--- title: "'Going Live with Fast Casual Nation and Shake Shack:' Inside 'Project Catalyst' and what comes next" url: https://burnaze.com/article/089c9912-2cde-4506-9938-fa5580b3703b source: "FastCasual" original_url: https://www.fastcasual.com/blogs/going-live-with-fast-casual-nation-and-shake-shack-inside-project-catalyst-and-what-comes-next/ author: "Cherryh Cansler" category: "Burger" industry: "Restaurants" segment: "Burger" published: 2026-06-17T10:00:00.000Z modified: 2026-11-01T22:32:08.985Z image: https://nmgprod.s3.amazonaws.com/media/file/5e/8a/02d4c8f208c0c976559fb6502af2/cover_image__hvvIdZTP__FC-Pod3.2.jpg --- # 'Going Live with Fast Casual Nation and Shake Shack:' Inside 'Project Catalyst' and what comes next **TL;DR:** Shake Shack is working on Project Catalyst, a technology initiative to modernize its infrastructure, with a goal of 1,500 company-operated locations. The project includes exploring AI-driven insights to reduce friction for teams and designing a loyalty platform with personalization. *By Cherryh Cansler, originally published in FastCasual on 2026-06-17. [Read the original](https://www.fastcasual.com/blogs/going-live-with-fast-casual-nation-and-shake-shack-inside-project-catalyst-and-what-comes-next/).* ## Key facts - Shake Shack aims for 1,500 company-operated locations - Project Catalyst modernizes infrastructure - AI-driven insights reduce friction for teams ## Story We are not talking about transformation in theory. We are talking about what it looks like inside a brand that is actively doing the work. I've sat through a lot of keynote sessions over the years, and most follow a familiar rhythm: big-picture strategy, a few polished case studies and takeaways that stay intentionally high level. This one is different. ## Project Catalyst Details When Paul Barron and I go live with Shake Shack's Justin Mennen as part of the Fast Casual Nation podcast recording at the Fast Casual Executive Summit, Oct. 4, we are getting into the systems, the decisions and the operational realities that determine whether innovation works in a restaurant environment or does not. The interview is centered on the chief information and technology officer;s work around Project Catalyst, a technology initiative designed to modernize its infrastructure as the brand eyes a long-term goal of 1,500 company-operated locations.. This is not technology for technology's sake. It is technology as an operating model. One of the most compelling threads we will explore is AI in operations; not in the abstract, but in the day-to-day life of a restaurant team. Mennen will discuss how Shake Shack is exploring AI-driven insights to reduce friction for teams in the field, support faster decision-making and simplify complexity rather than add to it. That distinction matters. Too often, AI conversations in the restaurant industry drift into theoretical efficiency. Here, the focus is on what actually changes in a shift manager's workflow on a busy Friday night. We will also look at Shake Shack's first loyalty platform and what it means to design guest engagement from a foundation of personalization. This is not just about points and perks. It is about building a system that strengthens the relationship between guest and brand in a way that feels natural, not forced. The goal is clearer communication, smarter engagement and a better understanding of guest behavior over time. Another key focus is modernization of core restaurant systems — POS, kitchen technology and the connective tissue between digital ordering and in-Shack execution. Every operator knows system upgrades are not just technology decisions. They are operational risk decisions. Mennen's perspective on evolving these systems while maintaining speed, accuracy and guest experience continuity is one of the most practical parts of this conversation. ## Data and Innovation Finally, we will discuss data — specifically, what it takes to build a unified view of the business that can support future innovation. This is often the overlooked layer. Everyone wants AI, personalization and real-time insights. Fewer organizations are willing to do the foundational work required to make those capabilities reliable and scalable. That tension will be a key part of the discussion. What makes this live recording stand out is that it reflects where the industry actually is right now — not in a future-state vision deck, but in the middle of rebuilding systems, rethinking guest engagement and figuring out how to use technology without losing operational clarity. I am looking forward to this conversation with Justin, alongside co-host Paul Barron, and bringing it to the stage as part of Fast Casual Nation. I am also grateful for the support of our presenting sponsor HigherMe, which continues to invest in conversations that matter to operators. This is the kind of session where attendees will not just walk away with ideas; they will have a clearer understanding of how those ideas get built. Cherryh Cansler is Publisher of FastCasual.com and Vice President of Connect Food. She has been covering the restaurant industry since 2012. Her byline has appeared in Forbes, The Kansas City Star and American Fitness magazine, among many others. ## Entities - QSR (sector) - FastCasual (publication) - restaurant operations (topic) - Shake Shack (company) - company expansion (topic) - Cherryh Cansler (person) - ai implementation (topic) - Paul Barron (person) - Justin Mennen (person) - loyalty platform (topic) - technology initiative (topic) - HigherMe (company) --- Originally reported by Cherryh Cansler, FastCasual (https://www.fastcasual.com/blogs/going-live-with-fast-casual-nation-and-shake-shack-inside-project-catalyst-and-what-comes-next/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/089c9912-2cde-4506-9938-fa5580b3703b).