No links yet as we’re still putting the finishing garnishes on this hot new feature, but here’s another sneak peak at what to expect when Behind Bars goes live next week:
In Wine Punks, it’s a Steel Cage Match … Riesling vs. Sauvignon Blanc vs. Pinot Grigio vs. Chardonnay!
Rob invites you to Raise Your Spirits with The Condensed History of Life Water (a.k.a. “Hooch”)
Learn about the connection between vintage recipes and modern classics during Cocktail Hour
Plus an incredible new Menu Makeover contest you won’t want to miss!
Stay tuned for more news about Behind Bars. Oh, and links! Stay tuned for links!
Don’t know about y’all, but we find it pretty much impossible to make even a grilled cheese sandwich without pretending like we’re on camera. How about you? Are you Canada’s next food TV superstar?
According to CREST/NPD Group, breakfast sandwiches were the fastest growing menu item in 2007. Hot chicken sandwiches and hot tea also made strong gains last year.
Curious about fastest growing menu items four through ten? Interested in finding out what menu items showed the steepest declines last year?
For the full “Fastest Growing / What’s Slowing” list, along with the top 10 foods and beverages for 2007, check out page 27 of the 2008 edition of Foodservice Facts. CRFA members will receive a complimentary copy in the mail in May.
Summer is nearly upon us: time for vacation and picnics and long family road trips. And while it’s fun to bicker over whether you were supposed to turn “left” or turn “the other left” back there, you could have a much more harmonious vacation if you signed up for CRFA membership today.
Of course, if you enjoy roadside arguments, like to pay higher credit card fees, can do without insightful industry research and don’t mind higher taxes, you could always reach for the old road map …
Mother’s Day can be a busy day for restaurants - especially those that take the time to create and execute promotions that work. Here are just a few ideas you could try:
Generation discounts: 10% off the meal price when mom and child both come to dinner, 20% off for grandmother, mom and child, etc.
Essay contests: This idea takes a bit of work, but can garner you some excellent publicity. Create a contest for kids asking them why their mom should be nominated as “Mother of the Year.” Work with a local newspaper to see if they would be interested in publishing some of the short essays as part of a Mother’s Day feature. Every child who participates can receive a coupon for a free appetizer or dessert at your restaurant.
Free childcare: If you have the space to make it work - if you are operating a hotel, for example - consider hiring licensed daycare or nanny service providers and offer free on-site childcare for your customers during their Mother’s Day meal.
Complimentary anything: Offer your dining moms a free dessert, free glass of champagne, or free red rose (perhaps offered in co-promotion with a local florist). A free gift like this on a special day goes a long way to building customer satisfaction and loyalty.
What promotions have you tried in the past? Let us know what’s worked (and what hasn’t) in the comments below.
As you read this, we’re developing a sexy new feature to help Canadian bars make the most out of their drink menus. With the help of BartenderOne’s Rob Montgomery, Behind Bars will educate and entertain you with articles on wine, spirits, classic cocktails and new taste trends. Rob describes Behind Bars as “making sense of beverage culture in Canada.” And we’re pretty sure he plans on teaching you a couple of cool moves, too!
Here’s a sneak preview of some of the skills BartenderOne will be sharing with you when Behind Bars launches in a few weeks:
According to the latest data from CREST/NPD Group, restaurant traffic in Canada is now evenly spread across all four dayparts. What does that mean, exactly?
Simply put, each of the four dayparts - times of day when customers typically order meals and snacks at restaurants - now accounts for roughly the same amount of traffic, or visits. Breakfast/morning snacks make up 25% of all meal occasions, followed in the day by lunch (25%), supper (26%) and afternoon/evening snacks (24%).
No links yet as we’re still putting the finishing garnishes on this hot new feature, but here’s another sneak peak at what to expect when Behind Bars goes live next week:
