Is it time to give your kids’ menu a facelift? Introducing new flavors with familiar ingredients can assist in balancing a kid-friendly item with unique flavor trends.
Sweeten Foodservice Profits with Fresh Baked Goods
July 16, 2019Whether it’s a warm, gooey cinnamon roll for breakfast or a scrumptious muffin straight out of the oven, consumers love fresh, bakery items.
Gen Z Will Drive Significant Change in Food Marketing and Manufacturing
July 8, 2019They are the first digitally native generation; that is, they grew up with easy access to information through handheld devices. Transparency, whether it relates to processing methods or ingredients, is an expectation rather than a pleasant option…
How Menu Design Can Increase Sales and Customer Loyalty
July 3, 2019Think of the menu as a visual representation of your brand. It introduces guests to your offerings and should reflect the overall philosophy and values of your establishment. The psychology of menu design should not be underestimated—in fact, a well-designed menu can consistently increase profits by as much as $1,000 per month, per million dollars in annual revenue…
Foodservice & The Street Food Influence
June 26, 2019Humans have had street food since the dawn of civilization. The ancient Greeks sold fried fish, while the Aztecs peddled tamales. Iconic American street snacks include pizza, hot dogs and funnel cake. Recently, the street food game has become more elevated and restaurants are cashing in on this age-old dining trend…
Turkey and Foodservice Specialty BBQ
May 28, 2019Specialty barbecue is a growing trend, with smokey flavors and vibrant sauces taking center stage. Exploring unique flavors and diners’ latest cravings for healthy options is a sure-fire BBQ strategy.
8 Scheduling Strategies for Restaurants to Increase Profitability
May 6, 2019Creating a schedule is about more than just covering shifts. Good scheduling processes can positively affect your customers, employees and revenue. While having adequate staff on hand to accommodate your guests is your top priority, keeping your staff happy is a close second. You can find a balance between the two in which everyone wins.
5 Ways to Enhance Your Customer’s Takeout Dining Experience
April 5, 2019A growing number of today’s restaurant patrons would rather order delivery or takeout than dine in. In fact, the booming market for food that leaves an operator’s walls will surpass $300 billion in sales by 2023. Nevertheless, on-demand foodservice has its challenges…
The 4 Best Ways for Restaurants to Draw in Traffic
March 18, 2019Increasing competition and customer expectations for consistent, quality service at restaurants makes getting people in the door more difficult than ever in today’s market. Competition created by new establishments and constant scrutiny via social media have raised the bar for service standards. Modern restaurateurs must react faster in order to succeed…
9 Tips to Prepare for a Restaurant Health Inspection
February 6, 2019The proper strategy for a successful health inspection is to be ready at all times. To stay ahead of the game, managers can conduct weekly, in-house inspections. Here are nine tips to help your team prepare…
Foodservice Fun with Flatbread
February 5, 2019Last month the Maine School Nutrition Association (MSNA) invited Chef Tim to do a breakout presentation a their annual Winter Food Show. Tim showed the attendees some fun ways to get creative with flatbread!
Foodservice Trends to Watch in 2019
January 2, 2019It seems that every shift to the restaurant landscape brings with it a list of questions: What is the next hot flavor trend to watch? Which segment truly owns convenience? What is today’s definition of health? What type of technology is up and coming next?
Communicate with Your Restaurant Customers Anywhere, Anytime
December 27, 2018More and more people around the world are connecting through instant messaging—more than 1 billion people use Facebook Messenger each month. It’s a convenient way to let customers know you’re listening and create personal connections with them, and it’s automatically integrated with every Facebook Page.
Best Grab ‘n Go Containers for Schools
December 19, 2018Looking for the perfect grab n’ go option for your students? Look no further, Dennis Food Service has the right containers, in the perfect size and the best materials for your needs…
Turn Your Bar into a Star with Global Flavors on Your Fried Foods Menu
December 5, 2018With discretionary incomes rising, consumers are finding more and more ways to spend their dining dollars. Now is the perfect time to take advantage of a number of emerging global flavor and cuisine trends for 2019.
Make Mac & Cheese a Signature Restaurant Dish
December 4, 2018Macaroni and cheese is one of those craveable, widely popular foods—beloved by kids and adults alike—that can be turned into a signature dish your customers will visit you specifically to order.
8 Easy Ways to Prevent the Spread of Flu in Restaurants
November 25, 2018Winter is rapidly approaching, and that means flu season is upon us. Usually, flu season is considered as being October through about February, which means that we’re cruising right into the flu danger zone. The flu, aside from just being downright unpleasant and exhausting for the person who’s sick, is also problematic for the workplace…
Spread Some Holiday “Cheers” with Special Food and Beer Pairings
November 25, 2018The craft beer selection can be a major draw for customers at casual dining operations. In fact, in just 4 years craft beer has grown 16% on menus compared to domestic and imported beers that are declining. But beer isn’t all guests are looking for. Seventy-one percent want complementary foods that go with those beers.
Restaurant Marketing Ideas for the 12 Days of Christmas
November 6, 2018Christmas marketing isn’t limited to just the immediate holiday but includes your winter menu changes, catering services, increased promotions of cookies, cakes, pies, pastries and side dishes for holiday meals, holiday party bookings and gift card sales. You have a great opportunity to attract new customers, show your chef’s skills in preparing holiday favorites and exotic foods from other countries and cultures, and host special tasting events that attract convivial crowds.
5 Free Ways to Get Customers Talking about Your Foodservice Brand
October 24, 2018Most fast-casual operators believe that competency creates conversation. That being “good” equals word of mouth. But it often does not, because almost every competitor is at least good. If you want customers to tell others about your restaurants — and you do — you must be different in addition to being excellent.
Island Made, Maine Ocean Clams
October 24, 2018Premium quality and highly sustainable, Island Made Ocean Clam are harvested from Maine’s cold, nutrient-rich waters. These clams thrive approximately 5 to 12 miles off-shore in depths of 240 to 400 feet or more.
10 Tips for Managing Seasonal Restaurant & Foodservice Menus
October 17, 2018Seasonal ingredients and menu items have become more popular along with the local food movement, which goes right to the heart of the kind of sustainability commitment that today’s customers are looking for.
Wholesale Vegalene Zesty Garlic Mist
October 17, 2018Vegalene® Garlic Mist® Flavor Spray is a healthy alternative to traditional garlic oil and butter without adding trans fat, allergens, cholesterol, sodium, gluten or calories, and it’s Kosher Pareve. Create robust healthy menu offerings and accommodate patrons’ nutritional needs…
5 Tips for Improving Communication in Your Restaurant
October 9, 2018Usually, restaurant customers believe the restaurants they frequent run flawlessly. They place their orders and their meal arrives a few minutes later, well prepared and properly served. But behind the scenes, in the back-of-the-house, any semblance of flawless efficiency is hard to come by. For those who have never worked in a restaurant kitchen, the “dance” that goes on in the back-of-the-house likely will appear startlingly chaotic.
4 Ways to Appeal to Your Target Market
September 28, 2018To identify a target market, operators often look to specific generations. Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, and Gen Z customers all have different food and dining attitudes, habits, and preferences. What we’re finding now is that many macro trends are shared across generations. They might just manifest in different ways in terms of specific needs and operational executions, but the trends are very applicable across almost all demographics. Once operators have a grasp on overarching themes, they can develop their menus, strategize, and market more effectively. Continue reading…