When it's time to hire, look for learners

by Michael Harms — Sr. Business Analyst, People Report - Black Box Intelligence

Odds are you’ve never met my mother. That’s too bad. Think Betty White with darker hair. My mom is one of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet and her cinnamon…

Should you outsource your HR?

by Richard Yelton — Principal, Windham Brannon, P.C.

For many restaurant owners, outsourcing certain administrative functions provides them the ability to better focus on the strategic and operational sides of…

What's New in Retail Food Innovation?

by Darrel Suderman — President, Food Technical Consulting

QSRs should embrace new distribution channels and co-branding opportunities.

Buzzworthy ... or just "buzzare"?

by Lori Walderich — CMO, Top That! Pizza

A friend of mine owns cats. She says they’ve never made any noise as horrible as that emitting from the creatures she calls Quiznos Kitties of the Damned…

How the evil HR guy is messing with this job market

by Joni Doolin — CEO, People Report

Top 10 food product innovation workshop requests

by Darrel Suderman — President, Food Technical Consulting

What new food and beverage product innovation workshops would research chefs and food technologists most like to attend?

Doing food safety 'til the cows come home

by Paul Mcginnis — Vice President, Marketing, Ecolab Food Safety Specialties

From the second I walked through the front entrance, I noticed a difference. Maybe it was the warm, sincere greeting at the front desk or the quick tour and…

A Leg Up on Legislation

by Lori Walderich — CMO, Top That! Pizza

How to keep your brand one step ahead of the law.

Making the right choice from the single-use ‘menu’

by Kim Frankovich — VP of Sustainability, Solo Cup Company

Ever stare at a menu for an eternity and still find yourself unable to make a decision?  Maybe you weren’t sure of your own priorities that day or maybe you…

Food & beverage innovation lessons from Apple

by Darrel Suderman — President, Food Technical Consulting

Restaurants would do well to study and learn from the technology giant.

Trends in Eating Out: Hunker down, or exhale?

by Janet Eden-Harris — CMO & SVP Strategy, Market Force

Nothing is more top of mind right now for those of us in the restaurant industry than the state of the economy.

I’d like the ‘green’ packaging please

by Kim Frankovich — VP of Sustainability, Solo Cup Company

I’m often asked by foodservice operators and consumers: What sustainable single-use foodservice products should I use to serve food and beverages? Which…

Leave Me Alone---I'm trying to work!

by Michael Harms — Sr. Business Analyst, People Report - Black Box Intelligence

Okay, so unemployment is at 10% and the economy has lost over 8 million jobs since this recession began. You don't have to be an economist to know that this…

Why QSRs aren't winning with premium salads

I prefer to eat healthy, so it's encouraging for me to see more QSRs adding better-for-you items to their menus, including salads. But I'm not sure that…

Snackdown: Should your brand be a 4th and 5th daypart challenger?

by Lori Walderich — CMO, Top That! Pizza

Some of us might remember how, when we were kids, we’d come home from school, drop our books and start foraging in the kitchen for Oreos and milk, Pop Tarts…

Food & beverage innovation ideation boundaries

by Darrel Suderman — President, Food Technical Consulting

Boundaries can stifle food and beverage new product ideation, or they can create more fertile product concepts. This may well represent the crux of innovative…

Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill: A standout from the "me too" crowd

by Darrel Suderman — President, Food Technical Consulting

Is there room for further brand innovation within the QSR industry that is already crowded with “me too” concepts? The answer is apparently, Yes! – Garbanzo…

Please, No More Tacos!

by Paul Mcginnis — Vice President, Marketing, Ecolab Food Safety Specialties

Taco Sunday. Just typing the phrase brings back a flood of memories involving lots of ground beef and hungry teenagers. Some of you may not remember this…

Economic Outlook Shifting for Restaurants & Workers

by Michael Harms — Sr. Business Analyst, People Report - Black Box Intelligence

As unemployment has risen over the past couple of years, we've seen turnover fall to record lows. This really should come as no surprise-it's basic economics…

It’s the food, stupid

by Janet Eden-Harris — CMO & SVP Strategy, Market Force

Fast Food. Quick Serve. The very names of the industry describe the focus on speed. So we’d all be forgiven if we guessed that the most important criteria for…