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Episode 51 – A “Hospitality” Convo with Steve Hewins

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 […]

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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…

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Episode 50 – Looking Like a Pro on Camera, with Brad LaBree

If you get nervous even thinking about talking on camera this episode is for you! Video and cameras are an increasing part of our daily lives, and a great tool for getting in front of customers. But, what happens when you clam up on camera, and the words just won’t come out? The future of marketing is video, and the power to compete is in the palm of your hand. So, let’s get over the nerves and get you recording with a few tips and strategies for foodservice operators looking to do more with video.

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Episode 48 – News from the IFDA & Tips for a Smooth-Running Kitchen

In this week’s episode we’re sharing some stats from a new report published by the IFDA and we’ve got a few tips to help keep your kitchen running smooth. Plus, your business with Dennis supports other Maine and New England companies. You’ll hear more about how the foodservice industry contributes to our economy in this episode!

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Episode 47 – The Learning Never Stops, Foodservice Tech Trends, Plus – Kelly & Kelli on School Food Programs

The school of life is the greatest education of all, and in it the learning never stops. Life in foodservice is no exception. As we go about our daily duties, it’s important to stop every so often and assess what’s coming on the horizon. For example, one of the next big foodservice disruptions will absolutely be… find out what it is, along with 5 recent foodservice tech trends and more in this episode!

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Episode 46 – Cold Coffee, Hot Pizza and New Edible Emoji!

Just how popular is cold brew coffee? We’ve got the stats. What makes cold brew different? We’ll help you understand the steep. What’s the biggest hurdle for foodservice operators? We’ll tell you and share the solution in this episode! If you’ve been pondering how to prepare better pizzas with quality ingredients, how to expand your menu with new flavors and combinations — and most importantly – how to produce more profit from your pies you need to tune into this episode!

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Episode 45 – Spotless Tabletops & Chemical Programs with Jesse Landry

Cleanliness throughout an entire operation is an extremely important part of foodservice management. For help with training new employees, or as a reminder to experienced staff, we’re sharing steps to help your team maintain an immaculate environment and reputation. Plus,17 year Dennis Paper & Food Service veteran Jesse Landry joins us for a discussion on chemical programs in foodservice.

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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.

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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.

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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….

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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…

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Episode 40 – Tips for Outdoor Dining Spaces

Get your outdoor dining space ready for hungry patrons looking to take advantage of al fresco dining opportunities. In this week’s episode we’ve got tips to help keep your outdoor dining space pest free, an update on our 2018 food show, this week’s new products and foodie headlines.

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800 Days of Safety First!

From our drivers who deal with all sorts of weather conditions, ramps and heavy freight, and are in and out of the trucks all day; to our Account Executives with slippery sidewalks and long hours spent driving throughout their territories; to our operations team working with heavy machinery and heavy freight in their work areas; to all the office staff that deal with repetitive motion all day long.