Food safety training and certification solutions
Going gluten free is a trend that’s spreading across the country, and it has a lot of people in food service speculating as to how it’s going to change the landscape. Americans believe gluten-free food is healthy and desirable, and restaurants from burger chains to pizza parlors are including gluten-free options in their menus.
Read the full article here: Gluten-free: passing fad or permanent trend?
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Technology makes our lives easier, and that’s definitely true of automated IT technology. This article from QSR Web explains three ways you can use automation to save money and increase productivity and efficiency. Using cloud resources, automating employee processes, and streamlining reporting can make a positive difference.
Read the full article here: 3 ways restaurants can use automation to drive business value
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Sustainability was a big topic at the 2015 National Restaurant Show. While it’s easy to see why becoming more sustainable and eco-friendly is a good idea (Millennial demand, more efficient, saves money), figuring out how to get started can be challenging. Four things you can start doing include tracking food waste, fix water inefficiencies, start composting, and stop using plastic silverware.
Food waste is a big issue, but new technology can make tracking and avoiding it much easier. The food that does get wasted can be composted, but you have to be diligent to not allow any plastic or non-biodegradable material to mix with it.
Make the switch from plastic single-use utensils to silverware and you’ll be surprised by how much money you save. Be aware of your water use as well, and do an equipment audit to check for leaks and other inefficiencies.
Read the full article here: Four ways to make a facility more sustainable
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Having artwork permanently emblazoned on your body is extremely popular, with over 40% of American adults sporting ink. The public attitude toward tattoos is changing, but many places still discriminate against potential workers based on visible tattoos, especially in the southeastern U.S.
Tattoos seem to be fairly common in food service, though you’re far less likely to see them in high class restaurants.
Read the full article here: Even Starbucks is Cool with Tattooed Employees, So Why Is There Still a Stigma?
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Water is our most precious resource, and getting enough clean water to our largest metropolitan areas is becoming a challenge, especially in areas experiencing drought. This article from QSR discusses the water scarcity issue and suggests a few ways restaurants can address this important area of sustainability.
Read the full article here: Does your restaurant have a ‘water issue’?
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The hours are long, the smiles are (sometimes) fake, and the pay is often unpredictable, but working in food service teaches you some huge life lessons that can make a positive impact on your life for years to come.
This article from Shiftgig lists nine great things you learn by serving or preparing people’s food. Handling money is one of the first big skills you soon master, and then you become an awesome multitasker with the ability to work quickly doing several things.
You also learn great people skills, like the ability to apologize and really, truly listen. You’ll know how to follow up and earn respect while taking special requests, and working like you’re dependent on tips is a skill that will continue paying throughout your life.
Read the full article here: 9 Things Other People Can Learn From Servers, Bartenders, and Chefs
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Millennials have made it clear they’re all about getting back to the basics when it comes to their food, and that means no unnatural additives and flavorings. Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Chipotle, Panera Bread and others have been keeping up with the latest trends and purged their menu of the fake stuff. When the big guys start changing their policies you know it’s serious!
Read the full article here: Taco Bell Cutting Artificial Flavors to Prove ‘Less Is Mas’
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Most restaurants need the ability to accept credit and debit cards to stay in business, but dealing with merchant service providers can be a pain, and credit card processing is expensive. This article from Fast Casual features a list of things to keep track of to make sure you’re not paying too much, including markups, ancillary fees, contracts, and equipment.
Read the full article here: Tips for saving money with merchant service providers
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Reviews have been part of the restaurant scene for ages, and with websites like Yelp, regular diners everywhere are able to share their experiences for the rest of the world to see. Unfortunately the service is a double edged sword, and negative reviews can seriously damage your reputation both online and off.
You need to step up and take control of your social media presence. If Yelp reviews are an issue, “claim” your Yelp page and start responding to reviews. Show off the best of your restaurant with photos, and recommend they check out your Facebook account. If you don’t yet have a Facebook account for your business, make one. It boasts 30 percent more active users than Yelp!
For more, read the full article here: 5 ways to handle haters on Yelp
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If you break a dish, should you pay for it?
You can be the most careful, cautious server on earth, but accidents happen to everyone. Your shoe catches on the floor and a plate drops from your hand, shattering when it hits the hard tile. You broke the plate, but should you be required to pay for it?
That’s the question asked in this article from Shiftgig. In many restaurants managers will make servers pay for broken dishes either by deducting the money from their paycheck or taking it from their tips. Many servers think that’s unfair, because accidents happen.
However, having a consequence for breaking dishes could encourage servers to be more careful if they’re otherwise a little sloppy. Being forced to pay for broken dishes sucks, but I can see where the managers are coming from.
Read the full article here: Should Servers Ever Have to Pay for Broken Dishes?
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