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Fast_Casual

Financing

Why large restaurant chains struggle to develop new concepts

 By Jonathan Maze on Oct. 11, 2023

The Bottom Line: With Chipotle developing yet another brand in Farmesa, it’s a good time to check on the track record of large brands creating new concepts. It’s not a good one.

Emerging Brands

A tale of 2 fast casuals—one Italian and one Indian—and how they grew

 By Patricia Cobe on Oct. 11, 2023

Piada Italian Street Food and Choolaah Indian BBQ both personalize the fast-casual model to fit their mission, with authentic food and passion driving growth.

Operations

Chipotle is preparing to open the new Farmesa concept as standalone restaurant

By Lisa Jennings on Oct. 05, 2023

The healthful bowl concept has closed its test unit in a Kitchen United but says it is moving that test to the next stage. Yet officials are not revealing any details.

Operations

Here's who is building muscle in the healthy fast-casual sector

By Lisa Jennings on Sep. 28, 2023

Sweetgreen, Cava and Salad and Go are part of a new generation of chains looking for the Holy Grail of the restaurant industry: Building a national chain of healthy fast-food restaurants. This is how they're doing it.

Financing

Demand for chicken takes Huey Magoo's to new heights

By Jonathan Maze on Sep. 28, 2023

Longtime chicken executive Andy Howard saw something in the tiny Florida chain more than five years ago. It is now one of the fastest growing concepts in the country.

Operations

Good to Go, the fast-casual incubator supported by the James Beard Foundation, hosts its first concept

By Patricia Cobe on Sep. 22, 2023

Chef Jared Howard won the opportunity to test-launch HoneyBunny Chicken and Biscuits for six months inside NYC’s Market 57 food hall.

Financing

Huey Magoo's is riding the chicken tenders wave

By Jonathan Maze on Sep. 13, 2023

A Deeper Dive: Andy Howard, CEO of the fast-casual chain, joins the podcast to talk about the company’s growth plans and consumer demand for chicken.

Financing

For Boston Market, another ugly chapter could be its last

By Jonathan Maze on Sep. 13, 2023

After years of steady decline, the fast-casual brand appears to be in a death spiral of unpaid bills, legal filings and angry customers. Even in a world as forgiving as restaurants, it may be impossible for the chain to come back.

Operations

Dickey’s put a restaurant up for sale. Its franchisee was surprised

By Jonathan Maze on Aug. 31, 2023

The fast casual’s franchisees say they’re struggling with its price restrictions, coupled with high costs. And one operator says the barbecue chain put her store on the market without her knowledge.

Marketing

From Grimace shakes to Spongmonkeys, restaurant marketing reimagines the past

By Reyna Estrada on Aug. 25, 2023

As restaurant chains lean into nostalgia marketing, they’re tasked with making sure old concepts seem fresh and new.

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