WOWorks Names James Walker Chief Growth Officer, Promotes Nolan Woods to COO
Restaurant franchisor WOWorks announced the appointment of James Walker as chief growth officer and the promotion of Nolan Woods to chief operating officer. Walker brings more than three decades of hospitality leadership, including overseeing roughly 28,000 Subway locations and most recently serving as CEO of Lunchbox. Woods, a longtime franchisee and former McDonald’s executive, will now direct operations and training across WOWorks’s six brands. The company, which runs about 240 locations nationwide, said the moves are designed to accelerate franchise expansion and improve guest experience.
Clean Juice Launches Sparkler Drinks Amid Refresher Boom
Clean Juice, a fast‑casual juice chain with 50 locations in 16 states, has launched Sparkler, a limited‑time line of sparkling fruit‑based drinks made from fresh‑pressed juices and whole‑food ingredients. The three flavors—Cucumber Ginger‑Aid, Blue Citrus, and Pineapple Mango Citrus—are marketed...
Penn Station Rebrands, Updates Menu as Franchise Expansion Accelerates
Penn Station East Coast Subs has rebranded as Penn Station Sandwiches, launching a new logo and brand identity while accelerating its franchise rollout. The fast‑casual chain introduced 9‑grain sliced‑bread sandwiches, bowl‑style servings, smaller cookies and revamped kids meals. With more than...
Rōti Modern Mediterranean Launches London Ghost Kitchens, Expands Atlanta Footprint
Rōti Modern Mediterranean, owned by Edible Brands, launched four delivery‑only ghost kitchens in May 2026—three in London and one in Smyrna, Georgia. To celebrate, the company announced Global Rōti Day on May 19, featuring a buy‑one‑get‑one bowl promotion across its...
Off-Premise Blitz: Turning Pandemic Survival Tactics Into Long-Term Growth Engines
The Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit highlighted how off‑premise dining has moved from a pandemic stopgap to a core growth engine. Brands are deploying double‑make lines, AI‑driven timing models, and geofencing to deliver a frictionless guest experience across dine‑in, takeout,...
Innovation in Every Sip: How Tractor Beverage Co. Is Changing the Beverage Landscape
Tractor Beverage Co. unveiled its Organic Craft Haymaker, a modern take on the 17th‑century switchel, and secured the 2026 FABI Favorite award. The low‑sugar, citrus‑ginger drink underscores the brand’s clean‑label, organic positioning. Tractor also highlighted its flexible portfolio—RTD cans, bubbler...
Mellow Mushroom VP Shares Secrets to Long-Term Franchise Success
In a Pizza Marketplace podcast, Mellow Mushroom vice president of franchise development Jamie Cecil outlined the chain’s growth strategy. Since its 1974 debut, the brand has expanded to 160 locations, each designed with a distinct vibe. Cecil emphasized that securing...
Smoothie King Launches Limited-Edition Pickle Smoothie
Smoothie King has teamed with Grillo’s Pickles to roll out a limited‑edition Pickle Smoothie, a 20‑ounce drink priced at $5.99. The blend mixes sliced pickles, bananas, organic kale and coconut water, emphasizing electrolytes for summer hydration. The launch coincides with...
From Scribbles to Savings: Why Precision Labeling Is the New Profit Protector
Star Micronics is debuting its versatile mC‑Label series at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, highlighting how high‑precision, all‑in‑one labeling hardware can boost order accuracy for fast‑casual and quick‑service restaurants. The labels serve as a physical audit, flagging incomplete...
Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls Intros Food Truck
Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls, a coastal seafood chain with 35 U.S. locations, has launched its first food truck on Delaware’s Eastern Shore. The mobile unit will travel to events across Sussex County, Delaware, and Ocean City, Maryland, offering Maine‑style lobster...
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken Overhauls Digital Experience with FNGRFOOD Launch
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken has launched a new web and mobile ordering experience built on FNGRFOOD, a proprietary platform created by Moxie Labs. The custom solution replaces the chain’s legacy third‑party system and adds a bespoke UI, integrated loyalty and...
Pei Wei, Gyro Hut Tap NCR Voyix to Modernize POS Operations
Fast‑casual chains Pei Wei Asian Kitchen and Gyro Hut have signed expanded technology agreements with NCR Voyix to deploy the Aloha Next point‑of‑sale platform. The unified commerce solution promises higher uptime, faster service and enterprise‑grade data tools as the brands scale. Pei Wei is reinforcing...
Cartwheel Expands ezCater Integration to Streamline Catering Deliveries
Cartwheel has expanded its integration with ezCater, letting restaurant operators access ezCater Dispatch directly from the Cartwheel dashboard. The unified interface supports hybrid delivery models that blend in‑house drivers with third‑party networks and automates mandatory real‑time tracking standards. Enhanced navigation...
Mahana Fresh Debuts GLP-1-Friendly Menu
Fast‑casual chain Mahana Fresh introduced a GLP‑1‑friendly menu on April 15, offering smaller, protein‑rich bowls tailored for customers on weight‑loss and diabetes drugs such as tirzepatide (Zepbound). The bowls are customizable with options like flame‑grilled chicken, steak, sushi‑grade ahi tuna, or...
Minnie Bird Opens 3rd Location
Minnie Bird, a fast‑casual chicken concept co‑founded by Sean Thomas, grandson of Wendy’s founder, has opened its third Chicago‑area restaurant, adding locations in Oak Brook (October 2025) and Naperville (February 2026) to the flagship Schaumburg outlet. The brand, partnered with Venture Kitchen,...