Operations
Nominations shut Feb. 8.
January 7, 2026
Essentially the most prestigious energy listing within the restaurant trade is formally again, and the clock is ticking for manufacturers to say their spot among the many elite.
FastCasual has opened nominations for the 2026 Prime 100 Movers & Shakers, an annual distinction that has turn into the last word “badge of honor” for the quick informal section. Excess of a easy gross sales rating, the listing celebrates the trailblazers, trendsetters and tech-innovators who’re redefining the American eating expertise.
Why it issues
In an trade the place competitors is fierce, being named a “Mover & Shaker” supplies a stage of distinction that instructions on the spot recognition from friends, buyers and clients alike. The listing honors manufacturers that excel not simply in development and gross sales, however within the “intangibles”— incorporating cutting-edge know-how and setting the menu traits that the remainder of the trade will observe.
How the choice works
The 2026 rating will function 100 manufacturers and 25 trade executives, a slight growth from earlier years to replicate the unbelievable caliber of management within the enviornment. To make sure a data-driven and goal choice course of, all nominated manufacturers will probably be featured within the Quick Informal Index, a complete trade report printed by Loop and Quick Informal.
The index tracks crucial success metrics, together with:
- Growth and development: Complete location footprint and up to date scaling.
- Tech integration: Modern use of AI, automation and digital ordering.
- Market sentiment: Fame, buyer sentiment and social media presence.
The right way to nominate
There isn’t a price to submit a nomination. Manufacturers should nominate themselves by answering a curated set of questions concerning their enterprise technique, operational excellence and imaginative and prescient for the long run.
Whereas the method is clear, the editors’ selections are remaining. Manufacturers are inspired to be as detailed as doable of their submissions, highlighting the distinctive tales that make their idea a real “Mover & Shaker.”
Deadline
Deadline: Midnight ET on February 8, 2026.
The place to use: fastcasual.com/2026FCTop100/.
Is your model prepared to steer the dialog? Do not miss your likelihood to be acknowledged as one of many 100 most influential gamers within the trade.
