National Restaurant Association: Beverages give brands daypart, sales boost

August 25, 2026

Beverages are becoming one of the most dynamic and innovative growth drivers in the restaurant industry, according to the National Restaurant Association's…

How to leverage training to reduce workplace risk

by Valerie Gritton

From cuts and burns to fatigue and inexperienced employees, pizzeria operators face a range of workplace risks. One expert shares how better training, early…

From the boardroom to the prep line: How Stonefire Grill's CEO is fueling legacy growth

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Stonefire Grill CEO David Youngberg joins the Restaurant Operator Podcast to share how his hands-on leadership, people-first culture and strategic use of guest…

Mountain Mike’s Pizza, San Francisco 49ers renew partnership for 2026

August 24, 2026

Mountain Mike's Pizza is returning for a ninth consecutive season as the official pizza of the San Francisco 49ers, according to a press release.

Crust launches franchise opportunities nationwide

August 24, 2026

Crust, a Massachusetts-based pizza concept known for its Neo-New York style, has launched a franchise opportunity to expand beyond its two existing locations…

New study reveals revenue gaps from missed calls

August 24, 2026

Revmo, a provider of voice-enabled conversational AI for restaurants, released a comprehensive five-chapter report, "The State of Restaurant Calls 2026.…

One man's journey from delivery driver to franchisee of 105 Papa Johns restaurants

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Eric Murphy transformed a chance gig as a Papa Johns delivery driver in 1999 into a 105-unit franchise empire across six states by prioritizing strategic…

AI and the Future of Restaurants: From Foot Traffic to Predictive Insight

As consumer behavior and privacy expectations evolve, restaurants need smarter ways to understand diners and drive growth. Gladys Kong of Azira and Isabelle…

Presented by Azira

What’s in your policy? Navigating insurance for pizzerias

by Valerie Gritton

Insurance can be complicated for restaurant owners, and not all policies provide the same protection. For pizzeria operators, seemingly small incidents can…

Real talk, damn good biscuits and growing a national chain

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

Lauren Coulter is co-Founder and chief biscuit eater of Biscuit Belly, the Louisville, Kentucky, brunch brand she built with her husband and co-Founder, Chad…

Papa Johns Canada launches Pan Pizza

August 17, 2026

Beginning today, Papa Johns Canada is introducing its highly anticipated Pan Pizza, the company said in a news release.

How Prince St. Pizza is scaling a pop-culture juggernaut across North America

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Armed with an untouchable family recipe and masterclass marketing, CEO Lawrence Longo has taken Prince St. Pizza from a local NYC secret to a rapidly expanding…

Mountain Mike’s Pizza targets 7% growth in 1st half of 2026

August 11, 2026

Mountain Mike's Pizza sustained its national brand momentum through the first half of 2026, driven by franchise expansion, menu innovation and digital growth…

Mellow Mushroom launches Kids Eat Free Tuesdays through October

August 11, 2026

Kids eat free on Tuesdays from today through Tuesday, Oct. 27 at Mellow Mushroom, according to company news.

Yum China completes Mainland China Pizza Hut acquisition

August 10, 2026

Yum China Holdings, Inc. has completed its acquisition of the Pizza Hut brand in Mainland China from Yum! Brands, Inc., according to a company press release.

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…

Papa Johns Q2 revenue falls 9% as North America sales slump offsets international growth

by Valerie Gritton

August 7, 2026

Papa Johns' turnaround efforts continued to face headwinds in the second quarter, as softer consumer demand and an intensely promotional quick-service…

How Tievoli Pizza Bar tripled sales with a zero-dollar marketing budget

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Husband-and-wife team Giovanni and Adrianna Labbate and their family have built a wildly successful Chicago-area restaurant, Tievoli Pizza Bar, entirely…

The new state of pizza Part 4: Winning the next chapter

by Valerie Gritton

In the final installment our new state of pizza series, we explore how the pizza brands that succeed in the next decade won't simply be the most automated…

How Urban Bird Hot Chicken turned a bad lease into a fast-growing brand

Brandon and Chantel Gawthorp built 32 Wingstop franchises across three states over 20 years, then let it all go to bet on themselves. They opened the first…