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Fast_Casual

Operations

Diners can’t enter this new Chipotle location

 By Heather Lalley on Dec. 16, 2021

Later this month, the fast casual plans to open its first Chipotlane Digital Kitchen with an order-ahead drive-thru and walk-up window but no indoor access for customers.

Emerging Brands

Inside IHOP’s first Flip’d unit in NYC

 By Joe Guszkowski on Dec. 16, 2021

The scaled-down spinoff will serve pancake bowls, burgers and more—mainly for takeout. It's the first of 10 slated for the Big Apple.

Emerging Brands

Honeygrow gets back into growth mode

By Heather Lalley on Dec. 15, 2021

A few years after pressing pause, closing some units, and weathering the onset of the pandemic, the buzzed-about fast-casual says 2021 was its most profitable year so far.

Financing

Tacombi gets $27.5M from Danny Meyer’s investment fund

By Heather Lalley on Dec. 09, 2021

The cash infusion from Enlightened Hospitality Investments will allow the 13-unit Mexican fast casual to add locations and expand its consumer packaged goods business.

Leadership

2021 Pacesetter Award goes to Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

By Patricia Cobe on Dec. 09, 2021

The fast-growing fast casual was honored for accelerating systemwide sales and franchise expansion.

Operations

East Coast Wings tinkers with a fast-casual model

By Heather Lalley on Dec. 06, 2021

The 34-unit casual dining concept is finding solid sales with a smaller restaurant and new service model, giving franchisees another option, according to the founder and CEO.

Operations

Why Raising Cane’s says it will never go public

By Heather Lalley on Dec. 03, 2021

Despite the recent flurry of restaurant activity on Wall Street, AJ Kumaran, co-CEO of the fast-growing chicken finger chain, said his fast casual plans to remain steadfastly private to keep its company culture intact.

Leadership

Mooyah hires Doug Willmarth as its new president

By Heather Lalley on Dec. 02, 2021

Willmarth, who most recently worked for Mongolian Concepts Restaurant Group, will oversee day-to-day operations at the nearly 90-unit better burger brand.

Food

Shake Shack tries a new strategy: Premium menu add-ons

By Heather Lalley on Dec. 02, 2021

Black truffles, cherry peppers, avocado and more are helping the fast casual drive check averages even as margins get hit by soaring labor, food and supply costs.

Marketing

Chipotle wins the white elephant gift exchange with Cilantro Soap

By Heather Lalley on Dec. 02, 2021

The herbally inspired item, designed to poke fun at the small percentage of people for whom cilantro tastes like soap, started as a social media joke for the fast-casual chain.

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