Voting now open for 2026 Top 30 Movers & Shakers: Catering

Voting is officially open for 2026 Top 30 Movers & Shakers: Catering, recognizing the restaurant professionals driving growth, innovation and excellence in…

How Jollibee protects brand culture while expanding franchise operations

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Defying the industry's rapid-growth mentality, Jollibee is executing its North American franchise expansion through a highly selective, 90-day vetting process to ensure partners align with the brand's culture and possess the operational maturity to handle its high-volume restaurants.

Checkers & Rally's opens restaurant in Louisa, Virginia

Checkers & Rally's has opened a restaurant in Louisa, Virginia located at 507 E. Main St., according to a press release.

Real talk, damn good biscuits and growing a national chain

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

Lauren Coulter is co-Founder and chief biscuit eater of Biscuit Belly, the Louisville, Kentucky, brunch brand she built with her husband and co-Founder, Chad Coulter. Today the brand runs 16 restaurants across seven states, generating more than $23 million in systemwide revenue, and has been franchising since 2020.

4 misses in Founder-led negotiations

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

Although Founders know their businesses best, their deep emotional investment and daily operational pressures often compromise their negotiating leverage, making it essential to partner with an objective advisor to maximize the true value of their deals.

AI and the Future of Restaurants: From Foot Traffic to Predictive Insight

As consumer behavior and privacy expectations evolve, restaurants need smarter ways to understand diners and drive growth. Gladys Kong of Azira and Isabelle Soriano of Goodway Group explore how AI and location intelligence can inform site selection, media strategy, audience engagement, and faster, more informed decisions.