First ezCater, now Instacart? Delivery's consolidation wave keeps rolling

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

If DoorDash and Instacart come together, what gets better for the operator?

For pizzeria operators, menu innovation is more than what’s new

In the restaurant business, everybody wants to talk about what's new: the latest flavor, trend, or limited-time offer. But after more than three decades in…

Believe, belong and remember: One last lesson from Ted Lasso

I have just spent the last several days at our Fast Casual Executive Summit where I was able to reconnect with old friends, meet new ones and lean into what…

Life, leadership and restaurants: ‘Ted Lasso’ strikes again

by Valerie Gritton — Editor, Pizza Marketplace

* Please note, this post does contain spoilers for the Ted Lasso episode, "Mae Rides the Bus."

Ted Lasso, an empty office and workplace culture

by Valerie Gritton — Editor, Pizza Marketplace

I once started a new job where, on my very first day, I was shown the empty office of a woman who had died of breast cancer.

Round up giving: How pizzerias can turn spare change into community impact

Round-up donations can turn spare change into meaningful community impact while helping pizza operators strengthen customer engagement and loyalty. With brands…

Revealed: The 2026 Top 30 Movers & Shakers: Catering

In 2026, catering has become one of the fastest-growing engines of brand loyalty and scale in the restaurant industry, and a new class of leaders is rewriting…

Nominations are open: Is your fast casual brand one to watch in 2027?

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Nominations close Oct. 5, 2026.

When and why to say ‘no’ in franchise development

The strongest franchise brands know that sustainable growth isn't about saying yes to every deal—it's about knowing when to say no. Marco's Pizza prioritizes…

Me, Ted Lasso and something in common

by Valerie Gritton — Editor, Pizza Marketplace

Twenty years ago, I started my career in restaurant journalism. Now, I’m back where it all began as the editor of QSRWeb and Pizza Marketplace.

4 reasons (and a raccoon) why you can't miss the Fast Casual Executive Summit

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Keynoters, Perfect Pitch contestants and a trash panda walk into Arlington; here's your Fast Casual Executive Summit October 4–6 game plan.

4 misses in Founder-led negotiations

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

Although Founders know their businesses best, their deep emotional investment and daily operational pressures often compromise their negotiating leverage…

3 leaders every Founder must hire to scale

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

To successfully scale a company and transition from an overwhelmed operator to a confident CEO, founders must stop trying to manage everything themselves and…

Build your leadership team: The team that reports directly to you

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

True organizational growth and scalability require distinguishing between mere managers and genuine leaders.

The top 3 priorities for Founder success in 2026

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

To succeed in 2026's highly competitive market, businesses must focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional customer experiences across all channels…

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…

The Power of One: Your role as a Founder

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

To successfully escape the "Stuck Zone" and scale a business, a Founder must transition from a hustle-driven operator to an intentional CEO by making three…

Built to Breakthrough: Unlocking your power

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

To successfully scale their businesses, founders must make non-delegable decisions and commit to a written, structured action plan that simultaneously aligns…

De-risking the map: Why traditional site selection is failing modern restaurants

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Whether you're looking to scale your footprint, optimize existing markets or get a clearer picture of where your target customers are spending their time…

Built to Breakthrough: Creating CULTs of engagement

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

As the ultimate foundation of business greatness, a strong culture built on clarity, unity, leadership and team commitment serves as an un-duplicable…