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…

The unlicensed food truck invasion of the National Mall reveals deeper issues

by Bradley Cooper — Editor, Connect Media

Recently, the National Mall in Washington, D.C. gained unwanted attention from a wave of unlicensed food trucks. Here's why unlicensed food trucks are such a problem for the industry, and what the industry can do about it.

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.

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.

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 explored how AI and location intelligence can inform site selection, media strategy, audience engagement, and faster, more informed decisions.

Food trucks offer free meals to laid-off Tyson Foods employees in Joslin, Illinois

Multiple food trucks stepped up to offer free meals to laid-off workers at Tyson Foods in Joslin, Illinois, according to a report by KWQC. One of these food…