Four decades in pizza: Lessons in consistency, community and smart growth

by Shahpour Nejad — Founder/PRESIDENT/CEO, Pizza Guys Franchises Inc.

By prioritizing product integrity, franchisee support, and community trust over short-term trends, Pizza Guys has achieved 40 years of sustainable growth and…

Happy's Pizza launches LTO menu featuring Asian BBQ-inspired flavors

February 26, 2026

Detroit-based Happy's Pizza has a bold Asian BBQ-inspired menu for a limited time, according to a press release.

Speaker Spotlight: Chris Noffze, director of direct franchising and operations, Gong cha

by Bradley Cooper — Editor, Connect Media

In today's Speaker Spotlight, we are highlighting Chris Noffze, director of direct franchising and operations at Gong cha Americas, who will be sharing…

Experienced franchisees acquire 2 Kentucky Mr Gatti's locations

February 25, 2026

Mr Gatti's Pizza has announced the acquisition of its Shepherdsville and Brandenburg, Kentucky, restaurants by experienced local entrepreneurs, according to a…

How Ya Dough'n opens on Las Vegas Strip

February 25, 2026

Florida-based How Ya Dough'n has opened a third-floor rooftop pizzeria at BLVD Las Vegas with views of the Las Vegas Strip. The opening marks the brand's first…

Parlour Pizza + Pints to open at Louisville stadium

February 24, 2026

Parlour Pizza + Pints will open a location at Lynn Family Stadium in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, according to a press release.

Strategic sizzle: Why Houston TX Hot Chicken prioritizes smart growth over rapid expansion

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Houston TX Hot Chicken is leveraging its "electric" brand energy and massive social media following to drive organic franchise leads and fuel a strategic…

CPK cuts labor variance by 50% via AI partnership

February 23, 2026

California Pizza Kitchen is slicing into the future of upscale casual dining by ditching legacy systems in favor of AI-driven operational tools. The 144-unit…

Got marketing chops? Prove it: The 2nd Annual Top 30 Movers & Shakers Nominations are live

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Calling all restaurant marketing visionaries!

Domino's reports sales increase, sale-store sales growth

February 23, 2026

Domino's Pizza's fourth-quarter earnings exceeded revenue estimates but fell short of analyst estimates, according to a press release.

Building unity through community

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

By fostering shared experiences and intentional connections, the restaurant industry serves as a vital "community connector" that accelerates growth for…

Speaker Spotlight: Liz Williams, CEO, El Pollo Loco

Liz Williams, CEO of El Pollo Loco, shares a look at her career, her achievements and industry trends ahead of her appearance at the Restaurant Franchising …

Supertasters and Cicerones: The sophisticated science behind Regents Pizza’s success

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Driven by the culinary legacy of a "supertaster" chef and a rigorous, 23-level merit-based labor system, Regents Pizza transformed from a twice-failed local…

Pizza’s competitive reset: Why demand isn’t dying, it’s evolving

by Bill Mitchell — CEO, HungerRush

While pizza is no longer the "default" delivery choice, brands can still drive growth by pivoting from broad discounts to a disciplined, tech-enabled focus on…

Mr Gatti's Pizza looking to expand in Houston

February 18, 2026

Mr Gatti's Pizza is targeting the Houston market for expansion, according to a press release.

Jeff's Bagel Run: From garage bagels to 30 and growing

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

On this episode of the Founderology — Built to Breakthrough podcast, I talk with Jeff Perera, co-Founder of Jeff’s Bagel Run and a member of the inaugural…

Beyond the balance sheet: why the future of franchising is proactive, not passive

At the upcoming Restaurant Innovation and Franchising Summit, industry experts will share strategies for moving beyond passive bookkeeping to maximize…

Reigniting passion in your team: a blueprint for peak performance

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

Cultivating employee passion through purpose, recognition and autonomy is the key to driving superior business performance, innovation and long-term retention…

Pizza vs. Chicken: The ultimate industry 'vibe check' at RFIS

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Executives in the pizza and chicken restaurant fields will answer questions about feedback in a 'Family Feud'-style game at the Restaurant Franchising and…

Pizza Guys to open 4th San Diego location

February 16, 2026

Pizza Guys will open its fourth San Diego location on Feb. 26, according to a press release.