From burgers to pizza, it's all about the 'hot'

May 11, 2017

Two QSR brands are putting diners' hot and growing penchant for heat and spice front and center on their permanent menus with fiery offerings.

The anti-app: why messaging is the new loyalty program

More than 60 percent of smartphone users download an average of zero apps every month, and most of those are opened only once. Roughly 75 percent of consumers…

Modern Market loyalty app lets customers order, pay and earn rewards

May 2, 2017

Modern Market, a fast casual restaurant, has introduced a new loyalty app that lets customers order, pay and earn rewards. The app is available in the App…

Boston's rebrand all about sports and pizza

May 1, 2017

In a move that's intended to reposition Boston's Restaurant & Sports Bar more firmly in the pizza, pasta, burgers and wings category, the chain is…

Future franchisees are watching: What do they see in you?

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

Three restaurant industry leaders talk about branding strategy when it comes to the essential task of drawing franchisees in for business.

Webinar: Are you getting the biggest bang for your franchise marketing buck?

May 1, 2017

As restaurateurs, you not only sell to diners every day, but also simultaneously to future franchisees who may either be among those diners, in the local…

Pinkberry/Paytronix promotion reveals open rates' 'dirty little secret'

April 26, 2017

Last Independence Day, Pinkberry generated a few of its own fireworks when it launched a wildly successful double points ice cream promotion using the brand's…

How well do you mitigate risk? Learn from those who have been there

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Companies face a new set of risks in today's marketplace due to new technology. The need to manage human resources remains as critical as ever.

3 execs describe how to take on the world without losing your brand

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

Taking a brand to another country is one of the most complex challenges a brand's leadership can undertake. At the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit…

Restaurant industry upbeat for 2017; big year for digital marketing

April 24, 2017

This year promises to be a lucrative one for the restaurant industry, according to the Toast Restaurant POS "Restaurant Success in 2017 Industry Report," which…

Wendy's twitter-mania: Is brand 'character assassination' a dead end?

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

There has long been a credo in advertising that great brands don't denigrate, they differentiate since some argue that when chains start taking shots at each…

Restaurants dish out savings to soothe the stressed tax filer

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

Restaurants are doing their part to calm the masses with money-saving deals on Tuesday, the nation's day of shared tax-paying pain.

New tech finds, funnels real-time restaurants digital sign content

April 11, 2017

Allure is debuting an advanced content automation technology for digital signs and other devices used in the fast food and fast casual sectors. Allure…

Pie Five, Firehouse, First Watch,Pei Wei execs discuss 'the good, the bad and the ugly' of online reviews

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

A recent survey found that 61 percent of the dining public check online reviews before visiting a restaurant. How those reviews can help or hurt sales was a…

Hot Heads & Rapid Fired Pizza founder on a regional growth approach

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

Hot Heads Burritos founder, Ray Wiley, is on a roll again, this time with a fast pizza concept, called Rapid Fired. The chain has taken a regional approach to…

Why playing the 'right' background music increases sales

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Restaurants that play a carefully selected mix of music reflecting their cultures can increase sales by more than 9 percent, according to a 2016 study.

Papa Murphy's capitalizes on nation's 'eat-at-home' trend

April 4, 2017

Take-and-bake chain, Papa Murphy’s, is angling to steal market share while the trend toward eating at home continues to sweep U.S. households. In a nod to what…

Social Media Marketing Guide for Food Truck Success

This guide is designed to give food truck operators an understanding of social media marketing.

Presented by FoodTruckOperator.com

Study: Consumers receptive to chatbots

March 30, 2017

A majority of consumers are comfortable talking with a chatbot yet only a fraction have engaged with one, according to the 2017 Mobile Consumer Report from…

Rosati's CEO: 'If your company is a boys club then join the club'

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Marla Topliff, president of Rosati's Pizza, fell in love with the restaurant business after working as a marketer for Rosati's.