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…

Timber Pizza Co. accelerates 2026 franchise growth with new locations

August 3, 2026

Timber Pizza Co. is expanding its franchise footprint in the second half of 2026, preparing to enter the Georgia market for the first time with planned…

Mountain Mike's Pizza continues Texas expansion with Murphy opening

July 31, 2026

Mountain Mike's Pizza has opened its 16th Texas location in Murphy, continuing its expansion in the state, according to a press release..

Yum Brands posts strong Q2, Pizza Hut sale set for August completion

July 30, 2026

Yum! Brands posted strong Q2 2026 results as the company continues with the sale of its Pizza Hut chain.

How Latitude Food Group CEO James O’Reilly is scaling &pizza, Tijuana Flats

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

As CEO of Latitude Food Group, industry veteran James O'Reilly is leveraging a centralized backend support model and rigorous operational discipline to…

Mountain Mike's Pizza expands Washington footprint

July 28, 2026

Mountain Mike's Pizza opened its newest location in Wenatchee, Washington, marking its fourth location in the state and first in Chelan County, according to a…

Mellow Mushroom Pizza inks 6 franchise deals in first half of 2026

July 28, 2026

Mellow Mushroom is entering the second half of 2026 with strong franchise development after signing six deals in the first half of the year, including an…

Your Pie drives 2026 growth with data analytics, menu innovation

July 23, 2026

Fast casual pizza brand Your Pie is continuing its 2026 expansion and menu development following major technology upgrades last year. The Ischia…

Smokin' Oak set to open new Idaho location

July 23, 2026

Smokin' Oak Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap Room is set to open a new location in Meridian, Idaho, the company announced on its website. The location is one of…

Rotolo's Craft & Crust continues Texas expansion with Mont Belvieu opening

July 16, 2026

Rotolo's Craft & Crust is expanding its footprint in Texas with a new location in Mont Belvieu. The Louisiana-based pizza brand is partnering on the…

Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream to make Texas debut

July 15, 2026

Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream has inked a multi-unit franchise agreement to expand into the Dallas-Fort Worth area, marking the brand's debut in Texas…

Dodo Pizza’s playbook for international success

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

In this Pizza Marketplace podcast, executives from Dodo Brands discuss how the company uses its proprietary technology platform and a balance of global…

Pizza Hut banks on Americans’ need for sentimentality

July 10, 2026

Pizza Hut franchisees are hoping their restaurant's return to roots will strike a sentimental nerve with consumers who are longing for the red roofs and…

Mountain Mike’s Pizza expands Greater Sacramento footprint with El Dorado Hills location

July 9, 2026

Mountain Mike's Pizza has expanded its Greater Sacramento presence with a location now open in El Dorado Hills, according to a press release.

Your Pie targets Wilmington for North Carolina franchise expansion

July 8, 2026

Your Pie, an Atlanta-based fast-casual pizza franchise, will expand its footprint in North Carolina, targeting Wilmington and the Cape Fear region for its next…

The World Pizza champion who 'Let go to grow'

13-time world pizza champion Tony Gemignani spent 17 years honing his craft before betting on himself. In this episode of Founderology - Built to Breakthrough…

Domino's Pizza China continues rapid expansion, strengthens market positioning

July 6, 2026

Domino's Pizza China, the exclusive operator of the Domino's brand in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, continued to grow its footprint during the second…

Pizza Guys opens next-gen location in Orange County

July 2, 2026

Pizza Guys, the Sacramento-based pizza franchise with more than 100 locations across three states, is continuing its expansion across Orange County…

How Velvet Taco CEO Chris Schultz scales a cult brand without losing its soul

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

During his keynote at the Fast Casual Executive Summit in Texas, Chris Schultz will discuss restaurant growth, brand culture, leadership, international…

Mountain Mike’s enters Tennessee market with southern Nashville development deal

June 24, 2026

Mountain Mike's Pizza has opened its first Tennessee location in Nolensville, marking the brand's expansion into its 12th state, according to a press release.