Press Room

Elliot Maras has been named editor of Networld Media Group’s recently acquired publication, Vending Times, a role he will hold in addition to his existing role as editor of Kiosk Marketplace. Elliot Maras has been named editor of Vending Times, a role he will hold in addition to his existing role as editor of Kiosk […]

Networld Media Group, a leading business-to-business (B2B) media communications company, has announced the acquisition of Vending Times, a leading publisher in the self-service vending space. Networld Media Group announced the acquisition of Vending Times, a leading media publisher in the self-service vending space. The Vending Times website boasts more than 15,000 qualified, opt-in subscribers and provides original […]

Louisville, Kentucky brand, Royals Hot Chicken managed to burn up the competition as the winner of this year’s Perfect Pitch — the first in the Fast Casual Executive Summit’s history to not only feature a $5,000 prize, but a hefty half-dozen emerging brands. When it comes to chicken, Louisville, Kentucky — a.k.a. that string-tie-wearing white-haired […]

Karen Kelley, chief restaurant operations officer of Panera, will deliver a keynote on how important innovation is for Panera as well as how other restaurant brands can implement similar strategies at Networld Media Group’s annual Fast Casual Executive Summit in Austin. Panera Bread knows a thing or two about innovation. After all, it was the […]

Networld Media Group presented the Bank Customer Experience Awards honoring five innovators for branch, ATM and mobile experiences; the ceremony was held as part of the Bank Customer Experience Summit. Networld Media Group, publisher of ATM Marketplace, Mobile Payments Today and World of Money, presented five awards on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 24, during […]

Six operators will pitch their concepts Oct. 15 to attendees and a panel of advisers at Networld Media Group’s annual Fast Casual Executive Summit in Austin. Six concepts, three advisers, 500 colleagues. That’s the recipe for the 2019 Perfect Pitch, a contest held at the  Fast Casual Executive Summit in October in Austin. After sifting through […]

The Networld Media Group event will examine how innovative financial institutions are enabling customers to bank when, where and how they want. Executives from Chase and HSBC will keynote the 4th annual Bank Customer Experience (BCX) Summit on Sept. 23-25 in Chicago. In their keynote presentations, Jeremy K. Balkin, Head of Innovation at HSBC, and […]

The ICX Association recognized the agencies, technology suppliers and brands changing the face of the customer experience with its annual Elevate Awards at the opening night of this year’s ICX Summit. Interactive customer experience technology is changing the face of brand-consumer interactions across the full spectrum of customer verticals. Online tools help shoppers design, order […]

FastCasual.com has named Wao Bao as the top brand in its annual list of Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers, recognizing the industry’s most innovative brands; Five Guys honored with Fast Casual Excellence in Food Safety Award. Wow Bao is this year’s Fast Casual Top 100 Mover & Shakers, and the fact that a […]

Networld Media Group is now accepting entries for the annual Bank Customer Experience Awards competition through June 14. The Bank Customer Experience Awards honor financial institutions and fintech providers whose unique strategies and technologies are heightening the consumer experience in four categories: Best Branch Experience Best ATM/Self-Service Experience Best Mobile/Online Experience (financial institution) Best Mobile/Online […]

Networld Media Group’s Interactive Customer Experience (ICX) Summit and CONNECT: The Mobile CX Summit will be co-located in Dallas on June 4-6. Networld Media Group, has announced the addition of three keynote speakers to the agenda of the Interactive Customer Experience (ICX) Summit and CONNECT: The Mobile CX Summit, to be held at the Omni […]

Networld Media Group’s fast casual restaurant industry news and information site is featuring 27 of the industry’s most innovative and successful female leaders in its annual interview series. To celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, FastCasual.com has released its third annual “Women in the Lead” series featuring interviews with 27 of the restaurant industry’s […]

Networld Media Group’s annual Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit, March 11-13 in Louisville, includes restaurant executive panels that will focus on the topics most relevant to today’s franchise owners. Customers are high-maintenance these days; they expect affordable, yet high-quality food and super quick service in an upscale, trendy environment. Easier said than done, which is […]

Networld Media Group’s annual conference brings restaurant chain executives together for three days of networking and educational sessions on how to leverage innovation to power franchise growth. Louisville-based Networld Media Group will hold its fourth annual Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit at the Omni Louisville Hotel on March 11-13. Networld is the publisher of several online […]

Annual awards honor the individuals and organizations that are pacesetters in using technology to elevate the customer experience. Winners to be announced at ICX Summit in June. The Interactive Customer Experience (ICX) Association is now accepting nominations for its annual Elevate Awards. The awards honor the individuals and organizations that are pacesetters in using technology […]

Six finalists will be chosen to pitch their restaurant concepts in front of an audience and a panel of experts during the 2019 Fast Casual Executive Summit on Oct. 15 in Austin, Texas. Brands must nominate themselves by June 14. To celebrate its fifth anniversary of “The Perfect Pitch,” the  Fast Casual Executive Summit is […]

The two conferences focused on helping brands elevate the customer experience will be held concurrently at the Omni Frisco Hotel near Dallas on June 4-6. Networld Media Group, producer of the Interactive Customer Experience (ICX) Summit and CONNECT: The Mobile CX Summit, has announced plans to co-locate the two conferences in 2019. They will be held […]

FastCasual has recognized up-and-coming concepts in the first annual 20 Fast Casual Brands to Watch in 2019 report. This list is focused on smaller and newer concepts that could have the potential to emerge as industry leaders. The fast casual industry is known for innovating everything from menus and the customer experience to decor and […]

Ryan Smolkin, founder and CEO of Smoke’s Poutinerie, will deliver the opening keynote at the 2019 Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit. One only has to peruse the menu at Smokes Poutinerie to understand the passion behind the 150-location fast casual brand. Or they could simply meet founder Ryan Smolkin who is not hard to miss […]

Executives from Chipotle, Jersey Mike’s, Holler & Dash and Rise Biscuits Donuts will share their training strategies during the Fast Casual Executive Summit, Oct. 7-9 in Seattle. Brands like Chipotle and Jersey Mike’s resonate well with customers for a variety of reasons, but one thing they share is a passion for training and seeking out […]

Networld Media Group presented the Bank Customer Experience Tech Awards honoring four innovators for branch, ATM and mobile experiences; the ceremony was held on Sept. 13 as part of the Bank Customer Experience Summit. Networld Media Group, publisher of ATM Marketplace, Mobile Payments Today and World of Money, presented four awards on the evening of […]

Dr. James Marsden, executive director of Food Safety at Chipotle, will outline the strategies that Chipotle is deploying in its food-safety transformation at the Fast Casual Executive Summit, Oct. 7-9 in Seattle. Chipotle is one of the most intriguing names in the restaurant business. The brand, which built a wildly successful business model focused on […]

Networld Media Group has partnered with GCI Digital Imaging to provide food truck and kiosk wraps at a partnership discount for our Food Truck Operator and Kiosk Marketplace readers. Most food truck operators and owners have a long work day. On top of the daily operations, there are regulations and legal matters to mind, inventory […]

GoPoké, Salads UP and Sugapeach Chicken & Fish Fry will compete in the annual Perfect Pitch competition during the Fast Casual Executive Summit, Oct. 7-9 in Seattle. Take three unique start-up restaurant concepts, add in four passionate leaders, and top it off with three industry insiders serving as advisers, and you have the recipe for […]

Susie Fogelson, the driving force behind the Food Network and Cooking Channel brands for 15 years, is hosting the session, “How to Execute Winning Marketing Campaigns” at The Fast Casual Executive Summit, Oct. 7-9 in Seattle. Well-executed marketing campaigns are critical to how customers experience any brand, and the first step is to simplify the […]

RetailCustomerExperience.com has released its annual Top 100 report recognizing the industry leaders of customer experience. The free report, sponsored by ReviewPush, is now available for download. Retail Customer Experience’s 2018 Top 100 report, which highlights top online, brick-and-mortar and omnichannel players, offers compelling insight on what retailers are doing (whether online only, brick-and-mortar or omnichannel) […]

Current CEO of UK-based Chozen Noodle will discuss what it takes to succeed in the franchising world. Steering the ship of a thriving franchising business is quite a challenge, but Matthew Kirby has prevailed more than once. The entrepreneur, who created Mongolian Barbecue U.K. and co-founded BD’s Mongolian BBQ in the 1990s in the U.S., […]

The ICX Association’s 2018 Elevate Awards were handed out in 12 categories; Top awards went to Panera Bread—ICX Influencer of the Year and Sleep Number—ICX Deployment of the Year. From a virtual/physical/digital experience at the Super Bowl to an emotion-tracking food truck experience at South by Southwest, the Interactive Customer Experience Association last night honored […]

BOOM! Creative to serve tactical marketing needs of clients both large and small Networld Media Group, a Louisville-based B2B publisher and events organizer, has announced the launch of a new creative agency called BOOM! Creative. BOOM! Creative will offer design and content creation in the following areas: Digital Creative • Email Design and Copy • […]

Leaders of three up-and-coming brands will try to convince judges and attendees of the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit in London that their concept is ripe for franchising. Franchises are growing at a staggering pace around the world with the IFA predicting that they’ll increase nearly 2 percent this year to hit 759,000. Franchise employment […]

FastCasual.com has released its annual list of Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers recognizing the industry’s most innovative brands. The free report, sponsored by Oracle Hospitality, is now available for download. FastCasual’s editorial team has released its annual list of the industry’s most significant brands, awarding Freshii the No.1 spot. The 2018 Fast Casual […]

Rafik Hanna, senior director, All Access, for Taco Bell to deliver the closing keynote about digital transformation strategies at the ICX Summit. Taco Bell is renowned for its innovative culinary fare but it’s also a powerhouse when it comes to digital transformation and delivering on customer expectations. The Mexican-inspired quick-service restaurant, which operates 7,000 locations […]

Awards to recognize innovative, consumer-focused financial institutions and fintech providers whose unique strategies and technologies are heightening the consumer experience; Entries will be accepted though July 15. Awards will be presented at a banquet during the Bank Customer Experience Summit. The Amazons, Starbucks and Ubers of the world have completely re-imagined what it means to […]

Event drew attendees from major restaurant brands across the country and an appearance from Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. Executives from KFC, Papa John’s, Long John Silver’s and Texas Roadhouse joined more than 250 restaurant industry leaders last week at the Omni Hotel in downtown Louisville for the 2018 Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit. The Summit, […]

Event in London on 16-18 July will provide attendees tips and advice on how to flourish even in this unsteady business climate. Sales of the UK’s top 100 restaurant groups declined by 64 percent over the past year, according to a report from UHY Hacker Young, but execs from around the world will tackle those failures […]

Jeff Gamsey of Boxed Wholesale, Mary Hines of Citi and Amanda Manna formerly of Lowe’s Innovation Labs will deliver keynotes at the 5th annual CONNECT: The Mobile CX Summit. Early Bird registration ends Friday, March 23. As much as mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and wearables have changed consumers’ lives for the better, the […]

John Padgett, Chief Experience & Innovation Officer of Carnival, will deliver the opening keynote at the Interactive Customer Experience (ICX) Summit. Early Bird registration ends Friday, March 16. Enhancing, expanding and elevating the customer experience is at the forefront for retailers, restaurateurs and hospitality enterprises, whether on land or on sea. Gaining real-world insight on what […]

Matthew Corrin of Freshii and George Felix of KFC will deliver keynotes at the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit, April 9-11 in Louisville. Early bird registration ends on Friday, March 9. Learning about innovation while networking is — of course — the main perk of attending the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit. But the benefits don’t […]

Tom Harper announces release of new biblical leadership book, ‘Through Colored Glasses: How Great Leaders Reveal Reality’. Biblical wisdom says, “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out” (Prov. 20:5, NIV). In Through Colored Glasses: How Great Leaders Reveal Reality (DeepWater Books, Feb. 2018), this verse […]

John Vincent, CEO and founder of Leon, will keynote this year’s Fast Casual Executive Summit, Oct. 9-11 in Seattle. Bruce Lee has inspired thousands over the years to take up martial arts, but his approach to the craft has also changed the way that John Vincent, CEO and founder of Leon, looks at business. “In […]

Matthew Corrin will deliver the closing keynote at the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit, April 9-11 in Louisville. Early bird registration ends on Friday, Jan. 12. In 2005, while most of his peers were probably still throwing keggers, 23-year-old Matthew Corrin was launching a fast casual concept. His goal was to help people live healthier […]

George Felix, director of advertising for KFC U.S., will keynote the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit in Louisville April 9-11. Early bird registration ends on Friday, Nov. 17. If you’ve ever wondered how a 65-year-old brand can stay relevant in today’s digital world, KFC’s director of advertising has you covered. George Felix, who has led […]

Networld Media Group handed out awards to honor seven innovators in the ATM and mobile technology industries. The awards gala took place on Sept. 19 in conjunction with the Bank Customer Experience Summit. Networld Media Group, publishers of ATM Marketplace and Mobile Payments Today, handed out seven awards during a gala banquet, sponsored by Cineplex […]

BiblicalLeadership.com’s mission is to equip and encourage leaders – both in the church and the marketplace – with how-to tips based on the Bible. Networld Media Group, publisher of business news sites in the restaurant, retail, banking and tech industries, announced the launch of BiblicalLeadership.com. The site launched September 13. The new site focuses on […]

Doug Stephens, one of the world’s foremost retail and consumer futurists, will deliver the opening keynote at the Bank Customer Experience (BCX) Summit. Early bird registration ends on Friday, August 18. To paraphrase economist Rudi Dornbusch in a 1997 interview on the PBS show, Frontline, “[Change] takes a much longer time coming than you think, […]

The owners of Brazilian Bowl, Street Shak Caribbean Kitchen and Capitol Melts will pitch their concepts to attendees and a panel of advisers at the annual Fast Casual Executive Summit, Oct. 22 – 24 in Nashville. Brazilian, Caribbean and American cuisine will take center stage Oct. 24, in Nashville, when owners of three up-and-coming brands […]

David Kepron, VP of global design strategies for Marriott International, will share his insights in the closing session, entitled “Mobile, Minds, and Merchandise”, at the fourth annual CONNECT: The Mobile CX Summit. Registration is open through Aug. 18. David Kepron, Vice President of Global Design Strategies for Marriott International, will share his insights on the […]

Networld Media Group’s fourth annual CONNECT: The Mobile CX Summit will focus on mobile and digital strategies to increase sales and improve customer engagement. Early Bird registration ends Friday, July 21. As the retail and restaurant sectors continues to change, now is a good time for companies to further explore areas that might help them […]

Olea Kiosks was presented the Kiosk Innovation of the Year Award, honoring commitment to excellence and kiosk innovation, at the ICX Association Elevate Awards dinner party held in conjunction with the ICX Summit. The first annual Kiosk Innovation of the Year Award was presented to Frank Olea, CEO of Olea Kiosks, during an awards ceremony at […]

The ICX Association’s 2017 Elevate Awards were handed out in 10 categories; one additional award honored Under Armour the ICX Influencer of the Year. The Interactive Customer Experience Association last night honored excellence in interactive customer experience technologies with its 2017 Elevate Awards, handed out at an at-times-raucous dinner party at the Star, the Dallas Cowboys’ […]