Sat.Apr 20, 2024 - Fri.Apr 26, 2024

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Fighting Fast Food Fraud

Modern Restaurant Management

Fast food fraud has seen a 45-percent increase in the last year or so, largely driven by a digital transformation sea change that has made these restaurants more vulnerable, according to data from fraud prevention company Forter. Fast food restaurants are all about convenience with the latest step in providing convenience for guests being the welcoming of digital payments and corresponding loyalty apps.

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5 common misconceptions about automated refrigeration temperature monitoring

Restobiz

By Madan Kanala In fast-paced multi-unit restaurant operations, ensuring food safety and compliance with health regulations is paramount. One area where there are often misconceptions is in the realm of automated refrigeration temperature monitoring solutions. Despite these solutions’ numerous benefits, myths and misunderstandings may prevent restaurant operators from fully embracing these tools.

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What Went Wrong at Foxtrot, USDA Approves Pork Protein in Soybeans + More

Food + Tech Connect

Image Credit: Snaxshot Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines. Foxtrot Market, once a promising venture, has abruptly ceased operations, filing for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. The merger with Dom’s, intended to bolster its financial standing, instead proved detrimental.

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How to Host a Restaurant Tasting Event

Wasserstrom

Tasting events engage diners, showcase culinary creativity, and generate buzz. But for restaurant professionals, navigating the logistics and maximizing the return on investment (ROI) can feel daunting. To get you started, we cover the essentials of hosting successful tasting events, equipping you with the knowledge to cultivate an experience for your guests and boost your […] The post How to Host a Restaurant Tasting Event appeared first on The Official Wasserstrom Blog.

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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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How to Pass Health Inspections: Ice Machines and Refrigeration

Modern Restaurant Management

Steering through the maze of health inspections might seem tricky. There's a lot to consider — especially when it comes to your commercial refrigeration and ice machines. But fear not! This friendly guide is here to shed light on the best practices to keep your coolers and ice makers sparkling clean. It's not just about acing health inspections, but also about winning the trust of your customers by letting them know their health and enjoyment are your number one priority.

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Alternative proteins are a solution made for this moment

GFI

April 22, 2024 Share this page on Facebook Share this page on Twitter Share this page on LinkedIn How alternative proteins change the trajectory of our food system Alternative proteins help decrease emissions, feed more people with fewer resources, and restore biodiversity. They also address the urgent problems of antibiotic resistance and pandemic risk caused by our food system.

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Thanks, Sesame: U.S. Food Recalls Due to Undeclared Allergens Skyrocketed in 2023, Causing Half of All Food Recalls

Food Safety Magazine

A total of 313 food product recall announcements were issued in 2023 by FDA and USDA, which the U.S. Public Interest Research Groups (PIRG) Education Fund analyzed in its Food for Thought 2024 report to identify recall trends.

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Reviews and Ratings Are Decisive Factors in Dining Decisions

Modern Restaurant Management

Reviews and ratings are decisive factors for 91 percent of diners with 64 percent focusing on reviews less than a month old, according to a report from RightResponse AI. Additionally, 71 percent said that they “changed their mind and decided not to go to a restaurant” based upon negative reviews. “People read reviews, are influenced by reviews, and are very influenced by negative reviews,” George Swetlitz, co-founder of RightResponse AI, told Modern Restaurant Management

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Scratch Cooking Is the Vehicle

Chef Ann Foundation

Today’s announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture updating the national school nutrition standards is a step in the right direction.

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FDA Testing Reveals Low Occurrence of PFAS in Meat and Seafood

Food Safety Tech

On April 18, the FDA shared test results for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in 95 samples from one regional collection from its Total Diet Study (TDS). PFAS were detected in eight samples — two beef and two cod samples, and one sample each of shrimp, salmon, catfish, and tilapia. The FDA concluded that exposure to PFAS at the levels measured in these eight samples is not likely to be a health concern for young children or the general population, based on evaluation of each PFAS for w

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Brix To Boost Portfolio With New Add-On

Foodservice Equipment Reports

Brix Holdings—parent company of brands including Red Mango, Smoothie Factory + Kitchen, and Friendly’s—has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Clean Juice, a 75-unit organic juice bar franchise. The addition will bring Brix’s footprint to 300-plus locations across eight brands.

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Behind the Scenes: Cinco de Mayo Prep

Modern Restaurant Management

Staff at one popular Mexican chain start preparations for the next year’s Cinco de Mayo celebration right after the previous one ends. “Immediately after the event the team meets to gather feedback and create a recap,” Kurt Pahlitzsch, Vice President of Casual Dining at Doherty Enterprises, franchisee of Chevys, told Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine. “In December, the team begins to plan based on the feedback from that recap meeting and the new ideas that have

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Bringing New Technologies to Bear for Biosurveillance

Food Safety Magazine

A Biosurveillance Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (BISR) system would address two mission-critical requirements for biosurveillance to detect and prevent outbreaks: rapid detection and predictive analysis.

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Rethinking Caviar Service for the Modern Restaurant

Wasserstrom

Once a symbol of one-percenter opulence, caviar has found itself on a broader range of tables, fueled by two distinct trends: the rise of sustainable aquaculture and the unexpected influence of “caviar culture” on social media. We share insights about caviar’s new audience and tips for how restaurants can profit from its popularity.

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Joe Warren & Sons Acquires Service Company

Foodservice Equipment Reports

Joe Warren & Sons Co., based in Norwood, Mass., has announced the acquisition of Aable Restaurant Equipment Service. Based in Manchester, N.H., for the past 20 years, Aable has provided repair, planned maintenance and installation services for commercial kitchens throughout Southern and Central New Hampshire.

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Federal Government Raises Overtime Threshold

Modern Restaurant Management

The Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued the final rule to i ncrease compensation thresholds for overtime eligibility. According to Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees , effective July 1, 2024, the salary threshold will increase to the equivalent of an annual salary of $43,888 and increase to $58,656 on January 1, 2025.

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USDA Now Requires HPAI Testing for Dairy Cattle, Mandatory Reporting

Food Safety Magazine

To address the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a federal order that requires testing of dairy cows for the virus, as well as mandatory reporting.

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Snackpass Aids Presotea in Overcoming Tech Challenges

Fast Casual

Unfortunately, this digital revolution comes with a unique set of challenges. One of the most prevalent hurdles that restaurant operators face is the fragmentation of technology, often stemming from the adoption of multiple vendor solutions. Download this case study to learn how Presotea tackled these issues.

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Tropical Smoothie Cafe Gains New Owner

Foodservice Equipment Reports

Tropical Smoothie Cafe, which started out on a Florida beach in 1997 and now has 1,400-plus stores, has a new owner in Blackstone. Blackstone announced April 24 it entered into an agreement to acquire the fast-casual brand from Levine Leichtman Capital Partners. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

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Crafting Allergy-Friendly Dining Experiences Using Payment Tech

Modern Restaurant Management

Food allergies in the United States affect an estimated 26 million adults and six million children (10.8 and 8 percent, respectively) and the number of people telling restaurants about their food allergies upfront is increasing. To keep up, restaurants need systems that can quickly check if dishes contain allergens and alert staff. This requires technology that can analyze ingredients against common allergens and instantly inform the kitchen and serving staff.

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Ep. 168. Francine Shaw: Watching the Kitchen to Ensure Food Safety in Foodservice

Food Safety Magazine

In this episode of Food Safety Matters , we are joined by Francine Shaw, CP-FS, FMP, Founder and CEO of Savvy Food Safety Inc. and author of Who Watches the Kitchen? for a discussion about foodservice food safety, including topics like common food safety mistakes and mitigation practices, technologies for retail food safety, and more. Additionally, Bob Ferguson discusses his latest “Food Safety Insights” column on food safety professionals’ thoughts about the future of rapid testing.

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AT Worthy Technology, Inc. Appoints Terence Ronson as Strategic Advisor to Bolster Digital Initiatives

Hospitality Net

AT Worthy Technology, Inc., renowned for its pioneering Digital Worthiness Rating system, proudly announces the appointment of Terence Ronson as Strategic Advisor. Ronson is celebrated for his impactful contributions to technology integration within the hospitality and senior living sectors.

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With Art Immersion, Kura Sushi Differentiates New Global Flagship

Foodservice Equipment Reports

Kura Sushi’s newest global flagship store in Ginza, set to open April 25, marks the brand’s sixth global flagship store in Japan, but it’s the first to feature a few design elements. For one, this is the first Kura Sushi to feature “Kura Koedo,” a space inspired by the ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige’s woodblock prints capturing scenes of Edo (Tokyo during the Edo period, 1603-1868).

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What Your Restaurant Needs in its Sexual Harassment Policy

Modern Restaurant Management

Did you know that more sexual harassment claims are filed in the service industry than in any other industry? As many as 90% of women and 70% of men working in restaurants reportedly experience some form of sexual harassment, according to the Harvard Business Review. Harassment complaints come to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) from service industry workers more often than from any other sector, NPR reported in 2021.

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Not ‘just a tent,’ The Eatery at Norman Field is more than temporary; it’s awesome

FoodService Director

University of Florida’s solution for feeding students in the midst of construction of a new dining hall has turned out so well, it will almost be a shame to see it go.

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STR Weekly Insights: 7-13 April 2024

Hospitality Net

Similar to the previous week, U.S. hotel performance ending 13 April 2024 reflected an easy comparison to Easter last year and the impact of the solar eclipse. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) rose 5.8% driven by nearly equal gains in occupancy and average daily rate (ADR). However, the growth was not equally distributed across all days of the week.

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Hot Dog Chain Appoints Former Starbucks Exec

Foodservice Equipment Reports

Doug Koob, formerly of Starbucks, First Watch and Asian Box, has joined the executive team at hot dog concept Wienerschnitzel. As chief development officer, Koob will oversee Wienerschnitzel’s sales and business development teams for domestic and international growth, real estate, and restaurant design and construction.

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Outdoor Dining Boom: How Restaurants Can Capitalize on the Al Fresco Opportunity

Modern Restaurant Management

As the weather warms and patios come alive, restaurants across the country are gearing up for a summer of outdoor dining. The pent-up demand for al fresco experiences is palpable, and smart operators are taking strategic steps to make the most of this lucrative opportunity. According to data from Tock, nearly a third of restaurants in Tock’s network have the space needed to serve guests outdoors, with 33 percent having an existing space.

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How Kara Blanton creates a work culture that feels like family at Murray State University Dining

FoodService Director

Kara Blanton recently took on her late father’s role of senior concessions manager at Murray State University Dining. Here’s a look at how she continues her father's legacy.

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Pulsar Media launches custom generative AI tool to enhance multi-industry content creation

Hospitality Net

Pulsar Media, the Geneva-based agency specialized in corporate communications, crisis management, and thought leadership, today announced the launch of Typr, a unique generative AI tool designed to improve and accelerate content creation for communication professionals and thought leaders. Typr harnesses 15 years of multi-industry sector expertise , offering productivity enhancements for businesses.

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