Industry Voices

— By Eric Symon — Keeping restaurants connected to enhance the customer experience.     One of the biggest challenges that restaurant owners face is implementing technological advancements to stay current with customer demands. According to a recent survey conducted by Panasonic, 100% of foodservice operators found that the COVID-19 pandemic intensified their sense of urgency to adopt transformational technology. As the industry experiences challenges with labor and an increase in customer preferences for touchless options, adopting such technologies is even more important. Additionally, today’s customer has new priorities whether …

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— By Michelle Grojean — Did you know the Number 1 cause of premature roof failure is lack of regular roof inspections?   Let’s talk about the necessary protection of one of the largest assets of your commercial building: your rooftop. For the sake of story time, let’s say you recently had a brand new commercial roof installed. What you’re probably thinking here is, “My roof is brand new. Why would I need a roofing contractor to look at it regularly so soon?” You could also be thinking, “Hey, I …

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— By Daniel Estrada — The new frontier for restaurants in the back of the house.   If it feels like the restaurant industry has been in the headlines for the last year — it’s because it has. Restaurants are all over the news cycle, with stories ranging from closings to openings, pivots to changing businesses, and a pandemic-inspired boom for tech platforms and digital innovation across all aspects of the industry. From apps that streamline takeout orders and table assignments to staff scheduling and invoice collection, the front-of-house is …

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Like broader society, the restaurant industry must contend with the 3-way collision of economic reality, medical ethics and societal health concerns. More specifically, on September 9, 2021, President Biden issued an executive order requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for federal employees. As part of the order, the U.S. Department of Labor was instructed to require all employers with more than 100 employees to mandate vaccinations or require its employees to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. The restaurant industry has been forced to contend with innumerable, and often times confusing, municipal and state government …

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— By Carty Davis — The evolving restaurant facility, changing priorities in CAPEX and capital through and post-COVID.   As regulations and mandates end, owners and operators continue to adapt to a post-COVID society. Declining COVID cases and vaccine availability on a large scale show hints of the virus fading into the past, which is encouraging to business owners and the overall economy. While COVID may be on the decline, consumer behaviors, preferences and the distribution systems that support these evolving consumer tastes are here to stay. The quick-service restaurant …

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— By Chad Connor — The importance of checking your restaurant’s fire safety.   Restaurant kitchens have many places where fires can occur. Business owners need to be aware of potential fire hazards and take preventative steps when it comes to fire safety. Following a few simple safety tips can prevent fires and keep employees and patrons safe in your establishment. Conducting Regular Inspections Regular inspections are the first step in fire safety for restaurants. Inspections of fire safety equipment must be done annually by a professional for approval by …

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57% of consumers believe restaurant employees have more control over their experience than the brand itself.   Chicago — Labor demand is continuing to outstrip labor supply by a wider margin despite record job openings. The hospitality industry is just one industry taking hard hits, with some restaurants reporting temporarily closing or cutting hours due to the labor shortage. But just as restaurants look to robotics, apps and digital tools to fill the voids in the frontline workforce, consumers are pressing pause, expressing their desire for more human experiences. Big Red …

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— By Joe Bshero — Common carpet care myths debunked.   In today’s competitive marketplace, it’s important to give retail customers a quality shopping experience. Some companies do so by focusing on easy-to-navigate store layouts, while others offer in-store dining and soothing music to create a pleasant atmosphere. Cleanliness is also key, and its role is only increasing. The novel coronavirus pandemic has placed added stress on managers by imposing demanding cleaning standards meant to protect all building occupants. As more states reopen, retailers must understand that there will be …

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— By Del Williams —   How UVC light inactivates viruses and other airborne pathogens, thus improving indoor safety.   With commercial facilities taking precautions against viruses as never before, an effective new tool in their arsenal is a new type of “germicidal” LED fixture.  This specialized, enclosed LED fixture draws in air and irradiates it with ultraviolet light (UV), significantly improving indoor safety by providing continuous disinfection of airborne viruses as well as bacteria and germs. While traditional UV fixtures have been used for many years to clean surfaces, …

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— By Patricia Olinger —   The virus doesn’t care — and we all know which virus I’m talking about. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease COVID-19, does not care about politics, an individual’s socioeconomic status, race, gender, sexual orientation, or age. It has one mission: infect whomever and as many as it can. Over the past year and a half, we’ve realized just how quickly pathogens can travel from person to person. This has caused us to adjust infection prevention protocols, including increased cleaning and disinfection efforts, mask …

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