Granddaddy of marijuana-themed brands, Cheba Hut perfects food-and-fun-first culture

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

This week, QSRweb Editor Shelly Whitehead rolls into the food truck category for a look at that business, while marijuana brand, Cheba Hut and its Chief…

Squisito opens Northern Virginia location

January 24, 2019

Squisito Pizza & Pasta has opened a new store in Oakton, Virginia under local franchisees, Kevin and Jake Trump in the Fairfax County area.

Stoner's opens prototype store in Columbia, South Carolina

January 24, 2019

QSR pizza brand, Stoner's Pizza Joint, opened a corporate-owned location this week, which was built under the chain's new prototype design that will be used…

Could Pie Five's 'Goldilocks' be its golden opportunity?

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

In the famous children's story, Goldilocks, the pint-sized heroine goes through the paces to land on something that's "just right." Now Pie Five hopes its…

Attention new brands: Make Perfect Pitch nominations by June 14 or miss the chance of a lifetime

New brands have until June 14 to apply for a chance to win a spot on stage in the popular Perfect Pitch restaurant standoff at the Fast Casual Executive Summit…

Mountain Mike's opens Fort Bragg, California location

January 22, 2019

Mountain Mike's Pizza has opened a Fort Bragg, California location at North Harbor Drive and Main Street, a news release said. The location is run by…

Taking a chopped salad QSR on the road: Chop Stop CEO talks brand expansion

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Can a meat-and-potatoes guy’s chopped salad QSR survive outside of Southern California? Podcast spotlight interviewee Mark Kulkis is convinced of that fact as…

Stoner's Pizza Joint franchisee buys Jacksonville store, plans 2 more

January 15, 2019

QSR pizza brand, Stoner's Pizza Joint, said that its North Main Street location in Jacksonville, Florida, is now owned by Bruce Levy of Chatham Foods &…

Your Pie opens 7 units in Q4, names COO

January 14, 2019

Growth was the theme of Q4 2018 at Your Pie, according to a company press release that said the brand opened seven stores, bringing its total footprint to 6…

Chuck E Cheese heads to Mexico, Egypt, Kuwait, El Salvador, Bahrain

January 10, 2019

CEC Entertainment, Inc has signed development agreements with franchisees for 25 new Chuck E. Cheese's restaurants across Mexico, Egypt, Kuwait, El Salvador…

DC Appeals court upholds NLRB's joint employer test, public comment open to Jan 14

January 7, 2019

Any franchised restaurant brand returned from the holidays last week to learn of new action in the Browning-Ferris Industries v. NLRB case that has had so many…

Schlotzsky's president on brand rebirth at age 50

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

QSRweb Editor Shelly Whitehead talks with Fast Casual Editor Cherryh Cansler about the innovators in the Top 20 Brands to Watch report, then Schlotzsky's…

Boston Pizza opens 10 new stores, closes 5 in 2018

January 2, 2019

For the 17th straight year, Boston Pizza added new locations last year, according to a news release. Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund and Boston Pizza…

Top 10 2018 blogs show industry's interest in delivery is on fire

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

When it comes to top subjects of interest for blogs on Pizza Marketplace this past year, delivery delivered. Our site's many bloggers covered the topic "like a…

Rave Restaurant Group opens 2 Pie units in Texas

December 27, 2018

Rave Restaurant Group's express pizza model, Pie, has opened in Georgetown and Houston, Texas, bringing the total number of Lone Star State Pie stores to six…

Top 10 2018 Pizza Marketplace 'reads': Predictions, problems plus Papa John's

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Innovative approaches to pizza brand problems, pie flavor trends and, of course, the ubiquitous soap opera-in-a-pizza-box, Papa John's, were the leading…

Little Caesars opening 1st Philippine, Singapore stores

December 18, 2018

Little Caesars Pizza will open its first restaurants in the Philippines and Singapore in January 2019, part of the brand's global expansion, which will add to…

Blaze opening Rhode Island location Dec 20

December 17, 2018

Blaze Fast Fire'd Pizza said it will open a new store in Cranston, Rhode Island on Dec. 20 on Chapel View Road. The 2,800-square-foot open-kitchen restaurant…

Podcast episode 3: Breaking down McDonald's fecal bacteria kiosk screen story

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Host and QSRweb Editor Shelly Whitehead talks with Kiosk Marketplace Editor Elliot Maras about the industry fallout after the McDonald's contaminated kiosk…

Blaze opens Riverside California store

December 14, 2018

Blaze opens its latest location in Riverside, California on Dec. 17 on Magnolia Avenue, a news release said. The 2,800-square-foot open-kitchen restaurant…