More than a post: Turning influencers into content engines for your restaurant

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

At the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit, marketing experts discussed the evolution of influencer marketing from a secondary tactic into a core…

Stoner's Pizza Joint expanding into 2 states

April 24, 2026

Florida-based Stoner's Pizza Joint is expanding into Kansas and Tennessee as part of a multi-unit opening that brings the company's total footprint to more…

Little Caesars, Flytrex partner for 1st drone meal delivery

April 23, 2026

Little Caesars and Flytrex have partnered to expand drone delivery services with the introduction of a new aircraft capable of transporting meals for an entire…

Mellow Mushroom's 'fast fine' format slashes labor costs by 40% but keeps nostalgia

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Mellow Mushroom is evolving its 50-year-old business model with a counter-service format that reduces labor and build-out costs for franchisees while…

Pizza Hut relaunches Hut Rewards as next-generation membership platform

April 21, 2026

Pizza Hut has relaunched its Hut Rewards program, transitioning the loyalty platform into a next-generation membership designed to provide ongoing value and…

Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom marks 50 years with Cinco Cero Tour, new menu items

April 21, 2026

Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the launch of the Cinco Cero Tour, a limited-time promotion featuring new menu items and…

7 strategies for creating high-performing culture, building a winning team

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

Building a high-performing culture isn't an accident — it's an intentional leadership strategy that prioritizes purpose, trust and empowerment to transform a…

Stoner's Pizza Joint offers 42.0% off pizzas on April 20

April 17, 2026

Stoner's Pizza Joint will offer a 42.0% discount on all regular-priced pizzas for one day only on April 20, according to a press release.

One Stop Nutrition Taps SynergySuite and CBS NorthStar to Fuel AI-Driven Growth Across Franchise Network

One Stop Nutrition selects SynergySuite and CBS NorthStar to power AI-driven growth across its franchise network, unifying POS and back-of-house operations to…

The College of Paisan’s: How one family is carrying on a 40-year dough dynasty

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Over 40 years, the Fejzuloski family has transformed Paisan’s Pizza from a humble Cicero storefront into an eight-location Chicagoland empire by blending…

Sal’s Pizza to donate hundreds of pizzas to New England Little League teams for Opening Day

April 16, 2026

Sal's Pizza, a New England brand and official pizza of the Boston Red Sox, will donate hundreds of its new 14-inch cheese pizzas to Little League teams across…

Pizza Nova becomes official pizza supplier of The Sports Village in Vaughan, Ontario

April 14, 2026

Pizza Nova has been named the official pizza supplier of The Sports Village in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, according to a press release.

Slice Factory launches wood-fired Mexican street concept Leñasada

April 14, 2026

Slice Factory, a Chicago-based pizza franchise, has launched Leñasada, a wood-fired Mexican street food concept. Leñasada will debut inside the Slice Factory…

Built to Breakthrough Playbook: How to go from stuck to scale

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

To help founders overcome the "Stuck Zone" where business complexity stalls momentum, this playbook introduces the Power of One System and its Six Factors of…

Blaze Pizza, Farmer Boys, Mike's Red Tacos, HigherMe experts discuss recruitment, retention

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Industry experts at the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit emphasized that sustainable restaurant profitability and successful scaling depend on…

Sal's Pizza launches 'Round-up' campaign for Best Buddies International

April 10, 2026

Sal's Pizza is launching a round-up initiative to support Best Buddies International, whose mission it is to create inclusive opportunities and meaningful…

Chuck E Cheese releases 2026 Summer Fun Pass with 5 months of visits, perks

April 9, 2026

Chuck E. Cheese has launched its 2026 Summer Fun Pass, a program offering unlimited visits and game play at participating locations through Sept. 7, according…

Hungry Howie's offers National Pet Day secret menu

April 9, 2026

Hungry Howie's is partnering with Happy Howie's to launch a limited-time secret menu for National Pet Day, offering pairings for both pizza fans and their dogs…

Domino’s debuts Slice Sauce with exclusive Shinola merchandise access

April 8, 2026

Domino's Pizza has partnered with fellow Michigan-based brand Shinola to offer customers exclusive access to a collection of black and gold watches and leather…

Little Caesars VP of franchise development talks brand growth, solid operations

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Podcast host Mandy Detwiler talks to Bryan Ketelhut, VP of franchise and business development for Little Caesars.