Disposable cameras and raw reactions: Why 'imperfect' social media content is winning in 2026

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Marketing leaders from Via 313, ATL Wing Spot, and Hook + Ladder explain how multi-unit restaurant brands can drive sustained foot traffic in 2026 by balancing AI-driven search optimization with raw, "old-school" authenticity.

Yum Brands takes flight in Q1 as KFC fuels global ascent

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

Taco Bell also posted strong first-quarter results, with U.S. same-store sales increasing 8% quarter over quarter and 18% over a two-year period.

Taco John's updates POS, loyalty systems across 21 states

Taco John's has completed the deployment of a cloud-based technology platform across its 324 locations to manage point-of-sale systems, digital ordering and…

How R&R Brands scaled from a single brand to a multi-brand platform

I sat down with Scott Taylor, Founder and CEO of R&R Brands, a visionary and an industry icon whose fingerprints are on some of the most important brand-building work of the last two decades. He is also a great friend, past-colleague and dedicated educator too!

4 Reasons your restaurant’s AI initiative will probably fail

by Luke Fryer — CEO & Founder, Harri

To truly succeed in hospitality, AI must move beyond retroactive dashboards and cost-cutting to become a real-time, integrated "operational co-pilot" that empowers managers to proactively solve scheduling, compliance, and demand challenges during the heat of a shift.

Rethinking Peak Performance in the Digital Restaurant Era

Traditional performance metrics such as ticket time and drive-thru speed measure efficiency but fail to capture the full guest experience. Many organizations detect problems only after they begin affecting customer loyalty. Leading restaurant brands are adopting a new approach: Unified Experience Management® (UXM).