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Emerging Brands

New brands and soon-to-open concepts worth watching

Emerging Brands

How Taco Bell's Crunchwrap is inspiring a new restaurant concept

By Lisa Jennings on Aug. 28, 2025

Meet the new fast-casual Hippo Pockets out of Minneapolis with a creative menu of grilled, hexagon-shaped tortillas stuffed with all manner of things, in the style of a Crunchwrap. Taco Bell is flattered.

Emerging Brands

At Tacodeli, slow and steady growth is working

 By Lisa Jennings on Aug. 27, 2025

This 26-year-old Austin-based fast-casual chain is about to hit 15 units. Its founder sees plenty of room for tacos in Texas, where love for a salsa known as "the Doña" runs deep.

Emerging Brands

The chicken space may be crowded, but Houston TX Hot Chicken sees an open track ahead

By Lisa Jennings on Aug. 22, 2025

Founded by race car driver Edmond Barseghian, this fast-casual concept has exploded over four years and has aggressive plans for growth.

Emerging Brands

Just in time for Hot Chicken Summer, Patina Group plans to launch new Hencraft

By Lisa Jennings on Aug. 20, 2025

The Delaware North-owned hospitality company is known for restaurants in entertainment, sports and cultural centers. Now the group is developing potential stand-alone brands, including this fast-casual chicken concept.

Emerging Brands

PopStroke tees up ambitious growth despite restaurant sales slowdown

By Lisa Jennings on Aug. 18, 2025

This Tiger Woods-owned mini golf concept is ramping up growth at a time when consumers are cutting back and experiential dining appears to be losing steam.

Emerging Brands

Zaza Cuban Comfort Food goes for an all-day-diner vibe, but with great coffee

By Lisa Jennings on Aug. 11, 2025

This fast-casual concept has brought in a former Yum Brands executive to set the 10-unit chain up for growth outside Central Florida.

Emerging Brands

Naya positions to bring fast-casual flavors of Lebanon to the growing Mediterranean category

By Lisa Jennings on Aug. 07, 2025

As Americans increasingly embrace the cuisines of the vast region, Naya founder Hady Kfoury brings a focus on this corner of the Middle East.

Emerging Brands

Gregorys Coffee is the latest concept to join Craveworthy Brands' franchise portfolio

By Lisa Jennings on Aug. 07, 2025

The partnership is designed to grow the New York-based artisanal coffee chain across the country through franchising, which is scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter.

Emerging Brands

Wayback Burgers franchisor launches new multi-brand platform

By Lisa Jennings on Jul. 31, 2025

Meet the new HubSpoke Brands, which adds six more franchise concepts to the fast-casual burger brand's family under one umbrella.

Emerging Brands

Zaxbys' co-founder finds second act with Maepole

By Lisa Jennings on Jul. 29, 2025

Tony Townley acquired the fast-casual comfort-food-bowl concept earlier this year. Now he's readying the three-unit concept for franchise growth, saying this is how younger diners want to eat.

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