With the new year right around the corner and restaurant operators preparing for what’s ahead, we thought it would be a great idea to introduce some menu favorites to look out for in 2022. According to the new 2022 Culinary Forecast from the National Restaurant Association, many food items, beverages, flavors, and much more will be hitting menus in the coming New Year. Some trends new, some old. Some that may be surprising, and some not so much! Let’s take a look at a few menu trends you should be prepared for come the New Year: Three Meals of the Day Everyone knows breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It’s a great way for customers to earn energy bright and early and an easy way for you to put money in your pockets. If you weren’t already serving breakfast at your restaurant operation, now’s your chance! Top 3 trends to

In partnership with Produce Alliance Due to the pandemic, many challenges continue to be identified in all areas of the foodservice industry—with produce being one of them. Even before COVID hit, there were already issues that growers and shippers were presented with such as unexpected weather conditions and low wages. Ever since the peak of the Pandemic in March of 2020, the produce industry has taken significant hits that may take months or even years to recover. Even though the industry is still experiencing various negative impacts from the Pandemic, the following continue to get more challenging to navigate. Labor Shortage The Produce Industry is facing issues in its ability to find qualified workers. As the worry for labor shortages in the industry continues to grow, operations in all other areas involved are now affected as well. From restaurants to food retail, filling positions is more complicated than it was pre-COVID when farm

The restaurant industry continues to experience inflation driven by supply/demand, labor challenges, and driver shortages. According to Tyson Foods, restaurants are still short 1.5MM jobs and labor costs are forecasted to rise in 2022. The Labor Shortage is impacting many areas of the industry. Not only does the shortage in workforce affect the front-of-house and the back-of-house, but it even challenges the trucking and transportation companies who move your ingredients from one location to another as they are seeing a critical shortage in drivers. As an operator, you can’t control what happens in the supply chain – but you can control how you prepare for and handle the challenge of minimized staff and shortage of ingredients. Keep consistent customer satisfaction and decrease the time spent on prep with these menu solutions! Speed-Scratch Items Prepping for the busy morning or afternoon rush can be time consuming and require a lot of

Supply chain management is more than a one-person job. Especially for operators with multiple locations, doing it all manually can be stressful and time-consuming. These days, restaurants are looking to run lean and reduce their overhead amidst a nation-wide staffing crisis. Others may be having trouble staffing full departments. How can an operator manage their supply chain projects without the staff to support them? More and more operators are turning to full-service supply chain management solutions to minimize their costs and maximize their profits. At Consolidated Concepts, our service offerings are fully customizable to provide the appropriate level of consultation and support required by each client. Let’s look at three areas where we offer expertise to help you streamline your supply chain management and meet your resource needs: Spend Intelligence and Insights into Your Business Our data and technology are designed to identify areas where emerging, growing, and established restaurants can

The Supply Chain is facing a major crisis that is affecting operators all over the country. The numerous challenges this has led to over the course of these past 20 months is unimaginable. This is why supply chain success is crucial. From equipment delays and rotten food to sky-rocketing prices and product shortages, it seems there will be no relief anytime soon. Fortunately, we have ways you can help alleviate the situation and ensure your operation is running at its full potential during these unprecedented times. Satisfy your customers, please your staff, and put money back into your bottom line. Here are three ways to ensure you’re on the road to supply chain success: Embrace Supply Chain Technology Technology is evolving each and every day. Operators like you can easily boost your profit margins and put time back into your day. No more outdated unreliable information and lack of transparency.

It can be hard to make sense of your purchasing costs without the right technology. With the hospitality industry seeing price increases in all areas of business, there has never been a more necessary time for operators to consider utilizing technology to help manage rising hotel food cost. A quick search will show there are many technology solutions to choose from when it comes to food cost management. However, by partnering with the right technology solution, you can expand your resource pool and gain key insights into your operation. This includes things like your hotel’s purchasing behavior, what’s working well, and, most importantly, what’s taking money away from your bottom line. Here are some ways technology can help your staff with food cost management and navigate rising hotel food cost, so you can maintain guest standards and maximize profits. Purchasing Analytics By using spend management technology, you get real-time visibility

Have you noticed your food cost increasing? From the labor shortage to food shortages, restaurant operators have been battling a supply chain crisis since COVID first arrived in the country. With inflation forcing restaurants to raise menu prices, operators struggle to turn a profit. So far in 2021, food-away-from-home prices have increased 3.3% and according to The USDA, restaurant prices will continue to climb in 2022. With rising food cost and less staff support, customers are experiencing slimmed down menus and higher prices for their favorite plates. How can restaurant operators navigate the increase in food cost and how can technology help? Programs to Help You Control Food Cost One way to control your food cost is to leverage the buying power of Dining Alliance. With access to competitive food programs, restaurant operators can unlock savings and take advantage of manufacturer rebates. We have a whole team dedicated to helping