Features

Inflation Response

by Katie Lee April 19, 2023

— By Morven Groves — The benefits of private-equity backing in 2023. It’s no secret that the restaurant industry is facing a significant challenge in the form of inflation, which has led to increased costs on everything from labor to food and beverages. In response, many companies have taken one, if not several, price raises over the last 18 months or so. While industry sales remained positive overall at the end of 2022, an estimated 95% of those sales went to offsetting the increased cost of labor and goods. …

April 19, 2023

Designing the Details

by Katie Lee April 12, 2023

— By Sarah Schanke — Designer replicates Tujague’s iconic Mardi Gras flair down to the last detail. Tujague’s, an iconic French Quarter fixture of the New Orleans cultural landscape, has been serving culinary delights to customers for more than 160 years. To stay viable, the owners of the beloved establishment made the difficult decision to relocate the restaurant four blocks upriver. The nation’s third-oldest restaurant now occupies three floors with balconies overlooking the Big Easy steamboats cruising the city’s Mississippi River harbor each day. “A favorite of …

April 12, 2023

Industry Voices signage software/technology vendors

Digital Evolution

by Katie Lee April 5, 2023

— By John Moezzi — What to expect in 2023 digital signage for retail and restaurants. Another year has passed — since the pandemic started — and we continue to see an uptick in consumers in stores and restaurants. However, even for decades before the pandemic, there were debates between online and brick-and-mortar, where some think one abolishes the other, while others think they play well together. Perhaps, it’s important to know what they can do for each other. Let’s explore the trends for 2023 and how online and …

April 5, 2023

HVAC/R Industry Voices roofing vendors

Blame Game

by Katie Lee March 29, 2023

— By Hara J. Prager and Tom Coble — Whose leak is it anyway? HVAC provider or roofer? Imagine — it is a beautiful spring day; the air is cool and crisp, the sun is bright, with the promise of summer days near. You’re enjoying your first day off after the holiday rush. At least now, with the ice of winter behind you, you won’t be facing water leaks…right? Think again! On this beautiful 50-degree morning, as you’re enjoying a stroll, you get a panicked call from …

March 29, 2023

Cover Story franchise development retailers

Unlimited Access

by Katie Lee March 22, 2023

— By Hayden Spiess — Wild Birds Unlimited offers backyard bird feeding retail for an increasingly diverse customer base, with a growing flock of franchised locations. Jim Carpenter’s aspirations were not always avian in nature. The founder and CEO of Wild Birds Unlimited originally had his sights set on medical school. However, in 1981 he pivoted, opening the first Wild Birds Unlimited store in Indianapolis, driven by a passion for nature and birding. This same passion unites Wild Bird Unlimited store owners, managers and customers across the …

March 22, 2023

Industry Voices restaurants software/technology vendors

From Layout to Takeout

by Katie Lee March 15, 2023

— By Zayn King-Dollie — Utilizing mobile ordering and building design to capitalize on takeout trends. Last year, The National Restaurant Association estimated that 2022 would have record-breaking sales revenue of $898 billion, a 12.4% increase from 2021 and 3.9% above pre-pandemic sales. The predictions signaled an optimistic future, but instead, many businesses now are facing additional hardships brought on by inflation. Even with higher sales, the industry profit margins are 11.5% lower than in 2019. A third of all restaurant operators expect sales revenue outcomes to …

March 15, 2023

Industry Voices vendors

High Expectations

by Katie Lee March 15, 2023

— By Amanda Anderson — When is the last time you looked up? The day starts early with management opening the doors to prepare for incoming customers, following a routine checklist to ensure a successful day. There are drawers to fill, schedules to make, questions to be answered by associates and patrons. But when is the last time you looked up? Or down for that matter? In the blur of day-to-day operations, little details that can have a huge impact are often overlooked when it comes to …

March 15, 2023

construction and design energy management HVAC/R Industry Voices

Cold Case

by Katie Lee March 8, 2023

— By Kevin Piel and Joe McMenamin — Choosing the best insulated-panel system is paramount in ensuring optimal climate-controlled operation in many different applications. The days when grocery shopping was solely an in-person, on-site event that involved the maneuvering of a shopping cart (wobbly wheel optional) through a maze of aisles featuring shelves stocked with a wide array of goods have come to an end. Technological advances had already begun to make grocery shopping from home much more accessible and appealing in recent years. Then came March 2020. The …

March 8, 2023

Industry Voices restaurants software/technology

Bridging the Digital Divide

by Katie Lee March 8, 2023

— By Jim Metevier — Striking the right balance between dine-in and digital investments. In a world where convenience is king, the quick-service restaurant industry is experiencing an unprecedented push toward digitization, and understandably so. Throughout 2020 and 2021, while in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, brands needed to pivot to survive. Traditional guest-facing techniques fell to the wayside, as consumers called for contactless pickup and delivery — relying mostly on apps and websites to place orders, and demanding as little person-to-person contact as possible. Amazingly, for …

March 8, 2023

Content Partner Industry Content lighting signage Vendor Spotlight vendors

Ad Art: Signature Vendor Spotlight

by Katie Lee March 1, 2023

— Interview with Corey Perez — R&R: Where are you based and how long has the company been in business? Corey Perez: We are headquartered in San Francisco with locations in Los Angeles; Fresno, California; Stockton, California; Las Vegas and Dallas. Originally founded in 1958, current ownership has been in place since 2003. R&R: What is your name and title, and how long have you been with the company? Perez: Corey Perez, senior vice president. I have been with AD ART for 13 years. R&R: What trades/services do you …

March 1, 2023

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