly building a fast-casual Mediterranean brand with a Persian twist. It couldn't be more relevant.

Financing

Why the social media burger wars are good for the industry

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 06, 2026

The Week in Restaurants: This week’s episode of the weekly restaurant news discussion podcast looks at the McDonald’s-Burger King rivalry, the coffee market and what’s wrong with Sweetgreen.

Technology

An operator couldn't find the tech he needed, so he built it with AI

By Joe Guszkowski on Mar. 02, 2026

Tech Check: Pincho CEO Otto Othman is now offering his "vibe-coded" recipe manager to other restaurants. He believes tech suppliers should be concerned about the rise of AI coding tools.

Marketing

Schlotzsky's is going back to the Deli

By Jonathan Maze on Feb. 26, 2026

The fast-casual sandwich chain is changing its name again, returning to the Schlotzsky’s Deli moniker to remind customers what it’s all about. “I thought you were a dry cleaner.”

Financing

Five Guys is making some changes

By Jonathan Maze on Feb. 25, 2026

A Deeper Dive: Molly Catalano, chief marketing officer for the fast-casual burger chain, joins the restaurant finance podcast to discuss the chain’s evolution and its push into catering.

Food

Sweetgreen explores a new menu platform: Wraps

By Patricia Cobe on Feb. 24, 2026

The fast casual goes beyond the bowl and plate to showcase protein in a portable, handheld package.

Operations

RaceTrac: Don't expect a Potbelly in every convenience store

By Hannah Hammond on Feb. 19, 2026

The c-store chain said it acquired the fast-casual sandwich brand to diversify its business and that it plans to continue to grow the restaurant concept through a variety of channels.

Food

Salad concepts continue to make a move from bowls to plates

By Patricia Cobe on Feb. 18, 2026

Fast-casual Just Salad launched Build Your Own Market Plates to meet diners’ demand for customized protein-centric meals.

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