
5 Lessons in Leadership from WiRL Keynote Speaker Meg Farren
Meg Farren’s path to president of Taco Bell North America ran through JPMorgan, strategy consulting, luxury desserts, grocery retail, and a decade at KFC, where she led a brand turnaround.
QSR Magazine is a publication in Burnaze's franchise knowledge graph, mentioned since 1970. 2,188 stories link here, each summarized from the original publisher. * Huey Magoo's has opened its fifth location in Missouri, marking the brand's 95th location nationwide [[2026-11-02 Huey Magoo’s Comes to Springfield, Missouri (ca0f64)]]. * QSR Magazine's Best Brands to Work For in 2026 features Chick-fil-A, Playa Bowls, Sbarro, and Jason's Deli, highlighting their investments in employee education, financial security, and career growth [[2026-11-02 QSR’s Best Brands to Work For in 2026 (4df98b)]]. * Great American Cookies introduces a new Snickerdoodle Twix Stuffed Cookie, featuring a Snickerdoodle cookie stuffed with two Mini Twix bars, available through Dec. 31 [[2026-11-02 Great American Cookies Introduces New Snickerdoodle Twix Stuffed Cookie (96affa)]]. * Smalls Sliders has signed a 3-unit development agreement with Keystone Management Group to bring the brand to Northwest Indiana [[2026-11-02 Smalls Sliders Signs 3-Unit Deal in Northwest Indiana (23c177)]]. * Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers has promoted Lindsey Kochanski to Vice President of Marketing, where she will oversee the Brand Team and advance the company's marketing strategy [[2026-11-02 Freddy’s Promotes Lindsey Kochanski to VP of Marketing (26d6a2)]]. * Paris Baguette awarded 32 franchise agreements and opened 15 locations in the third quarter, with 119 agreements and 53 new locations year to date [[2026-11-02 Paris Baguette Saw Growth Momentum Continue in Third Quarter (ebc782)]]. * Chicken Salad Chick has surpassed 350 restaurants across 27 states, with over 100 franchise units awarded this year [[2026-11-02 Chicken Salad Chick Surpasses 350 Restaurants (6ec302)]]. * Burger King has reclaimed the No. 2 spot in the U.S. burger category with 8.4 percent sales growth [[2026-10-29 Burger King Reclaims No. 2 Spot in U.S. Burger Category and Plans to Keep It Tha (f31e44)]].

Meg Farren’s path to president of Taco Bell North America ran through JPMorgan, strategy consulting, luxury desserts, grocery retail, and a decade at KFC, where she led a brand turnaround.

For more than 25 years, fans of Chipotle Mexican Grill have dressed up in costume and shown up for Boorito.
Cheba Hut opens in South Scottsdale, Arizona, its 13th location.

Little Caesars, one of the world’s largest pizza chains, has extended its multi-year agreement with Deliverect, a restaurant technology company that connects third-party ordering platforms with in-store systems.

The award-winning and critically acclaimed Harlem Shake announces a strategic partnership with Franchise India, and advisory support from FranGlobal, the international arm of Franchise India.
While other sandwich chains are introducing scaled-down options to reach a lower price, Bread Zeppelin is keeping its Chicken Caesar combo exactly the size guests know and charging less for it.

Just Salad launches The Clutch Wrap created by NBA star Jalen Brunson

More than two decades after Noah Glass first envisioned a digital network connecting restaurants and their customers, the Olo founder and CEO is preparing to bring that idea directly to consumers.

Port of Subs recruits veterans as franchisees and regional developers

Hangry Joe's new CEO Brandon Wilhelm focuses on building a better franchise system

Kolache Factory adds Birria Kolache to menu after 43,523 sales.
Domino’s Pizza Inc. is once again partnering with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help give children facing cancer and other life-threatening diseases more time through the annual St.
Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop, the beloved Northern California-born sandwich brand that has grown to more than 60 locations across California and Arizona, has signed Sandra and Anthony Sorrell and Sandra’s daughter, Tatiana

Craig Haley serves as CEO of Smokey Mo’s BBQ, a Texas-born fast-casual barbecue brand with more than 25 years of history serving communities across the state.

The dinner rush ended three hours ago, the closing crew has clocked out, and somewhere in a back office, a franchise owner is drafting the next week’s schedule for the…
OHG Brands, parent company of Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express, has officially opened a new co-branded location in Eagle Pass, TX.

Zao Asian Cafe has brought back its Wok-Seared Meatballs as a limited-time menu offering following positive customer feedback.
Captain D’s, the leading fast-casual seafood franchise in the United States, is building momentum for international growth as interest from prospective franchise partners expands across Europe.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf opens in Camarillo, California.

On a warm fall morning in October, Freddy’s leadership whipped out big red scissors and a long piece of ribbon to mark the opening of the brand’s first location in Beaufort, South Carolina.
Perkins Griddle & Go debuts in New Jersey October 19

Matthew Keiser and Brad Paxton own 22 Taco John’s restaurants across eight states.

During my years as a multi-unit Cold Stone Creamery franchisee, I learned that some of the most important leadership lessons do not arrive in classrooms, conference rooms, or carefully planned training sessions.

Captain D’s , the nation’s leading fast-casual seafood restaurant, has surprised a Scottsboro, Alabama, woman with the trip of a lifetime – a family cruise to Alaska!