What FastCasual does

FastCasual (FastCasual.com) is a B2B trade media brand covering the fast-casual restaurant sector, operated by Connect Media, a privately held niche publisher headquartered in New York that also runs sister titles such as Pizza Marketplace, QSR Web, Food Truck Operator, Kiosk Marketplace, and ATM Marketplace. Founded in 1997 and based in Louisville for editorial purposes, the company serves three primary audience segments: fast-casual restaurant brands, franchise developers, and restaurant technology vendors, with secondary reach into restaurant industry investors and analysts.

The product surface combines a content publishing platform — news (24,429+ articles), blogs (1,906+ posts), podcasts (194+ episodes including Restaurant Operator Podcast and Fast Casual Nation), webinars (509+ videos), and 546+ resources/white papers — with curated Topic Centers covering Real Estate, Franchising, Operations, Marketing, Food & Beverage, Technology, Staffing, Catering, and Delivery. Its flagship research IP is the annual "Top 100 Movers & Shakers" list, which functions as an industry benchmark and is commercially anchored by a presenting sponsorship from Elo Touch Solutions. FastCasual also operates a Vendor Solutions Directory and a Products & Services Directory that connect restaurant operators with technology providers across POS, AI, delivery, ghost-kitchen, customer-experience, and operations categories.

The business model is a classic multi-stream B2B media revenue mix: digital advertising and newsletter sponsorships, event registration and booth/sponsorship revenue across three in-person summits (Fast Casual Executive Summit, Restaurant Catering Workshop, Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit) and one virtual event (#QSRNext), premium vendor directory listings, and sponsored white papers and content licensing. Pricing is quote-based, packaged, and skews to multi-year contracts with named enterprise vendors (e.g., Elo Touch, Oracle, Deliverect, CloudKitchens, Momos, Ovation). Distribution is digital-first via fastcasual.com, email, and podcast platforms, with regional physical events in U.S. restaurant hubs.

Name

FastCasual

Legal name

Connect Media

Website

https://fastcasual.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FastCasual is a B2B trade media brand and event producer covering the fast-casual restaurant industry. It publishes daily news, blogs, podcasts, research, and the annual Top 100 Movers & Shakers ranking, and runs summits and vendor directories serving restaurant operators, franchisors, and technology vendors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Advertising & Sponsorships: Digital advertising packages, banner ads, sponsored content, and vendor sponsorships on the FastCasual website and newsletters
2. Event Revenue: Registration fees, booth rentals, and sponsorship packages for industry events including Fast Casual Executive Summit, Restaurant Catering Workshop, and Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit
3. Vendor Directory & Listings: Featured vendor placements, premium directory listings, and showcase positioning for restaurant technology and service providers
4. Content Licensing: White papers, research reports, webinars, and special reports available for download or purchase

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FastCasual is a B2B trade media brand providing news, articles, in-depth research, podcasts, webinars, vendor directories, and industry events for the fast-casual restaurant sector. It sells advertising, sponsored content, event sponsorships, and premium directory placements to restaurant brands, franchise developers, and restaurant technology vendors. Its flagship editorial asset is the annual Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers ranking.

Product overview

FastCasual is a restaurant industry media and events company operating FastCasual.com as its core online publication, which delivers news, trends, research, and analysis for the fast-casual restaurant sector. The company publishes the annual Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers research report and produces multiple podcast shows including the Restaurant Operator Podcast and Fast Casual Nation. FastCasual operates an events division that produces the Fast Casual Executive Summit (annual in-person conference), the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit, the Restaurant Catering Workshop, and the virtual #QSRNext event. Additionally, the company maintains Vendor Solutions and Products & Services directories that connect restaurant operators with technology vendors and suppliers across categories including AI, POS, delivery, operations, marketing, and food safety. The portfolio functions as an integrated industry information hub combining editorial content, research rankings, audio programming, and professional networking events for restaurant operators and franchise brands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fast Casual Executive Summit: Annual industry event for the fast casual restaurant sector.
• Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers
• Fast Casual Index
• Fast Casual Hall of Fame
• Restaurant Operator Podcast
• Fast Casual Nation

Products and services

• FastCasual.com News & Media Platform Online B2B publication delivering restaurant news, trends, research, articles, and editorial analysis for the fast-casual restaurant sector, accessible to restaurant operators, franchise developers, and technology vendors.
• Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers Annual research ranking report celebrating the most influential and innovative brands in the fast-casual restaurant sector, available as a downloadable resource.
• Fast Casual Executive Summit Annual in-person industry conference bringing together fast-casual restaurant leaders for networking, keynote sessions, and industry discussions.
• Restaurant Operator Podcast Podcast featuring interviews with restaurant leaders and industry insiders discussing the challenges and rewards of running restaurants.
• Fast Casual Nation Podcast Podcast focused on restaurant industry trends, leadership interviews, and innovation strategies in the fast-casual sector.
• Vendor Solutions Directory Searchable online directory connecting restaurant operators with technology vendors, suppliers, and service providers across categories including AI, POS, delivery, and operations.
• Products & Services Directory Comprehensive online directory of restaurant technology products and services including hardware, software, and equipment solutions.
• Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit Annual industry summit focused on franchise growth strategies and restaurant innovation, targeting franchisors and franchise development professionals.
• Restaurant Catering Workshop Workshop focused on building and scaling winning catering operations for restaurant operators.
• #QSRNext Virtual event designed for QSR executives covering technology, marketing, operations, and menu development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fast Casual Executive Summit attracts industry leaders for networking and education in Arlington, TX annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Elo Touch SolutionsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerElo Touch Solutions is the presenting sponsor of the Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers list, providing significant brand visibility and co-marketing opportunities. The partnership positions Elo as a leading technology provider in the restaurant space.
• OraclecoreTechnology or IntegrationOracle is featured as a key vendor partner covering Food & Beverage and Technology topic centers on FastCasual. Their sponsored content appears alongside editorial coverage of restaurant technology trends.
• DeliverectcoreTechnology or IntegrationDeliverect is a featured vendor and content sponsor, appearing in the vendor showcase and contributing sponsored white papers on restaurant technology topics.
• MONKEY Catering PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMONKEY Catering Platform is a presenting sponsor for multiple white papers on restaurant catering topics and is featured as a key partner in the Catering topic center.
• CloudKitchenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCloudKitchens is listed as a Strategic Partner and featured vendor for ghost kitchen and delivery-related content. Case studies and sponsored resources highlight their ghost kitchen solutions.
• MomoscoreTechnology or IntegrationMomos Guest AI is featured as a vendor partner for operations management and customer experience content, with sponsored white papers on restaurant AI applications.
• OvationcoreTechnology or IntegrationOvation is featured as a vendor partner for customer experience and guest feedback topics, with case studies and sponsored content highlighting their restaurant solutions.
• Franchise Growth PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFranchise Growth Partners is featured as a franchise development services partner with sponsored white papers on franchising topics.
• COREminorOthersCORE (Children of Restaurant Employees) is featured as a nonprofit partner in the restaurant industry, with podcast episodes highlighting their mission.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nation's Restaurant News: The flagship U.S. restaurant industry trade publication owned by Informa. Covers the full restaurant industry (full-service, QSR, fast-casual) with daily news, research, events (e.g., MUFSO), and data products — directly comparable B2B trade media business targeting overlapping restaurant operator and vendor audiences.
• Restaurant Business: Major U.S. restaurant industry trade media brand owned by Winsight, offering editorial content, research (e.g., Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report), events, and data products. Directly comparable B2B media model and audience to FastCasual across the broader restaurant industry.
• QSR Magazine: Trade publication focused on the quick-service and fast-casual restaurant segments, owned by Emerald. Publishes the annual QSR 50 ranking — the closest direct analog to FastCasual's Top 100 Movers & Shakers — with similar B2B editorial, events, and vendor marketing model.
• Restaurant Hospitality: B2B restaurant trade publication covering full-service and casual dining operators. Comparable editorial, advertising, and event business model targeting overlapping restaurant executive audience with focus on menu innovation, operations, and technology.
• Restaurant Dive: Digital-first B2B restaurant industry publication owned by Informa, providing daily news and analysis to restaurant operators. Comparable in audience and content monetization model, but more focused on digital distribution than events.
• Pizza Marketplace: B2B trade media site for the pizza restaurant segment, operated as a sister publication under Connect Media. Same parent company, same platform model, same B2B advertising/sponsorship revenue structure — directly comparable in execution and operating model.
• QSR Web: Connect Media sister publication focused on the quick-service restaurant segment. Shares operational infrastructure, sales force, and editorial approach with FastCasual — directly comparable B2B media brand within the same corporate portfolio.
• Food Truck Operator: Connect Media sister publication focused on the mobile food/food truck segment. Same B2B trade media model, audience overlap with FastCasual's small/restaurant operator base, and shared sales and content infrastructure.

Emerging players

• Modern Restaurant Management: B2B restaurant industry publication with digital-first editorial covering operations, technology, and marketing for restaurant operators. Smaller-scale direct peer with comparable content model but less events and directory monetization.

Broad incumbents

• Winsight: B2B media and information company operating multiple restaurant and convenience retail brands including Restaurant Business, Technomic, and CSP. Significantly larger and broader foodservice/restaurant media incumbent — comparable as a peer but with much wider portfolio than FastCasual's narrow fast-casual focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fastcasual
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fast-casual

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FastCasual