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Employee Management, Fast Food, News, Story

Starbucks, as Transformation Continues, Introduces Incentive Program for Employees

Starbucks’ latest swing in its turnaround will center on employees. The chain on Thursday announced a fresh incentive rewards program built around creating more opportunities for hourly workers, the company said and giving them a chance to share in its ongoing transformation. Starbucks expects the program to “further strengthen alignment between incentives and the metrics […]

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Emerging Concepts, Fast Casual, Franchising, Growth, News, Story

Why Franchisee Yogesh Patel Believes Currito is the Next Big Growth Brand

Franchisee Yogesh Patel’s journey with Currito began when he decided to try the concept for lunch one day around two-and-a-half years ago. The chain was—and still is—a small, emerging health-focused chain, which aligns with Patel’s lifestyle.  “I went and tried. When I walked in, I loved the atmosphere, the cleanliness, and then the fresh food, […]

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Fast Casual, Fast Food, News, Story

The New Definition of Value: How Restaurants Are Adapting to More Intentional Diners

The restaurant industry in 2026 feels different – not because consumers have stopped dining out, but because they are dining differently. Spending remains relatively steady in many markets, but traffic can feel unpredictable. Guests aren’t necessarily pulling back; they’re becoming more strategic. Many still dine out regularly, but they’re prioritizing affordability, flexibility and experiences that […]

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Fast Casual, Growth, News, Story

Introducing the Fast Casual FutureMakers: Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks

Fast casual has always been a category defined by evolution. Built on the promise of quality, speed, and accessibility, it continues to adapt as operators face new pressures. The Fast Casual FutureMakers is a new annual report from QSR magazine designed to spotlight brands and founders building what comes next. In its inaugural year, the […]

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Fast Food, Franchising, News, Story, Women in Restaurant Leadership

Building More Than a Business: A TCBY Franchisee’s Hometown Impact

When Jennifer “Jenny” Brynteson pulled up to the window at her local coffee shop drive-thru, she asked the barista a seemingly random question. She wasn’t even finished building out her first TCBY location in northern Colorado, but she asked it anyway. “How would you like to work for me?” she asked as Shannon Cubbon handed […]

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Fast Casual, Fast Food, News, Outside Insights, Story

Insuring your QSR for Today’s Risk Environment

Risk can be a nightmare, but insuring a quick-service restaurant in 2026 doesn’t have to keep owners and operators awake at night.  Insurance has always been a cost of doing business in the quick-service restaurant world. In 2026, it’s also a strategic decision. Between inflation, supply chain volatility, tariffs on imported equipment and ingredients, labor […]

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Fast Casual, News, Sandwiches, Story

Jason’s Deli Celebrates 50 Years of Sandwiches, Salad, and Service

Blake Parker, chief innovation officer of Jason’s Deli, has been with the brand for 34 of its soon to be 50 years. It is longevity he views with a source of pride. While remarkable in an industry that traditionally grapples with high-churn rates, stories like Parker’s aren’t unique at Jason’s Deli, which will turn half […]

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Fast Casual, Finance, News, Story

Noodles & Company Finds Momentum After Year of Reset

Noodles & Company used 2025 to reset much of its business, from the menu to operations to its restaurant base. Those changes began to show results in the back half of the year and have carried into 2026, with the chain seeing some of its strongest results in its 31-year history even as broader fast-casual […]

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Beverage, Fast Casual, News, Story

Dirty Soda Pioneer Swig Stirs Up More Influence as Category Grows

It isn’t difficult to locate Swig’s influence. “Dirty soda” has surfaced at brands from McDonald’s to Sonic Drive-In. But more so, it’s stirred larger beverage movement up and down the segment. Last year, Swig said it considered this a flattering development, noting it meant a lot for a small concept that began in Utah to […]

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Franchising, Legal, News, Story

Joint Employer Rule: Where Are We Now?

The National Labor Relations Board rescinded its rule to assess joint employment relationships in February and returned to a previous standard that imposes heightened requirements on employees to establish an employment relationship under U.S. labor law. The change should benefit restaurant industry owners and managers because employees of fast-casual or quick-serve franchisees will have more […]

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