The Power of Financial Planning, Financial Visibility leads to business sustainability

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

To achieve sustainable growth and avoid the "stuck zone," Founders must overcome the emotional avoidance of their financials by owning their P&L, hiring expert…

Off-premise blitz: Turning pandemic survival tactics into long-term growth engines

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Industry leaders at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit highlighted how the shift from convenience to a permanent off-premise model requires a…

Ovation, Tap leaders share tips on crafting a guest feedback strategy

by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

A panel talk at the upcoming Restaurant Marketing Workshop will deliver insight on not only getting a guest feedback approach up and running but tips and…

Innovation in every sip: How Tractor Beverage Co. is changing the beverage landscape

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

John Murphy, chief revenue officer of Tractor Beverage Co., discusses the company's award-winning revival of the 17th-century "switchel" and how its organic…

Presented by Tractor Beverage Co.

Mellow Mushroom VP shares secrets to long-term franchise success

In this episode of the Pizza Marketplace podcast, Mellow Mushroom VP of Franchise Development Jamie Cecil discusses the brand's 50-year history of "unicorn…

The Power of One Direction: one of the most important and underutilized factors of greatness

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

The "Power of One Direction" is a leadership discipline where Founders transition from keeping strategies in their heads to creating a written plan, providing…

Papa Johns maintains 2026 outlook despite 6.4% North America sales drop

May 8, 2026

Papa John's International Inc. reported a decline in first-quarter profit and North American sales this week, as the pizza chain struggled with a cautious…

Pizza Inn franchisee shares leadership insights, advice on growing a franchise

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Dion Firooznia transitioned from a 40-year career in corporate restaurant leadership to become an award-winning Pizza Inn franchisee, leveraging multi-unit…

How R&R Brands scaled from a single brand to a multi-brand platform

I sat down with Scott Taylor, Founder and CEO of R&R Brands, a visionary and an industry icon whose fingerprints are on some of the most important…

The Power of One leadership team: Building a Founder’s leadership team for success

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

May 4, 2026

To scale a business successfully, a founder must transition from being the organization’s primary bottleneck to building a high-level Power of One leadership…

Disposable cameras and raw reactions: Why 'imperfect' social media content is winning in 2026

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Marketing leaders from Via 313, ATL Wing Spot, and Hook + Ladder explain how multi-unit restaurant brands can drive sustained foot traffic in 2026 by balancing…

Delivery drives sales; does it drive profit?

by Li-ran Navon — CEO, Sauce

To ensure delivery drives profit rather than just volume, restaurant operators must move beyond top-line sales and rigorously track four key financial…

How The Red Chickz brought true Nashville soul to the West Coast

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Podcast host Mandy Detwiler talks to Shawn Lalehzarian, co-founder of the West Coast Nashville hot chicken brand The Red Chickz about the brand's aesthetic…

Lynora’s Partners with SynergySuite to Power AI-driven Restaurant Operations Across South Florida

Family-owned Italian restaurant group adopts AI-powered back-of-house platform to streamline multi-location operations and scale its growing hospitality…

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…

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…

One Stop Nutrition Taps SynergySuite and CBS NorthStar to Fuel AI-Driven Growth Across Franchise Network

One Stop Nutrition selects SynergySuite and CBS NorthStar to power AI-driven growth across its franchise network, unifying POS and back-of-house operations to…

The College of Paisan’s: How one family is carrying on a 40-year dough dynasty

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Over 40 years, the Fejzuloski family has transformed Paisan’s Pizza from a humble Cicero storefront into an eight-location Chicagoland empire by blending…

Blaze Pizza, Farmer Boys, Mike's Red Tacos, HigherMe experts discuss recruitment, retention

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Industry experts at the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit emphasized that sustainable restaurant profitability and successful scaling depend on…

Little Caesars VP of franchise development talks brand growth, solid operations

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Podcast host Mandy Detwiler talks to Bryan Ketelhut, VP of franchise and business development for Little Caesars.