More than a post: Turning influencers into content engines for your restaurant
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media
At the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit, marketing experts discussed the evolution of influencer marketing from a secondary tactic into a core strategy that prioritizes authentic content creation, micro-influencer relationships and adaptation to the rising impact of AI on search visibility.
read nowMore Event News
Mellow Mushroom's 'fast fine' format slashes labor costs by 40% but keeps nostalgia
by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media
Mellow Mushroom is evolving its 50-year-old business model with a counter-service format that reduces labor and build-out costs for franchisees while preserving the brand's eclectic soul and signature food quality.
read nowMore Features
No clicks given: How to get AI to recommend your restaurant
by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
The shift has brought us to a new frontier: GEO (Generative Engine Optimization). If SEO was about being found by a search engine, GEO is about being recommended by an AI. And while the weekly algorithm shifts can feel like a game of Whac-A-Mole, it's time to stop scrambling and start strategizing.
read nowMore Commentary
Marco's Pizza inks 3 unit expansion in New Mexico
Marco's Pizza has signed a three-unit area development agreement to expand its presence in New Mexico, with the first location scheduled to open this summer…
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.
