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Emerging Brands

New brands and soon-to-open concepts worth watching

Emerging Brands

Steve Ells' startup Kernel is being reborn as a sandwich concept

 By Lisa Jennings on Feb. 28, 2025

Dubbed Counter Service, it will follow a similar model. But this time, fewer robots and more food.

Emerging Brands

Chip City Cookies co-founder gets creative with croissants

 By Lisa Jennings on Feb. 28, 2025

Peter Phillips joins the bakery boom with a second concept called Somedays Bakery. With this concept, he takes a completely different approach to growth.

Emerging Brands

Chi-Chi's gets ready for its second act

By Joe Guszkowski on Feb. 25, 2025

The long-defunct Mexican casual-dining chain is working to raise $3.5 million through crowdfunding as it plans to open two restaurants this year and set up a franchising program.

Emerging Brands

Golden Corral launches new fast-casual brand, Golden Corral Favorites

By Joe Guszkowski on Feb. 24, 2025

The scaled-down version of the parent concept will replace Homeward Kitchen, the fast casual that Golden Corral launched in 2023.

Emerging Brands

Bread Espresso & brings a Tokyo-based chain to the crowded bakery-cafe field

By Lisa Jennings on Feb. 18, 2025

Forget croissants. This concept is all about adorably cubed "mou" bread, described as a brioche-milk bread hybrid.

Emerging Brands

Piada Italian Street Food wants to pick up the pace on growth

By Lisa Jennings on Feb. 10, 2025

There are not many fast-casual Italian concepts with national potential. Now in seven states, Piada hopes to plant flags in more new markets before competitors catch up.

Emerging Brands

Influencer Emma Chamberlain launches LA cafe

By Lisa Jennings on Feb. 05, 2025

The YouTube star has been selling mail-order coffee since 2019. Now fans can line up in person for pistachio matcha and cold brew to post their reviews.

Emerging Brands

Mezeh hopes to ride Mediterranean wave

By Lisa Jennings on Feb. 05, 2025

This fast-casual concept is working to raise brand awareness as consumers increasingly embrace the healthful flavors of shawarma, hummus and harissa.

Emerging Brands

This convenience-store chicken chain opened 605 new locations in 2024

By Chuck Ulie on Jan. 27, 2025

That's a concept record, and Krispy Krunchy Chicken said it expects to open even more restaurants this year.

Emerging Brands

Riko's Pizza hopes to build on its early success

By Jonathan Maze on Jan. 22, 2025

The Connecticut-based tavern-style pizza chain that was created because its owner had some space to fill just hired a new president in Carl Bachmann and is intent on taking the next step.

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