Continue to Site >>>

Fast_Casual

Technology

Chipotle tests a high-tech inventory tracking system

 By Heather Lalley on Mar. 31, 2022

The burrito chain, which faced widespread foodborne illness outbreaks in 2015, said the radio-frequency identification system will help it better respond to food safety and quality worries.

Marketing

How Teriyaki Madness turned a major marketing oops into a win

 By Heather Lalley on Mar. 31, 2022

When the Asian bowl chain accidentally sent (and had to take back) an email offering a free year of food to 8,300 loyalty club members, it crafted a sweet result out of a potentially sour situation.

Operations

Sweetgreen plans to open an order-ahead drive-thru dubbed the ‘Sweetlane’

By Heather Lalley on Mar. 24, 2022

The drive-thrus resemble Chipotle Mexican Grill’s successful Chipotlanes and are part of Sweetgreen’s broader suburban strategy.

Leadership

Torchy’s Tacos founder Mike Rypka returns as CEO

By Heather Lalley on Mar. 17, 2022

Rypka headed the chain for 12 years before the appointment of industry veteran GJ Hart, who left the fast casual late last year.

Operations

Wingstop is bringing its wings to Spain

By Heather Lalley on Mar. 17, 2022

The fast casual plans to open four ghost kitchens in Madrid in the coming months, part of a broader global expansion effort.

Leadership

Fazoli’s CEO Carl Howard retires from the fast-casual Italian chain

By Heather Lalley on Mar. 17, 2022

Howard, who has held the post for 14 years, will be succeeded by Doug Bostick, who has been with Fazoli’s for more than two decades.

Technology

WOWorks adds a CIO, updates its tech platforms

By Heather Lalley on Mar. 16, 2022

The operator of four fast-casual brands hired Kyle Mark to the newly created chief information officer post.

Technology

Chipotle is testing a robot to make perfectly imperfect chips

By Heather Lalley on Mar. 16, 2022

Chippy, made by Miso Robotics, uses artificial intelligence to fry and season the fast casual’s tortilla chips so they’re craveable and don’t “lose the humanity behind our culinary experience,” the brand said.

Leadership

Charlie Morrison’s Wingstop departure raises more questions than answers

By Heather Lalley on Mar. 16, 2022

Morrison’s abrupt resignation this week from the publicly traded wing chain he transformed over the past decade, to helm 50-unit regional concept Salad and Go, is a major industry surprise.

Food

4 Rivers Smokehouse debuts an ‘Inflation Menu’ to cushion rising prices

By Patricia Cobe on Mar. 15, 2022

The budget-friendly menu saves money for both the restaurant group and its customers.

  • Page 22