buffalo macaroni and cheese with celery, carrots and ranch

Make Mac & Cheese a Signature Restaurant Dish

Macaroni 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.

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8 Easy Ways to Prevent the Spread of Flu in Restaurants

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…

burger with onion rings

Spread Some Holiday “Cheers” with Special Food and Beer Pairings

The 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.

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Restaurant Marketing Ideas for the 12 Days of Christmas

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.

three smiling customers

5 Free Ways to Get Customers Talking about Your Foodservice Brand

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.

ocean made clams

Island Made, Maine Ocean Clams

Premium 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.

vegalene garlic spray

Wholesale Vegalene Zesty Garlic Mist

Vegalene® 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…

3 chefs in kitchen talking

5 Tips for Improving Communication in Your Restaurant

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.

hand holding burger

4 Ways to Appeal to Your Target Market

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…

man, smiling chef

Tips to Look Like a Pro on Camera

It’s no secret the landscape of content marketing has shifted to video. The results are in, video marketing increases click-thru-rates, boosts conversions and keeps your brand relevant.  So, let’s get over this fear and get you broadcasting.

biscuit "how do you biscuit" text

September is National Biscuit Month

Customers dining out today still crave good ol’ comfort food. One avenue for serving up classic comfort foods resides in an American classic—biscuits! These hot, flaky, buttery rolls of goodness are popping back up on menus all across the country…

ice tea in mason jar

Appeal to a Growing Number of Tea Drinkers

Compared with the national obsession with all-things-coffee, the tea category has received considerably less attention. In spite of its growth, it is less understood in today’s market, leaving a large unmet need to educate consumers about this popular beverage option…

original philly cheesesteak egg rolls

Wholesale Original Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls

Nothing says “Feast!” like a Philly cheesesteak. But when it’s not a party-of-one, one must share, right? So when the occasion calls for feeding multiple mouths, we’ve got the perfect fix for your customers: Original Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls!

pancakes with berries

Go Big on Breakfast in Restaurants & Foodservice Operations

Breakfast is the fastest-growing meal of the day! In fact, breakfast visits increased 4% for the year ending in May 2015, according to NPD, while lunch and dinner visits were flat. Despite that, Technomic data indicate that it’s also the most skipped meal, due to consumer issues of time, desire for lighter options and affordability. Addressing those concerns and doing it better than the competition means more opportunity to build sales and satisfy patrons.

chicken wrap basket with ice tea

Five Ways to Boost Summer Foodservice Sales

Longer days and warmer weather can mean new sales opportunities. After months of cold weather, people are eager to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. From al fresco dining to special summer menus, here are five ways you can take advantage of the changing season and drive sales this summer.

ten dollar bill, Alexander Hamilton

Ten Easy Ways Waitstaff Can Add $10 to Every Check

Adding $10 to the check can put another $3 or more of profit in your register—and when you multiply that by all the tables served during a shift, it can add up! Here are 10 different ways to add $10 to every check….

kitchen open sign

5 Ways to Improve Your Restaurant’s Curb Appeal

The curb appeal of any business is often the first impression that people have when driving or walking by. In a sense, your exterior serves as a 24/7 surrogate billboard that conveys many messages. And that’s where the process of enhancing your message should begin: What do you want people to think, feel, and expect when they see your establishment from the outside?

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Top Restaurant Industry Trends to Watch in 2018

Despite industry wide growth for several years, restaurant operators face significant challenges keeping pace in an environment that is changing at a much faster rate than ever before. Evolving consumer tastes and preferences, work force constraints and intense competition will continue in 2018…

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Episode 41 – BBQ Season & Google My Business

In this episode there’s info about our inventory additions for the week, Google advice to grow your business, and we’ve got BBQ on the brain! Joining us for our discussion on how you can use Google to help grow traffic to your restaurant we’ve got a special guest, foodservice operator and social media guru, Katrina Petersen. National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day was April 20th. For this week’s foodie fact, we’re asking – When was Pineapple Upside-Down cake first popularized in American culture? The answer at the end of the podcast…

Eggs Benedict for a Crowd

Bon Appétit has approached every element of the classic eggs Benedict recipe to optimize it for a crowd. Poaching eggs in advance. A hollandaise that will stay luscious for hours. A tray of perfectly toasted, buttery muffins. Yep—it’s all here. This recipe comes together in under an hour and much of it can be prepped in advance.