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Fast_Casual

Emerging Brands

Peter Piper changes its model to grow outside its core markets

 By Jonathan Maze on Jun. 13, 2023

Parent company CEC Entertainment recently opened a fast-casual version, Peter Piper Pizzeria, in a bid to differentiate itself from sister chain Chuck E. Cheese.

Operations

Chipotle cuts 25 jobs from corporate support centers

 By Lisa Jennings on Jun. 06, 2023

A reorganization in May also included adding new roles in an ongoing effort to deliver on aggressive growth goals, the company said.

Operations

IHOP shuts down its fast-casual spinoff, Flip'd

By Joe Guszkowski on Jun. 01, 2023

After about two years and four locations, the pancake chain said it would apply lessons from the grab-and-go concept to other parts of its business.

Technology

Sweetgreen's automated makeline shows robots and humans can coexist

By Joe Guszkowski on May 15, 2023

Tech Check: The salad chain’s first Infinite Kitchen in Naperville, Ill., offers an experience that is almost seamless, but not soulless.

Financing

An activist investor apparently sets its sights on Shake Shack

By Jonathan Maze on May 15, 2023

The Bottom Line: Engaged Capital, the same activist that took on Del Frisco’s and Jamba, is now targeting the fast-casual burger chain. But what would it do differently?

Operations

Will Panda Express be the first $10B 'mom-and-pop'?

By Lisa Jennings on May 12, 2023

Still run by its founders after 40 years, the fast-casual chain dominates its category and sees plenty of runway ahead.

Financing

After strong recent openings, Portillo's hints at bigger ambitions

By Joe Guszkowski on May 04, 2023

The hot dog chain said it is considering restaurants in airports and overseas after finding surprisingly strong demand in new markets.

Operations

To order or not to order in the drive-thru lane

By Lisa Jennings on May 01, 2023

Pickup-only drive-thrus are faster, but Velvet Taco found it was losing guests who wanted to order from their cars. The chain has redesigned its drive-thrus to accommodate different types of users.

Financing

The CEO of Ruby Tuesday files a lawsuit over the sale of Fuzzy's Taco Shop

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 25, 2023

Shawn Lederman filed a lawsuit against the chains’ former owner, NRD Capital, arguing he is owed $1 million from the sale of the taco chain.

Financing

How Smashburger is rethinking the drive-thru

By Jonathan Maze on Apr. 19, 2023

A Deeper Dive: Carl Bachmann, the brand’s president, joins the podcast to discuss the company’s growth plans and its decision to shift to its mobile-order “virtual” drive-thrus.

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