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…

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…

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…

The 10-25 Unit Playbook: Scale Without Chaos

Unlock the proven systems top restaurant operators use to scale without chaos. If you’re stuck juggling fires across 10–25 locations, this guide shows you the…

Presented by SynergySuite

How top franchise brands turn culture into direct profitability

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Industry leaders will gather at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit to share actionable strategies for transforming workplace culture and…

Pan pizza returns to Papa Johns; brand says they got it right this time

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

After years of development, Papa Johns is relaunching its pan pizza with a refined recipe featuring a garlic-Parmesan crust and a six-cheese blend, supported…

Emmy Squared’s new pizzas a love letter to local communities

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Emmy Squared Pizza ditched the traditional corporate menu model by empowering local general managers to develop and launch custom, regionally-inspired recipes…

Texas Restaurant Association’s Emily Williams Knight on the power of shared insight

In this episode, Kathleen Wood and Emily Knight discuss why Founders benefit from being part of strong communities, whether through state restaurant…

Pizza Nova franchisee believes in quality, consistency, brand culture

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Driven by a lifelong connection to the brand, franchisee Chi-son Phu has successfully grown his Pizza Nova business in Toronto by strictly following the…

Riko's Pizza's unique style sets it apart as brand grows on East Coast

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Riko's Pizza's unique thin-crust pizza sets it apart from the heavy competition on the East Coast. The brand is growing and now has 12 locations.

1 question every Founder should ask (Most never do)

In our latest Founderology podcast episode, Ellis Winstanley and I discuss his Founder’s journey, from being an 18-year-old who refused to accept he couldn't…

Unlock New Customers: Leverage Delivery Aggregators for Restaurant Growth

A food delivery aggregator solution can provide significant return on investment because it’s an online platform that simplifies delivery operations for…

Restaurant industry experts make predictions for 2026

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Industry experts predict that the 2026 restaurant landscape will be defined by a "Me-Me-Me Economy," where brands must leverage integrated AI and data-driven…

Why 2026 is the year of the AI-driven restaurant

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

By 2026, AI is expected to transition from an experimental novelty to an operational necessity in the restaurant industry, utilizing "invisible" back-of-house…

Pizza Brands to Watch in 2026

Dominating the landscape is a shift toward “experiential” and “fusion” dining, where classic pepperoni is being challenged by global flavors like…

Presented by PizzaMarketplace.com

Against the grain: State of Mind Public House differentiates with California style, craft, culture

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

With 23 years of experience, Lars Smith launched State of Mind Public House, a family-owned Bay Area pizzeria with three locations that differentiates itself…

Inside the Founder shift: What 2025 sparked and why 2026 is ready to ignite

In our final Founderology podcast episode of the year, Cherryh and I sat down to reflect on the moments that mattered, the shifts that shaped us and the…

The Retail Nomad explores the Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show

Nick Harbaugh (aka "The Retail Nomad") takes viewers inside the recent Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show in Tampa.

Top 10 Trends in Restaurant Technology

As the restaurant landscape evolves, operators increasingly rely on technology to remain profitable and deliver an outstanding guest experience.

Presented by Oracle