Fast Casual Gets Smarter as Loyalty Becomes the New Growth Engine (July 7, 2025)

Welcome back from the holiday weekend. Today, Namaan and Jenny Rae break down why fast casual restaurants are leaning hard into loyalty programs - and how it’s reshaping growth strategies in a cooling consumer environment. From Chipotle to Cava, we unpack why some brands are thriving while others are treading water, and what this tells us about pricing, positioning, and the state of consumer sentiment.Plus, we preview the tariff headlines that could dominate business news this week, and why it pays to look deeper than the top-line number.Donate to Texas Flood Relief Efforts:Central TX Community FoundationAustin Disaster Relief NetworkMore Market Outsiders:Connect with Namaan and Jenny Rae on LinkedInFollow Management Consulted on LinkedIn and subscribe on YouTube