How Velvet Taco CEO Chris Schultz scales a cult brand without losing its soul
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media
During his keynote at the Fast Casual Executive Summit in Texas, Chris Schultz will discuss restaurant growth, brand culture, leadership, international expansion and why protecting a fast-casual brand's identity matters more than opening the next location.
read nowMore Event News
Can a robot have soul? How Moto Pizza uses automation to keep 'mom-and-pop' feel
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media
Moto Pizza uses robotics and automation to streamline repetitive kitchen tasks, allowing the business to rapidly scale its volume while maintaining the handcrafted quality, community-focused feel and artisan soul of its Filipino-inspired pies.
read nowMore Features
The Power of the Rearview Mirror and the Windshield: An activity of reflection and projection
by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners
Using the metaphor of a vehicle's small rearview mirror and large windshield, columnist Kathleen Wood shares a structured framework designed to briefly reflect on past lessons and proactively plan for future personal and professional success.
read nowMore Commentary
From kitchens to tech hubs: Inside fast casual’s digital revolution
In the latest episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, Cherryh Cansler, publisher of FastCasual.com, sits down with Luke Wilwerding, Vice President of North America Sales at Elo Touch Solutions, to unpack the highly anticipated FastCasual Top 100 Movers & Shakers list.
The 1:1 Personalization Playbook: Using AI to send every guest their own offer
In this session, Hang CEO Matt Smolin, whose platform powers millions of AI-personalized offers a month for restaurant brands, will walk through the playbook to start personalizing your own offers right away.
Hungry Howie’s adds Spicy Sesame to flavored crust lineup for summer
Hungry Howie's has debuted its newest limited-time innovation, Spicy Sesame Flavored Crust, which will be available from now through the end of September, or…
read nowMore News
2026 Pizza Marketplace Top 100 Movers & Shakers
This year’s Top 100 honors those who have mastered the "rare beast" of combining high-volume operations with artisanal quality. Whether it’s an independent shop utilizing AI to streamline inventory or a regional chain perfecting the 18-minute carryout window, these Movers & Shakers are the ones defining the future of the American slice.
