Small businesses in the hospitality sector will need to be nimble, creative and disciplined to navigate upcoming challenges By Ben Johnston, chief operating officer of Kapitus, a leading provider of financing for small and medium-sized businesses Last year will be remembered for the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes that attempted to tame inflation by slowing the … [Read more...] about Outlook for 2023
Business Tips
Supply Chain Solutions
Seven tips for ensuring you have the right packaging when you need it By Stephny Halstead, vice president, marketing and new product development, Sabert Corporation Supply chain disruptions have impacted countless businesses over the last several years—and catering companies, restaurants and other foodservice operators are no exception. Businesses across the U.S. are … [Read more...] about Supply Chain Solutions
Picnics With Panache
Planners are taking picnics up a notch, creating picture-perfect settings for small gatherings By Sara Perez Webber In the thankfully-behind-us days of the COVID pandemic, the popularity of picnics soared. Picnics, after all, provided a way for people to socialize and enjoy a meal outdoors, without having to worry about indoor dining restrictions. “The pop-up picnic … [Read more...] about Picnics With Panache
Going Greener
After years of expansion, Elior North America builds a cohesive strategy of sustainable practices for its family of companies By Kelly Myers, Elior North America April is Earth Month—an ideal time to look at the sustainability initiatives taking center stage in many service businesses today. At Elior North America, for example, leadership is committed to doing good by … [Read more...] about Going Greener
Serving the Hybrid Workforce
Jeff Grass, CEO and co-founder of HUNGRY, explains how his company is adjusting its offerings as more employees return to the office By Sara Perez Webber American workers are trickling back into the office. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, citing research by Kastle Systems, in January the average office occupancy rates in 10 major U.S. cities … [Read more...] about Serving the Hybrid Workforce
Market Like a Pro
Experts share marketing tips you can implement to grow your business By Sara Perez Webber How are your new year’s resolutions coming along? If you’re like many business owners, you probably resolved to grow your business in 2023. Without a strong marketing plan, however, you may not accomplish your goal. “A marketing plan is not separate from your business plan,” … [Read more...] about Market Like a Pro
Elevate Your Catering
Implement these time-tested strategies as you plan events for 2023 By Kenneth Connell, The Waffle Experience With the stressful holiday season in the rearview mirror, the new year beckons with opportunity. While COVID-era concerns for hygiene have not gone away—and the industry is still plagued by ongoing labor shortages—patrons are excitedly looking forward to in-person … [Read more...] about Elevate Your Catering
Tips for Handling Aggressive Customers
Particularly in the foodservice industry, it’s critical to understand how to address complaints and defuse potentially dangerous situations By Yasmine Mustafa, CEO and co-founder of ROAR One of the best indicators of how efficiently a business runs is how well it deals with complaints. This is extremely important in the hospitality and foodservice industries, where … [Read more...] about Tips for Handling Aggressive Customers
Station Innovation
Offering tempting dishes and creative themes, caterers serve up their best with guest-pleasing stations By Sara Perez Webber The sky’s the limit when it comes to food station variety. But which ones are most popular with clients and guests? CFE asked six caterers to share details of noteworthy station and buffet offerings. Their answers reflect the trends driving event … [Read more...] about Station Innovation
Taking the Pulse of the Industry
After years of tumult, what’s the business outlook for 2023? CFE asked experts from the catering and restaurant industries to weigh in By Sara Perez Webber The catering and restaurant industries have come a long way since the dark days of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic caused the biggest disruption ever to the foodservice industry. And while certain challenges … [Read more...] about Taking the Pulse of the Industry