Since the start of the pandemic, safety measures such as social distancing, lockdowns and mask-wearing have completely changed our understanding of how consumers spend on food. We saw customers stockpiling on groceries and supplies in homes instead of going out to eat, raising retail sales by 29 percent over the previous year (1). Meanwhile, salesContinue reading “Navigating the Supply Chain in the Restaurant Industry”
Author Archives: Jay Bandy
Beverage Trends of 2021: Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Now that 2021 is finally here, it’s out with the old and in with the new. And in the business side of beverages, no topic is more trendy right now than “functional beverages.” Functional drinks are just what it sounds like. They’re beverages that serve a “function,” or basically, products that claim to benefit health,Continue reading “Beverage Trends of 2021: Non-Alcoholic Drinks”
Toasting the New Year like a Pro
“Champagne is not just for celebrations,” goes the old statement in every beverage manager training manual, “but champagne is perfect for celebrations!” It is time to bid farewell to a tumultuous 2020 and bring in the new year with an inside look at what beverage professionals will be pouring in their flutes this New Year’s Eve.
Five Ways AI Cameras Will Help Your restaurant in 2021
In our last restaurant technology blog, we discussed COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the growth and development of AI voice technology and how it was quickly modernizing the drive-thru operations as we know it (1). The very same technology has been working on cameras, too. AI tech now enables cameras to perform designated tasks, recognize faces,Continue reading “Five Ways AI Cameras Will Help Your restaurant in 2021”
The 5 Biggest Restaurant Food Trends to Watch in 2021
2020 has certainly been a year like no other for the industry. Through stay-at-home orders and extended shutdowns, restauranteurs had to be nimble and creative, relentlessly searching for new business avenues and strategies to keep their businesses afloat. Now that 2021 is only weeks away, we are making predictions on what the new year willContinue reading “The 5 Biggest Restaurant Food Trends to Watch in 2021”
Navigating the Bar Business During the Holidays and into 2021
Managing a bar this holiday season has its challenges. Here are a few ideas to help get you through to 2021.
Our Biggest 5 Restaurant Flavor Trend Predictions
From pumpkin spice to Chile de Arbol, here we dive into the restaurant industry’s top trending flavors and predict the ones that’ll last until 2021. Fall Favorites Fall flavors are dominating the market right now. Yelp’s recent data (from 9/21/2020) shows that searches for pumpkin spice foods were up dramatically from last year: pumpkin spiceContinue reading “Our Biggest 5 Restaurant Flavor Trend Predictions”
Restaurant Business Trends to Follow in 2021
2020 has been quite a learning experience. From social distancing to customers wearing face masks, the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced us to new vocabulary and concepts never heard of in the restaurant industry: businesses had to sell grocery items and toilet paper during the quarantine, specialty menu items had to go due to supply chainContinue reading “Restaurant Business Trends to Follow in 2021”
Why Become a Franchise Owner?
The Benefits of Owning a Franchise Restaurant Business We discussed in our earlier blogs why it is a great time to buy a food franchise in 2020 through 2021. Prospects continue to be bright for fast food and fast-casual franchises: Papa John’s Pizza just announced their plan to open 1,000 new stores over the nextContinue reading “Why Become a Franchise Owner?”
The Future of Restaurant Technology
The AI and tech that will take over the restaurant industry. We previously discussed social distancing and contact-free technology that offered safety solutions during the pandemic. But there’s much more that tech has to offer, especially when it comes to AI being integrated into guest order systems, training, and restaurant operations. Here are some standoutContinue reading “The Future of Restaurant Technology”
Why Now and into 2021 is a Great Time to Buy a Franchise
With all the trouble the pandemic has given the restaurant industry these past couple months, you might be surprised to hear that restaurant franchising opportunities have never been stronger. There are brands that are outpacing the overall industry. From an interview with Restaurant Business Magazine, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream reported selling 18 franchise agreements thisContinue reading “Why Now and into 2021 is a Great Time to Buy a Franchise”
Restaurant Menu Pricing Strategy during COVID-19
With how the restaurant industry looks right now, from shifting consumer behavior and volatile demand, strategically pricing a menu has never been so complicated, nor so important. It doesn’t help that the costs of running a restaurant are higher than ever. According to an analysis by Buyers Edge Platform, a restaurant supply-chain company in Waltham,Continue reading “Restaurant Menu Pricing Strategy during COVID-19”