June 19, 2013

Women in Foodservice

Industry News
Alaska Seafood Goes Vintage with Marketing Materials

Capture the delicious heritage of wild Alaska cod with new merchandising materials from the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI). Inspired by the tradition of Alaska's fisheries, this vintage-inspired creative evokes the energy and dedication that have been passed down for generations in Alaska's fishing communities and...

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Menu Innovations
Small Portions a Big Idea

Small portions are very big these days. Many 2013 trend predictions determined that small plates and snacking are expected to be popular among chefs and restaurant operators this year. While diners are still eating during the traditional meal times—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—they are eating less at those times, opting...

Read Full Story // read more about: Pei Wei, Qdoba, Starbucks, Taco Bell, Wendy's, White Castle, Wow Bao, Menu Development, Consumer Trends, Health, Ingredients & Dayparts
Alan Philips: Trends to Watch
Be Like Bobby

My idea of “inclusive exclusivity” started in a boardroom many years ago in Atlantic City, New Jersey. I was making a presentation to a group of executives at the Borgata Hotel, Casino, & Spa to explain how they could import the feel of New York’s hottest nightclubs and restaurants to the Jersey Shore. Although this...

Read Full Story // read more about: Bobby's Burger Palace, Burgers, Growth
Human Resources
The Perfect Match

Finding a great employee—much like finding a significant other—isn’t always easy. That’s why some operators are turning to online tools like Shiftgig for help seeking out the most compatible workers on the market. While many hiring platforms, such as PeopleMatter HIRE, assist with interview screening, onboarding,...

Read Full Story // read more about: Q-BBQ, Back of House, Back Office, In the Store, Social Media
Industry News
Foodstart.com Lets Customers Get Restaurants Off the Ground

Foodstart.com, the first crowd-funding site designed just for the food and beverage industry, opened its virtual doors. Restaurant and food truck owners now can raise capital online in small increments from their extended community of friends, family, and future customers. Only instead of a cash return, backers receive perks and rewards...

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Industry News
New Menus, Ads Usher In Del Taco's Next Growth Phase

Having been in refresh mode for more than year, Del Taco is ready to enter the final phase of a major brand upgrade that has so far included new store and branding designs, as well as operational tweaks at the corporate office. This week, the Lake Forest, California­–based brand launched two new menus, Buck & Under and New...

Read Full Story // read more about: Del Taco, Marketing, Competition, In the Store, Menu Innovations, Promotions, Growth
Industry News
Have a Food Safety Question? Ask Shelly

Cambro, a supplier of foodservice equipment, continues its steadfast commitment to food safety and launches its "Ask Shelly" campaign that offers foodservice operators a chance to submit questions for advice from accredited health inspector and food safety educator Shelly Wallingford, an MS, REHS, Credentialing Coordinator with...

Read Full Story // read more about: Back of House, Kitchen, Training
Industry News
Maui Wowi Takes Its Show on the Road with New Food Truck

Maui Wowi Hawaiian is hitting the streets of Dallas-Fort Worth with a new mobile food truck to bring the party to the people. Franchise Owner Jason Sorrells is one of the first to embark on the new business model and has pulled out all the stops to turn his truck into a party on wheels. It will offer the company’s all-natural,...

Read Full Story // read more about: Maui Wowi, Beverage, Design
Industry News
Meatheads Kicks Off Kids' Reading Program

Meatheads, a Chicago-based fast-casual restaurant that provides a full-service dining experience, is kicking off its third year of summer reading with the annual launch of the “2013 Voracious Reading Program.”

The program, which officially starts June 17 and runs until August...

Read Full Story // read more about: Meatheads, Burgers, Charitable Giving, Promotions
Industry News
Bistro Collection Expands With Five New Gourmet Cakes

The Bistro Gourmet Bakery, a premium foodservice dessert portfolio of The Hillshire Brands Company, has launched an expanded Bistro Collection line of gourmet cakes, each handcrafted and individually portioned for operational ease. 

The 10-product thaw-and-serve gourmet cake...

Read Full Story // read more about: Desserts, Marketing, Menu Development
Industry News
Digital Marketing Conference to be Held in September

FSTEC NexGen announced today it will introduce a digital marketing conference, in partnership with DigitalCoCo, to provide foodservice marketing decision makers a one-stop opportunity to learn about the latest in online marketing. Aptly named the Foodservice Digital Marketing Summit (FDMS),...

Read Full Story // read more about: Executive Insights, Technology
Industry News
Pointsmith Nabs Whataburger's Vendor Award

Whataburger, a family owned and operated quick-serve restaurant chain, has selected Pointsmith, a national in-store marketing management company, as the winner of its biennial vendor “Make it Happen” Award.

Read Full Story // read more about: Whataburger, Burgers, Marketing, Promotions
Industry News
Kneaders Bakery & Cafe Opens First Phoenix-Area Unit

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe, a restaurant and retail shop, will open its newest location in Gilbert, Arizona, on Monday, May 27.

The first 100 customers will receive free French toast as part of the grand-opening festivities. Regular hours of operation will be Monday through Saturday from...

Read Full Story // read more about: Kneaders Bakery & Cafe, Breakfast, Growth
Industry News
Quick Serves Thrive in First Quarter

Visits to U.S. restaurants were stable in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the traffic gains encouraged by mild winter weather in the first quarter last year, reports the NPD Group, a leading global information company. Restaurant spending and average...

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Industry News
Pancheros Gets Cheeky With New Packaging

Pancheros, a fast-casual Mexican restaurant known for “Burritos Better Built,” introduces its new package design.

The packaging revamp includes novel graphic designs for all of the franchise’s items, such as beverage cups, napkins, carryout bags, and burrito boxes.

...
Read Full Story // read more about: Pancheros, Marketing, Packaging
Industry News
Dairy Queen Stirs Up New Ad Campaign

With a new look and style that reflects the honest truths inherent in one of America’s most beloved brands, the Dairy Queen system will unveil a new advertising campaign on Memorial Day, the unofficial kick-off of summer, that focuses on the theme of Fan Food. Not fast food.

...
Read Full Story // read more about: Dairy Queen, Marketing, Promotions
A new tool from GS1 U.S. will help operators protect their food safety.
Food Safety
Cracking the Food Safety Code

For years, barcode technology has been commonplace in the retail sector, where it’s used to gather information about products, sales, and even consumer trends at various transaction points. But now, due to a major standardization initiative and broadening food-safety concerns, the same...

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A Wing Zone franchisee changed his cooking equipment to get better results.
Back of House
The Transformational Franchisee

Army and Air Force foodservice provider The Exchange has been serving U.S. military families since 1895 with meals in cafeteria lines and snack bars. It wasn’t until 1985, however, that it first signed a license agreement with a name-brand food franchisee—at the time, Burger King.

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Fast casual brands attract customers with alcoholic beverage programs
Beverage
Buying into Booze

Fast-casual restaurants were once able to claim premium food, modern décor, and all-around upscale service as hallmarks of their category. But with more quick-service chains retooling in those areas to compete for post-recession consumers, fast casuals have been left to search for new ways to...

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Corner Bakery's new menu items use fresh ingredients to offer premium quality.
Breakfast
The Corner of Innovation

In a push to distinguish itself from growing competition in the fast-casual bakery-café space, Corner Bakery Café is doubling down on menu innovation.

The 22-year-old, Dallas-based chain recently leveraged its high-quality kitchen equipment and capabilities, as well as more than 40 fresh...

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Five to Seven will invest in healthy and sustainble fast food brands globally.
Finance
Good Food for All

Five to Seven, a new restaurant funding initiative launched in May by foodservice industry veterans Brad Blum and John Vincent, has goodness at its core and as its goal. “Good food for the planet” is the initiative’s tagline, as Blum and Vincent want “good food”...

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Superfoods like blueberries offer nutritional and flavorful menu potential.
Healthy Menus
Wonder Food

Look, up on the table! It’s a burdock. It’s a plantain. It’s … superfood!

Although there’s nothing really super-heroic about eating nutrition-rich fruits and vegetables, the foods give customers an opportunity to pursue healthier options at a time when many...

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McAlisters Deli franchisee says casual dining experience helps in quick service.
Sandwiches
What You Can Learn from Casual Dining

David Blackburn has been in the foodservice business his entire adult life. Since 1979, the McAlister’s Deli franchisee has cataloged more than 25 years of experience in the casual-dining sector, spending 16 of those as regional vice president of operations at O’Charley’s....

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Operators must protect their quick serve business from credit card fraud.
Point Of Sale
How to Prevent Credit Card Fraud

Every merchant that accepts credit and debit cards is required to be compliant with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards (DSS), whose next set of standards will be released in October 2013. Yet despite these compliance requirements, the food and beverage industry had the...

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The Boston Fire Department was treated to free meals at Firehouse Subs.
Charitable Giving
Nurturing Boston

As soon as he learned about the April 15th Boston bombings, Dave Tucci, the New England area representative for Firehouse Subs’ DMA, called the Firehouse franchisee closest to the bombings.

Tucci was relieved to find out that all employees at Firehouse’s Copley Square location...

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