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Fast_Casual

Marketing

Language-learning app Duolingo is set to open a restaurant

 By Heather Lalley on May 09, 2022

Duo’s Taqueria, slated to open next month in Pittsburgh, will offer food discounts and freebies if customers can answer a question in Spanish.

Emerging Brands

Inside the plate lunch concept that’s growing ultra-fast with Hawaiian comfort food

 By Heather Lalley on May 06, 2022

Drive-thrus and a super-simple menu propelled Hawaiian Bros. Island Grill into the Top 500, with year-over-year sales growth of 172%.

Financing

Sweetgreen says pandemic recovery is neither ‘linear nor consistent’

By Heather Lalley on May 05, 2022

But the salad chain reported Thursday that its same-store sales climbed 35% during the first quarter and earnings rose 67% over the year before.

Financing

More price increases are on the menu for Portillo’s

By Heather Lalley on May 05, 2022

The 71-unit Italian beef chain is working to find more operational efficiencies as “unprecedented” inflation continues to hit its bottom line.

Emerging Brands

How the pandemic shifted the strategy for Naf Naf Grill

By Heather Lalley on May 02, 2022

Greg Willman was the Middle Eastern concept’s first franchisee in March 2020. Now, he’s the chain’s CEO and owner as it works to rebuild.

Workforce

Chipotle zeroes in on its need for speed

By Heather Lalley on Apr. 27, 2022

The burrito chain is now tying manager and crew bonuses to how many burritos and bowls can be made every 15 minutes.

Operations

Wingstop doubles its expansion plans in Indonesia

By Heather Lalley on Apr. 27, 2022

The chicken wing chain is steadily growing its international footprint.

Food

Smashburger gets into catering with burger bars, box lunches and more

By Patricia Cobe on Apr. 22, 2022

The fast casual launched its first catering platform earlier this month to feed returning office workers.

Financing

Saladworks parent WOWorks is acquiring two more fast-casual concepts

By Heather Lalley on Apr. 21, 2022

Kelly Roddy, CEO of the multi-concept operator, said the deal would be announced in the next couple of weeks, and that both of the purchases would be better-for-you brands.

Emerging Brands

Top 500: The pandemic-fueled chicken craving still has legs

By Heather Lalley on Apr. 18, 2022

Fast-casual chicken chains grew their sales by more than 24% over 2019—more than any other segment tracked by the Top 500.

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