Brothers bring taste of Detroit to Austin, Texas

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Can Detroit-style pizza work in Austin, Texas? Yes, say the owners of Via 313, which has eight units in the Austin area.

PizzaWala's ready to franchise using family recipes, experience

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Michigan-based PizzaWala's uses family recipes steeped in Indian tradition. After the pandemic halted efforts to grow, the concept is ready to franchise.

Pincho, Hattie B’s tapping Thanx hidden menu capability

March 18, 2022

Florida-based burger and kebab concept Pincho and Nashville-based Hattie B's Hot Chicken are deploying hidden menus to diners by tapping Thanx Loyalty 3.…

Smokin’ Oak Wood Fired Pizza & Taproom pairs 2 perennial favorites

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

What goes better with pizza than beer? At Smokin' Oak Wood-Fired Pizza and Taproom, guests can enjoy both with a self-serve taproom designed to give guests a…

Cicis rebrands, expands despite pandemic

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Cicis is undergoing a rebrand designed to take the company to the next level. COO and President Jeff Hetsel explains what's next for the buffet chain and what…

Pandemic causes PizzaLeah to pivot

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Leah Scurto opened her pizzeria, PizzaLeah, in Sonoma County, California just days before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown hit the state. That caused Scurto to…

Curry Pizza House blends Indian culture with Italian fare

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Curry Pizza House is manned by first-generation Indian Americans. The California-based company has expanded outside the Bay area now with 12 units and is…

NRA expects health, sustainability on menus in 2022

November 10, 2021

Restaurant customers can expect to see health taking center stage on menus and sustainability continue to be a priority in 2022.

How franchisees can benefit from limited-item menus

by Nick Binnings — AC, Franchise Elevator PR

A limited menu allows a brand to create signature items that makes it stand out in a crowded field. Nick Binnings, director of brand development for Southern…

10 tips to celebrate National Pizza Month

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

October is National Pizza Month. Here are 10 quick ways to generate buzz and increase check averages.

Wendy's, Popeyes execs to discuss menu updates at 1-day virtual seminar

Amy Alarcon, vice president of culinary innovation at Popeyes Louisiana Chicken, and John Li, vice president of culinary innovation of Wendy’s, will discuss…

Why menu innovation is at the heart of restaurant industry

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

A panel talk at Networld Media Group’s Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit focused on menu development with experts sharing insight on cost margins…

5 tips for creating a successful National Cheese Pizza Day promotion

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

National Cheese Pizza Day is September 5. Here are are five tips and insight for developing a promotion that will help pull in the customers, increase sales…

Donatos adds a grilled cheese pizza menu option

August 23, 2021

Donatos is adding an ultimate grilled cheese pizza to its menu for a limited time.

Plant-based proteins for pizza getting very popular

August 20, 2021

Pizza is more popular than ever and consumers are hungry for plant-based protein meat choices and ingredients. In fact, the shipped number of units jumped 56…

Canada's Pizza Nova puts plant-based pepperoni pies on permanent menu

January 12, 2021

Pepperoni and pizza go together, well, like pepperoni and pizza, but that can be a tough combo to nail down if a customer is trying to go meatless. But…

[Fast Casual Executive Summit 2020] Chef Chatter: Menu Trends Revealed

A discussion about next year’s most popular foods from the people designing menus for some of the hottest up and coming fast casuals: Ichor Restaurant Group…

Meatless Farm Survey Says Over a Quarter of Americans Will Opt for Plant-Based Meat Alternatives When Restaurants Reopen

With Americans champing at the bit to get back to daily routines and neighborhood restaurants, this survey's findings are a telling sign of what restaurant…

Jet's Pizza intros Mexican pie in time for Cinco de Mayo

April 24, 2020

True Italian pizza aficianados might not like this much, but Jet's Pizza is betting its Mexican pizza LTO will be a big hit at its U.S. stores.

Fired Pie takes a dip in the Mediterranean

March 5, 2020

Fired Pie is crossing borders and cultures with its new mashup menu item: the gyro hero pizza. The brand said the 11-inch pie combines the flavors of Greece…