By Diane Chiasson There is a lot of information out there on designing a menu with regards to eye patterns, fonts, layouts, category management, wording and cost. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that your menu is your best marketing tool and to treat it as such. Having worked as a restaurant and retail consultant […]
By Diane Chiasson In today’s increasingly gastronomically aware world, diners are looking more for experiences when they dine out. Taste and quality are always important and must be good, but may not always be enough. Thought-out plating techniques can help to create a lasting and more memorable eating experience. Remember, food that looks beautiful awakens […]
By Diane Chiasson Does your restaurant serve amazing food but is lacking in ambiance to give your customers the total dining out experience? Studies have shown that the ambiance in a dining facility can affect everything from how fast customers eat, how much they spend and how long they stay. In today’s competitive society, it […]
By Diane Chiasson It’s that time of year again when we all make our lists for what we believe will be the trends for next year. For 2015, expect to see restaurant and foodservice operators go for smaller, fresher, healthier items, and creating everything from scratch. From homemade catsup to house-brewed beer and wine, operators […]
By Diane Chiasson Space is such a commodity, especially if you operate a restaurant or foodservice operation in a city centre. While every chef has their own version of a dream kitchen, the majority has to deal with the reality of their small space. But having a small kitchen can have its benefits as well. […]
By Diane Chiasson We may all still be in our shorts and t-shirts, and enjoying the warm summer weather, but in the restaurant and foodservice business, it’s time to start planning for the holidays. With Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, followed by Christmas and New Year’s Eve, it’s never too early to consider new ideas and begin […]
By Diane Chiasson Today, there are over one billion vegetarians in the world, and every day, more than 2,000 people convert to vegetarianism. A recent poll indicated that in North America, around 13 per cent of people identified as either vegetarian or vegan, and that number is expected to continue to increase in the future. […]
By Diane Chiasson Some major changes are coming our way for email and text message marketing in Canada. On July 1st, 2014, the Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) will come into effect, and it’s one of the most aggressive anti-spam laws in the world. In a nutshell, you can no longer email or text anyone in […]
By Diane Chiasson Rising food costs are always a big concern for the restaurant and foodservice industry, especially over the past few years, when food costs are increasing at a high rate. As of late, we have seen drastic hikes in the cost of beef, chicken, pork and coffee. Food prices are one of the […]
By Diane Chiasson A great cost-effective marketing tool and opportunity to drive up profits is to offer cooking classes during off-hours or held in the private room (if available) at your restaurant operation. Depending on the size of your operation, you can either offer cooking demonstrations or actual hands-on classes. The key to the success […]
