For many restaurants, the next few weeks will likely be one of the busiest times of the year. Between Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve operators can rake in the revenue. But with more business, and more people coming through the door, the biggest challenge is always staffing…
The National Restaurant Association released its 10-year outlook report on the projected state of the restaurant industry in 2030. The report examines the key indicators shaping the future of the industry, identifies the most and least likely developments over the upcoming decade, and considers possible disrupters outside the industry that could transform it.
Evaluate and adjust your offerings and messaging to meet consumers’ evolving “healthy” criteria to remain relevant and capture their business.
By properly training new employees, you can reduce turnover and increase employee satisfaction, and it will help your restaurant exceed your guests’ expectations.
Here are three key mistakes restaurant brands are making in onboarding, upskilling and preparing their labor force for work, and a few ideas on how to fix it.
Hospitality has always been where his heart is, but it hasn’t always been easy or fun. In this episode Joshua shares his thoughts on growth, overcoming challenges, management and leadership, sustainability and the importance of culture in foodservice.
You might not give much thought to your oven or dishwasher on a daily basis, but your kitchen appliances are what enable you to serve your hungry customers. Knowing the life span of commercial kitchen equipment helps you keep your operation running smoothly. It allows you to plan — and budget — for future maintenance, repairs and, eventually, new equipment. Here’s a look at what every foodservice operator should know about their kitchen equipment and when it ought to be replaced.
Think 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…
Creating 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.
A 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…
Increasing 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…
The 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…
It 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?
More 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.
Nitrile is the form fitting food handlers glove that will make you feel like the culinary superhero you are. Nitrile gloves are made out of a synthetic rubber, and are an ideal alternative when latex allergies are a concern…
Winter 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…
The reduction of food-waste is a trend that has extended beyond homes and into foodservice, driven by the same consumers calling for local, organic, farm-to-table and eco-friendly offerings. The common thread is a desire for sustainability. By focusing on your food use, specifically what you may not be using, we can improve the profitability and the sustainability of your menu.
Our team has been working downright diligently over the past few months to bring the Dennis Difference to more customers, in more places. Part of those pursuits includes the addition of new employees; team members who will help support our mission and our customer’s businesses. We’ll share a few updates on our recent efforts in this episode. Also in this episode, Tina Parker of The Dough Co. joins us to talk pizza dough, and about a big change they’ve made!
Christmas 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.
Most 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.
Seasonal 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.
Award-winning chef Tim Labonte has joined Dennis Paper & Food Service in the newly established position of Corporate Chef. Previously, Tim was Regional Executive Chef for Maine Properties in charge of all culinary departments at the Portland Harbor Hotel, Inn at Diamond Cove and the Diamonds Edge Restaurant. Tim earned his culinary arts degree from Johnson & Wales University in 1999 before beginning his career as a sous chef at the Key West Hilton Resort & Marina in Key West, Florida…
Usually, 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.
Steve Hewins, President & CEO of the Maine Restaurant Association and the Maine Inn Keepers Association has some big news. In this episode we’re getting details on the merger of these two organizations; a big focus at the Maine Hospitality Summit on October, 29th in Bangor, Maine. Listen in as Steve shares his thoughts on […]
To 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…
