Order entry should be frontline when it comes to catering

by Erle Dardick — CEO, Monkeymedia

The order-entry experience may be the single most important component of the catering order-to-cash cycle. It is the first point of contact to your…

Is your restaurant on a desire path?

by Nate DaPore — President and CEO, PeopleMatter

Put your product on paths that grow more and more comfortable as consumers use them.

Live from New York

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

The International Restaurant and Foodservice Show, set for the first weekend in March, will include a new Healthy Solutions Pavilion this year.

Never stop learning

by Don Fox — CEO, Firehouse of America

The art of story telling should be considered as a fundamental part or your formula for ensuring key lessons are retained within the culture of your business.

Could your restaurant survive a 15% decrease in business?

by Brad Cyprus — Chief of Security and Compliance, Vendor Safe Technologies

The question we field more than any other when talking to small merchants is, “Who is making me become PCI compliant?” The answer is too complicated to simply…

Courting new trials

by Janet Eden-Harris — CMO & SVP Strategy, Market Force

Let’s talk for a minute about new trial. No, not the court kind, but the kind that every restaurant wants … new consumers trying out your restaurant for the…

Job descriptions — HR’s love letters

by Nate DaPore — President and CEO, PeopleMatter

It's Valentine's Day. I am sure that some of you celebrate, some of you don't and a few are the diehard anti-card-and-flowers type... But I'm going with the…

When is food service NOT a restaurant?

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

If you own a place that sells prepared food for people to eat, you're in the restaurant business, right? Not necessarily.

Gloves! The Controversy Continues – Part 2

by Paul Mcginnis — Vice President, Marketing, Ecolab Food Safety Specialties

There is a general agreement that hand sanitation is a problem, but how that problem is best addressed is not always clear. The arguments to wear gloves and to…

Food fight: Combat rising costs with smarter hourly hiring

by Amanda Richardson — Senior Vice President of Product and Marketing, Snagajob

The restaurant industry is expected to grow this year, but realizing big profits will be a tall order in the face of rising food and labor costs.

Make the final word your best

by Don Fox — CEO, Firehouse of America

Each and every day, your restaurant team serves scores of customers. Your desire is to have every guest experience the very best of your brand, from the time…

Get 'in' on the biggest trend In foodservice

by Nate DaPore — President and CEO, PeopleMatter

Healthy, affordable dining — for kids.

The Secret Decoder Ring and Loss Prevention

Over the holidays I watched “A Christmas Story” for the gazillionth time. One of the scenes in the movie is Ralphie getting his secret decoder ring to unlock…

As serious as a heart attack

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

It's a good idea to designate a senior member of the waitstaff or a manager to be the point person when dealing with diners with allergy concerns.

The top 10 (unmentioned) food industry trends

by Suzy Badaracco — President, Culinary Tides Inc

Adventure in food and flavor is back, comfort food is out.

The Apps of Foodservice

by Nate DaPore — President and CEO, PeopleMatter

Now is the time for restaurants to take control of their mobile presence -- develop apps, mobilize websites, give flexibility to online menus, add special…

I could not have said it better myself

by Don Fox — CEO, Firehouse of America

Put a bunch of fast casual restaurateurs in a room together and before long it is likely that a discussion will break out on what sets us apart from our fast…

What else can I get you?

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

Listen to your customers before -- and after -- tweaking your menu options, and teach your staff how to sell something new.

But I thought it was being done – Inspecting the expected

We may have too much faith that it cannot happen, or won’t happen or we’re simply naïve. Perhaps we don’t seek, therefore we don’t find. Maybe it’s…

A lesson in loyalty

by Janet Eden-Harris — CMO & SVP Strategy, Market Force

Recession or not, the restaurant industry is here and growing. Consumers spend a huge percentage of their food budgets on eating out at restaurants, and…