Are restaurant labor shortages affecting your business? These restaurant management tips can help you better navigate hiring challenges so your business can thrive! Raise Wages The COVID-19 pandemic pointed out just how financially vulnerable restaurant employees were. That’s why one of the best and most obvious ways to battle restaurant labor shortages is to offer …
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It’s easy to dwell on the challenges that face the restaurant industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. But along with these challenges came plenty of innovations that have made life easier for restaurants and customers alike. The QR code restaurant menu is one of these restaurant tech innovations that blew up because of the pandemic but …
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It’s been a rough year for restaurants, and labor shortages are creating a new challenge for businesses reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic. In today’s blog, the foodservice experts at McDonald Wholesale discuss some helpful hiring tips to overcome labor shortages in the restaurant industry. Don’t Get Cutesy with the Job Description While it can be …
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The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the restaurant industry hard, but with the vaccine rollout, things are starting to return to normalcy. If you’re looking to create a better menu for 2021, check out some of our favorite restaurant menu trends to help you get your business back on track. More Specialized Menus The pandemic taught …
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The restaurant industry is the nation’s second largest private sector employer and one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the $21.5 million Restaurant Employee Relief Fund, restaurant and hotels received over $70 billion in PPP loans and $15.7 billion in PPP tax deductions. Many states even loosened restrictions on cocktails-to-go …
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The pandemic has completely changed the restaurant industry, and while the vaccine rollout means restaurants will likely return to some semblance of normal by the end of summer, there are still lessons to be learned and innovations to be made. Here are some of favorite creative takeout ideas to try during the pandemic and beyond! …
Across the country, restaurants are struggling due the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only do they have to adjust to constantly changing capacity restrictions and safety precautions, but restaurant servers are essentially working on the front lines, potentially exposing themselves to the virus. In addition to doing everything in their power to keep their servers safe, one …
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Almost one year into the pandemic, one thing is clear: pandemic fatigue is real. Rather than focusing on the challenges associated with coronavirus, we wanted to highlight some positive ways to attract diners to your restaurant during COVID-19. Contact Tracing Raffles If you live in a state with strict contact-tracing guidelines, or if you’re offering …
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The pandemic has been a struggle for many industries, but the restaurant industry has been one of the hardest hit. Now that we’re approaching the one-year mark, we thought we’d focus on the positive and offer a list of TV food shows and docuseries that restaurant owners, restaurant workers, and chefs can watch to help …
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Wondering how to take advantage of the hottest restaurant trends for 2021? McDonald Wholesale can help. Technology in the restaurant industry keeps evolving, especially as the coronavirus pandemic continues, and it’s important for all restaurant owners and executive chefs to stay on top of some of the technology trends we’re seeing across the industry. Here …
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If you want your restaurant to succeed during the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re likely going to need to come up with creative ideas for no-contact curbside pickup and food delivery. In today’s blog, we discuss how your mom-and-pop restaurant can use family meal deals as a way to thrive during the shutdown and beyond. What is …
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It’s no secret that restaurants are struggling during the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean your restaurant is destined to fail. In fact, by getting creative and following restaurant trends, you can help improve your restaurant profit margin, even as COVID continues to spread. Embrace Online Ordering & Food Delivery In just eight months, COVID-19 has …
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Because of COVID-19 transmission risks, many consumers are embracing outdoor dining as a way to safely gather with friends, eat a delicious meal, and support their local restaurants during the pandemic. But as the weather gets colder, many restaurants are looking for new ways to facilitate outdoor dining. Here are some of the best restaurant …
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Competing with chain restaurants has always been a struggle, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made it even harder for local, independent restaurants to compete with chain restaurant behemoths. But that doesn’t mean all mom-and-pop restaurants are doomed to fail. In fact, the best way to fight chain restaurants isn’t to try to mimic them, but …
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According to Upserve, online ordering and delivery have grown 300% faster than dine-in traffic since 2014. And the COVID-19 pandemic has only increased this growth. If your restaurant is considering moving to food delivery, you’ll need to decide whether you’ll build your own in-house delivery fleet, utilize third-party services, or some combination of the two. …
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Back in October 2019, a survey from the National Restaurant Association showed that off-premise orders (i.e. drive-thru, takeout, and delivery) made up nearly 60% of restaurant business. Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic has driven these numbers even higher, making it functionally impossible for restaurants to survive without developing strong takeout and food delivery options. In …
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According to Google Trends, in the months since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there has been a huge increase in the amount of people searching for “restaurants with outdoor seating near me.” While restaurant patios have always had the potential to grow your restaurant business, outdoor restaurant seating, in addition to a strong takeout and delivery …
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At McDonald Wholesale, we understand that running a successful restaurant can be difficult. From rising food costs and high overhead costs to the unique challenges of the coronavirus epidemic, it’s becoming tougher and tougher to make ends meet in the restaurant industry. In today’s blog, we provide tips for how to reduce labor costs in …
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After weeks of closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurant dining rooms across the country are beginning to reopen. While the details of reopening rely heavily on state and local mandates, at some point in the future, these safety restrictions will be lifted, and restaurants will attempt to return to some semblance of normalcy. However, …
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After weeks of mandatory shutdowns and restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurateurs and diners alike are anxious for restaurants to re-open for dine-in services. But re-opening your restaurant to diners doesn’t necessarily mean returning to business as normal. These restaurant management tips for reopening after coronavirus can help you succeed in the aftermath of …
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It’s no secret that the COVID-19 world health crisis is having an especially large impact on the restaurant industry. As an independently owned and operated company, we take the success (and challenges!) of our clients personally, and we’re working harder than ever to help your restaurant thrive in the face of these uncertain times. In …
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With the COVID-19 global pandemic and the ensuing Stay at Home orders across the US, delivery and takeout are the only options for many restaurants if they want to continue to serve their local communities. Check out our guide to no-contact curbside pickup and delivery to find out how your restaurant can implement these processes …
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Opening a new restaurant is challenging. In fact, while the commonly cited statistic that 90% of new restaurants fail in the first year appears to be a myth, there is still a high risk (and high reward!) involved. That’s why every business decision you make needs to be thoroughly considered. In today’s blog, we’ll discuss …
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According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food prices are expected to increase between 1.5% and 2.5% in 2020. That can be scary news for restaurants who are already struggling, but by following these four tips for dealing with rising food prices, you can help your restaurant thrive! Reduce Food Waste One of the best …
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While brunch used to be reserved for special occasions like Mother’s Day and Easter, more and more diners are regularly spending money on weekend brunch. Here’s why your restaurant should consider offering weekend brunch service. Lower Food Costs Managing rising food costs is one of the biggest challenges that restaurants face today. While paying staff …
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Overhead costs got you down? These overhead cost reduction strategies can help you increase your restaurant’s profitability! What is Overhead Cost? In general, overhead cost refers to any ongoing expenses that come with running a business, including everything from rent and utilities to advertising costs and your employees’ salaries. Overhead costs do not include any …
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Takeout business is becoming an incredibly important part of a restaurant’s success or failure. According to the National Restaurant Association, one-third of consumers say that purchasing restaurant takeout is an essential part of their lifestyle. In fact, nearly half of all adults and over 60-percent of millennials use the availability of takeout or delivery as …
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When you own a restaurant, it’s important to keep up-to-date on the different restaurant trends that are dominating the market. Whether it’s food trends, dessert trends, or more general restaurant trends, incorporating what’s popular can help your business thrive. That said, not every trend will make sense for your restaurant. Wondering how mom and pop …
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Thinking about starting a food truck business? In the early stages of getting your truck up and running? These tips for starting a food truck business could mean the difference between failing and succeeding!
Even if you haven’t heard the term ghost kitchen, you may have heard the concept referred to by one of its alternative names. Otherwise known as virtual restaurants or cloud kitchens, ghost kitchens are an evolution of the restaurant model that is designed primarily for delivery or catering rather than on-site dining. What is a …
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Does your menu take advantage of popular restaurant trends? If not, you may be missing out on opportunities to keep your diners happy and coming back for more. Here’s what you need to know about adding all-day breakfast items to your restaurant menu. The All-Day Breakfast Menu Trend You Can’t Afford to Ignore Restaurants across …
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Reducing food waste isn’t just great for your bottom line, it can also help with your reputation. In fact, a recent study showed that over 72% of U.S. diners care about how food waste is handled at the restaurants they frequent. Here’s how to reduce food waste in your restaurant.
Childcare is expensive, so rather than paying a babysitter, many parents are opting to eat at restaurants with their kids. While it doesn’t make sense for every type of restaurant to be kid-friendly, restaurants that aren’t accessible to kids can isolate a huge group of potential customers: parents with kids under the age of 12. …
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Unfortunately, food recalls are a fact of life. While recent recalls have included foods like romaine lettuce and ground beef, a wide range of produce, meats, prepackaged meals, and processed foods have the potential to be contaminated in one or way another. In fact, CDC food recalls can protect against anything from foodborne illnesses to …
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Regardless of what type of food you sell, including a food and wine pairings menu can be a great way to upsell customers, create a memorable dining experience, and increase restaurant revenue. While you could recommend a wine for every entrée on the menu, it might make more sense to start with a small plate …
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It’s no secret that the restaurant business has high turnover, but just because it’s an industry-wide problem doesn’t mean it’s not something you can work to improve. Here’s how to reduce turnover in your restaurant. Practice Smart Hiring One of the best ways to prevent turnover is by hiring the right people for the job. …
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Running a successful restaurant isn’t easy, and in order to stay relevant, it’s important to track and incorporate different food trends into your menu. While dessert isn’t the main event, having a solid dessert menu can contribute to the success and longevity of your restaurant. Before updating your menu, consider these exciting dessert trends for …
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Turnover is a major problem for restaurant managers. According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual turnover rate in the restaurant industry is 73%. That’s a startling statistic especially when you think about how difficult it can be to fill those positions when staff quits. One of the ways restaurant managers are addressing this …
Continue reading “3 Important Reasons to Cross-Train Your Restaurant Staff”
