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Fast_Casual

Food

Wingstop adds a spicy-sweet flavor to its menu

 By Heather Lalley on Dec. 01, 2021

The fast casual, which rarely rolls out new menu additions, is debuting Orange Szechuan for a limited time for its wings and thighs.

Financing

Velvet Taco gets a new private equity owner

 By Heather Lalley on Nov. 30, 2021

Leonard Green & Partners, an early investor in Shake Shack, has purchased the majority stake in the fast-growing fast casual from L Catterton, the company announced Tuesday.

Workforce

Worker shortages hit some Boston Market stores on Thanksgiving

By Heather Lalley on Nov. 29, 2021

Some customers who came to pick up prepaid dinners at the fast casual left empty handed due to “isolated instances of being extremely short-staffed,” the chain said.

Financing

MOD looks to carve a slice of Wall Street for fast-casual pizza

By Heather Lalley on Nov. 23, 2021

The 500-unit pizza chain started the initial public offering process this week, hoping to be a success story in a segment that has struggled during the pandemic.

Operations

For Portillo’s, shrinking dining rooms are the way of the future

By Heather Lalley on Nov. 19, 2021

Known for its big, bustling on-premise seating, the newly public Italian beef brand said changing consumer demand is forcing it to consider new store designs.

Financing

Sweetgreen raises $364M in its IPO

By Heather Lalley on Nov. 18, 2021

The 140-unit salad chain priced its shares at $28 —$3 above its previously stated range—as it begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange Thursday.

Financing

Newly public Portillo’s feels the margin squeeze

By Heather Lalley on Nov. 18, 2021

The fast-casual chain’s margins dropped more than four percentage points over last year due to higher labor and commodity costs. But the company said its new restaurants are far exceeding expectations.

Financing

Sweetgreen shares soar in Wall Street debut

By Heather Lalley on Nov. 18, 2021

The fast-casual salad chain, which has yet to turn a profit, saw its stock close at more than 76% above its starting price.

Operations

Shake Shack CEO: We need to be an ‘omnichannel’ brand

By Heather Lalley on Nov. 17, 2021

The fast casual, which opens its first-ever drive-thru next month, continues to build out its digital channels and other ordering options after the pandemic upended its dine-in-focused operating model.

Operations

Inside the great catering comeback of 2021

By Patricia Cobe on Nov. 11, 2021

As workers return to their offices and the holiday season gets underway, restaurants in every segment are ramping up catering programs to feed increased demand.

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