October, 2024

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Restaurant Trends to Look For in 2025

Modern Restaurant Management

History will show that COVID was the line of demarcation for the hospitality industry in the 21st century. In almost every conversation I have with other industry professionals, someone will say “before COVID… ” or “since COVID… ” As a matter of fact, in many of my articles I make the same comparison. Since COVID, technology in the restaurant industry has moved at lightning speed.

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The AI Revolution in Restaurants: Transforming Operations and Customer Experience

Restaurant Business

The restaurant industry is undergoing a technological revolution, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerging as a game-changing force. A recent eBook by Softarex Technologies highlights all the main aspects of AI usage in restaurant operations, from customer service to back-of-house management. This transformation is not just about automation; it's about creating smarter, more efficient, and more personalized dining experiences.

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Little Homestead on the Prairie

EATER

Tours in a 19th-century-style schoolroom at the Ingalls Homestead. Laura Ingalls Wilder made generations of readers fall in love with the homestead fantasy in “Little House on the Prairie.” At iconic sites from her books and small farms across the country, those stories meet reality. “It wasn’t Susan’s fault that she was only a corncob.” I’m standing in the middle of a field, cradling a freshly shucked cob of corn in my hands, and hearing that phrase ringing through my head.

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Unique Ideas for Your Soft Opening

The Eat Restaurant

The paint is dry, the tables laid and your staff is trained and raring to go. Now’s the time to fling open those doors and invite in the customers by holding your official launch party. Or is it? Establishing a local presence prior to the grand opening date is crucial. While you’ve accomplished a lot so far and the final hurdle is undoubtedly within sight, before you declare the restaurant officially open , it would be exceedingly wise to hold a soft opening.

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2025 Payroll Calendar Templates (Biweekly, Semi-Monthly, and Monthly)

Use these handy calendar templates to stay on top of payroll in 2025! Download them today to share with your HR team or post for employees. Whether your company has biweekly, semi-monthly, or monthly pay periods, Paycor has you covered. Get your templates today!

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Frozen waffles sold at Walmart, Target and supermarkets are recalled over listeria risk

The Salt

The recall includes various certain frozen waffles sold in Walmart, Target, Publix and other stores. Some waffles for brands like Kodiak Cakes, Simple Truth and Food Hold have also been recalled.

Food 145
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Dual Pricing and Cash Discount Program Guide

SpotOn

If you’ve ever seen a gas station sign with two sets of prices on it—one for cash and another for credit cards—then you’re already familiar with dual pricing. More commonly known as a cash discount program, dual pricing is a common pricing strategy to give customers the choice to pay with cash instead of a credit card, thereby avoiding credit card processing fees.

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More Trending

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What is a Group Purchasing Organization, and How Do I Use One?

ChowNow

A Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) is an entity that helps businesses save on purchases by aggregating the buying power of its members to negotiate discounts with suppliers. GPOs typically serve small businesses by securing favorable pricing on products and services like food and beverages, office supplies, and even technology! HOW A GPO WORKS Aggregated Buying Power: GPOs pool the purchasing power of multiple businesses to negotiate better prices with vendors.

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MRM EXCLUSIVE: Four Tough Calls Tech Makes Easier for Bar and Restaurant Operators

Modern Restaurant Management

Bar and restaurant operators often face tough dilemmas, ranging from the daily question, “Should we be mixing more drinks or turning more tables?” to strategic decisions such as, “Should we use a patchwork of digital features or one platform?” But these questions don't require an either-or answer. With today’s technology, bar and lounge operators can have the best of both worlds.

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I had chicken wings. at McDonald's

Restaurant Business

Dispatch from Singapore: Mighty Wings didn’t work in the U.S. But they’re an innovative add-on outside the U.S., where operators get plenty of freedom to tailor the brand to their populations.

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THE 21 KITCHEN RULES FOR EVERY CHEF TO FOLLOW

Culinary Cues

Nearly nine years ago, during the first twelve months of Harvest America Cues blog, one of my articles went viral attracting almost 40,000 views in one day. The article struck a nerve with its focus on A Cook’s Kitchen Laws. Since then, more than 100,000 people have read and shared that article. Today, I was thinking back on that piece and realized that these rules were relevant for all, but focused on what every cook should know and adhere to.

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HR’s Complete 2025 Calendar of Important Dates

HR leaders can use this calendar from Paycor to track important HR and payroll tax dates. The 2025 calendar includes: Tax filing dates Federal reporting deadlines Bank holidays Links to relevant tax forms …and more! Get your 2025 HR calendar today!

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Sandwich and Beer Pairings

Bottleneck Management

Sandwich and Beer Pairings Few things are as satisfying as a sandwich paired with just the right beer. We reached out to some top breweries, and they came back with spot-on pairings. Whether you’re craving bold flavors or something more balanced, these combos will hit the spot in all the right ways. Let’s find your new favorite duo. Son of Juice & Egg Salad Sandwich Maplewood Brewery’s Special Projects Manager Adam Smith knows a thing or two about balancing flavors.

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How to Calculate and Improve Your Bar’s Profit Margin

7 Shifts

A bar is a profitable business option if you’re looking to enter the food industry. However, understanding how to calculate and improve your bar's profit margin is key to long-term success. One key area to focus on is drink sales, with cocktail sales accounting for about 23% of a bar's revenue. It just goes to show how important drink pricing and cost management are to maximizing profits.

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For Restaurants Cutting Their Carbon Footprint, Composting Food Scraps Is Just the Beginning

EATER

Lille Allen Cooking, refrigeration, air conditioning, water use, and packaging contribute to greenhouse gas emissions too. These restaurants try to tackle them all. This story was produced in collaboration with Civil Eats. Rifrullo Café, a cozy farm-to-table restaurant in Brookline, Massachusetts, hums with customers on a steamy July mid-morning. Patrons sip coffee on the shady sidewalk patio.

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The Strain of Success: How the Labor Shortage Is Affecting America’s Restaurants

Modern Restaurant Management

According to the most recent Department of Labor report, there are more than 8.2 million job openings in the United States, yet only about 7.2 million unemployed workers are seeking to fill these roles. That means if every job seeker were hired, a million positions would remain unfilled. Many of these vacant jobs fall in the service sector, with a high concentration in the restaurant and hospitality industry.

2024 165
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Less Stress, More Success: Accounting Best Practices & Processes for 2025

Speaker: Duke Heninger, Partner and Fractional CFO at Ampleo & Creator of CFO System

Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Duke Heninger, a seasoned fractional CFO and CPA passionate about transforming back-office operations for finance teams. This session will cover critical best practices and process improvements tailored specifically for accounting professionals.

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WineGURU: The Future of Wine Pairing in Restaurants

Sante

In the world of gastronomy, restaurants seek innovative solutions to enhance the dining experience and stay ahead of the competition. Continue Reading The post WineGURU: The Future of Wine Pairing in Restaurants appeared first on Santé.Food.Wine.Spirits.

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CHEF – SHOULD YOUR BELIEFS COUNT?

Culinary Cues

It is an important question that some of us wrestle with while others may simply shrug their shoulders. We are in the business of service and in service to the business. To your employer, the financial success of the business is paramount – understandably so. But, to chefs, as much as this objective will always reign supreme, there are also those personal stakes in the ground that surround food and people that are central to who they are.

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Keep More, Pay Less: Prioritize Your POS System Over Third-Party Delivery Channels

Thrive POS

How to Manage Your Google Business Profile and Modify Delivery Providers for Your Restaurant Google Business Profile allows restaurants to manage various aspects of their online presence, including enabling and modifying delivery providers. Through Google, customers can place orders directly via Google Search and Google Maps, giving restaurants a seamless way to offer food pickup and delivery services.

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How to Calculate and Optimize Your Restaurant’s Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)

7 Shifts

As a restaurant owner, it's easy to pour money into advertising and promotions without knowing how much it’s really costing your business. However, it’s best to understand how cost-effective your current customer acquisition efforts are before dedicating resources to it. Knowing how to calculate and optimize your customer acquisition cost (CAC) can help you make smarter decisions about your marketing and advertising strategies.

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Food & Beverage Industry Report 2024

Driven by a diverse and exciting ecosystem of passionate, ambitious, and often young entrepreneurs, the Food & Beverage (F&B) sector is a highly competitive environment full of immense challenges and exciting opportunities. Expert Market’s 2024 industry report, sponsored by Toast, is informed by a survey of 522 U.S. food and beverage professionals, from restaurant owners to food service managers, providing insights into the real-time challenges and opportunities within the industry.

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Latinx-Owned Bakeries Are Revamping the Concha

EATER

Beautiful pan dulce | Lille Allen Second-generation bakers are rethinking what pan dulce can be Mayra Sibrian had a deceptively simple goal when she started Pan de la Selva in Seattle. “I wanted to highlight different styles of pan dulce that reflected both my Mexican and Salvadoran backgrounds,” she says. The California native grew up eating conchas and pan dulce with her family, and thought there was a way to blend the traditions of her childhood with the flavors of her Pacific Northwest commu

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Overlooked Traits When Hiring Restaurant Managers

Modern Restaurant Management

When hiring restaurant managers, qualities like organization skills, experience and leadership are always at top of mind. However, many traits exist that often go overlooked in the hiring process impacting the success of a restaurant. Here are three traits that often go overlooked when hiring management positions within restaurants. Adaptability Restaurants are known to be fast paced environments with many different situations happening at once on any given occasion.

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15 Restaurant Management Tips to Improve Efficiencies

Sculpture Hospitality

Nobody said running a restaurant is easy. Between managing staff , keeping customers satisfied, and ensuring the kitchen operates like a well-oiled machine, it can feel like you’re constantly juggling a dozen different things.

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CARPE DIEM, COOKS

Culinary Cues

Seize the day! Ah…” when opportunity knocks, you can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket, in basketball or hockey you’ll miss every shot you don’t take, if you aren’t going all the way, why go at all,” …there are plenty of quotes that point to the same reality. When you have a chance to move forward, to accomplish something worthwhile, to be part of something great – take it!

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Why Every Small Business Needs an HCM Solution: A Comprehensive Guide

Managing HR tasks like payroll, compliance, and employee data can overwhelm small businesses. That’s where a Human Capital Management (HCM) solution comes in. Our eBook, Why Every Small Business Needs an HCM Solution: A Comprehensive Guide , shows how an HCM system automates tedious processes, ensuring your business stays compliant and efficient. You’ll learn how to simplify payroll, eliminate costly errors, and empower your employees with self-service tools.

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The Cheesecake Factory has no plans to sell its smaller brands

Restaurant Business

The casual-dining restaurant operator pushed back against calls from activist investor JCP Investment Management to sell North Italia, Flower Child and Culinary Dropout.

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26 Proven Ways to Market Your Restaurant Online and Increase Bookings

7 Shifts

Nowadays, running a successful restaurant takes more than great food and good service. With 90% of diners checking a restaurant online before visiting, you also need a strong online presence to attract and boost reservations. To do so, you must have an optimized website and engaging social media profiles. Let’s explore 26 proven online marketing strategies to help your restaurant thrive.

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Dinner, With a Side of Climate Preaching

EATER

Restaurants hoping to make a positive impact on the climate face an enduring challenge: selling their ambitious goals to diners simply looking to have a good time This story was produced in partnership with Civil Eats. The “ PLNT Impact Tracker ” on PLNT Burger’s website wants you to think about what you’re eating. The tool from the East Coast vegan chain — a digital take on a split-flap mechanical display that appears on its website and in the chain’s ordering app — estimates the amounts of wat

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Mastering Worker Classification: Seven Essential Tips for Restaurant Owners

Modern Restaurant Management

Navigating the bustling world of the restaurant industry comes with its own set of challenges, and one critical area that often flies under the radar is worker classification. Understanding whether your staff are employees or independent contractors isn’t just about following the rules—it’s key to maintaining a fair, compliant and smoothly running establishment.

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Maximize Restaurant Profitability: 5 Key Strategies to Control Costs Effectively

Running a profitable restaurant requires more than great food and service. Our guide breaks down five actionable strategies to help you control costs and maximize profitability. Learn how to track and reduce food waste, optimize labor costs with smart scheduling, make data-driven decisions with regular P&L reviews, and manage fixed and variable costs efficiently.

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9 Ideas for More Profitable Bar Menus

SpotOn

You've worked hard to get guests through the door. But the work doesn't stop there. While bars sell alcoholic drinks, a high-margin menu item, crafting a profitable bar menu is paramount. Through menu engineering and reporting from your bar POS system , you can determine what's selling and what's not. Next, it's time for a menu refresh.

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BE EXCELLENT

Culinary Cues

I have been thinking a lot about the word excellence, what it means, how it applies to each of us, and the impact that it has on everything. It is unfair and limiting to believe that excellence indirectly aligns with conformity. In other words, to be excellent is to conform to someone else’s established standards and not your own. In fact, conformity is the first step in developing a person’s own unique standards of excellence.

Training 356
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From Driver To Diner: The Direct Line Between Easy Pickups And Happy Customers

Restaurant Business

Third-party delivery (3PD) services play a critical role in bringing delicious meals from restaurants into the hungry hands…er, mouths…of customers. And with 31% of American consumers using third-party food delivery services at least twice a week, according to a comprehensive study done by Deliverect, that’s a lot of customers—and restaurants—relying on 3PD drivers to deliver their favorite meals to them fast and without incident.But many drivers making these deliveries experience significant he

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The Ultimate Guide to Local Restaurant Marketing 2025

7 Shifts

If you feel that digital marketing isn’t giving your local restaurant the results you need, then it's time to explore more targeted strategies. 89% of people do dining research on their phones, so if you’re not making the most of your online presence, you're missing out on a huge opportunity. Local restaurant marketing can help you reach your target audience more effectively.

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Best Practices to Streamline Compensation Management: A Foundation for Growth

Speaker: Joe Sharpe and James Carlson

Payroll optimization can be one of the most time-consuming and complex factors of small business management. Yet, organizations that crack the code on streamlining employee compensation often discover innovative avenues for growth. With the right strategies in place, outsourcing and streamlining payroll processes can result in substantial time and resource savings.