&pizza to launch 1st location in Georgia

August 6, 2026

&pizza is bringing its signature edge, energy and cult-favorite pies to Georgia. The brand's first restaurant in the state is expected to open this…

How Tievoli Pizza Bar tripled sales with a zero-dollar marketing budget

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Husband-and-wife team Giovanni and Adrianna Labbate and their family have built a wildly successful Chicago-area restaurant, Tievoli Pizza Bar, entirely…

Savvy Sliders, Fat Boy's Pizza announce co-branded Florida locations

August 5, 2026

Savvy Sliders and Fat Boy's Pizza will open co-branded restaurants in Florida later this year, marking the state debut for Louisiana-based Fat Boy's Pizza…

Riko's Pizza celebrates 15 years with restaurant opening

August 4, 2026

Riko's Pizza has opened a corporate-owned restaurant in Ridgefield, Connecticut. The restaurant brings Riko's signature super-thin-crust bar pies, full-service…

Giordano's of Kissimmee launches summer savings app program

August 4, 2026

Giordano's of Kissimmee has launched a summer savings program through its Club Gio rewards app, offering weekly gas card giveaways and pizza discounts tied to…

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…

3 leaders every Founder must hire to scale

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

To successfully scale a company and transition from an overwhelmed operator to a confident CEO, founders must stop trying to manage everything themselves and…

Domino's paying customers to test app, website

August 3, 2026

Domino's Pizza is paying customers to try its new digital ordering experience by giving them $5 off their next order, the company said in a press release.

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..

Lou Malnati's Italian Combo Beef-Za now ships nationwide

July 31, 2026

Lou Malnati's Italian Combo Beef-Za is now available for nationwide shipping through Tastes of Chicago for a limited time through Aug. 26, according to a press…

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.

Wisconsin pizza trademark dispute ends with name change

July 30, 2026

Two Wisconsin pizzerias have reached a "collaborative resolution" in their a recent trademark dispute over the brands' names, according to a WBAY report.

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…

New class-action lawsuit targets Papa John's franchisee

July 29, 2026

A new proposed class-action lawsuit has been filed in federal court against PJIOWA, a large Papa Johns franchise operator in Iowa, alleging it underpaid…

Cicis Pizza reports 50.6% systemwide sales growth, plans expansion

July 29, 2026

Cicis Pizza has achieved 50.6% systemwide sales growth over the past five years as President Jeff Hetsel celebrates 34 years with the nearly 300-unit buffet…

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…

Why Taco Cabana is expanding its franchise beyond the Lone Star State

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

In this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler chats with Taco Cabana's director of franchise sales and development, John Ramsay…

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…

How to deliver fast casual quality at 'QSR speeds'

by Bradley Cooper — Editor, Connect Media

Customers expect QSR speeds with fast casual quality. A panel at the Fast Casual Executive Summit will share how restaurants can keep up.