Food & Food Equipment News

MZ Advertising Launches RestaurantCatchup.com

Full-service agency MZ Advertising has recently launched RestaurantCatchup.com, a blog devoted to all that is QSR, sit-down and everything in-between in the restaurant world.

Serving as an informative and entertaining snapshot of the restaurant category, the blog contains commentary on the latest sales trends, news, marketing programs, advertising campaigns and new products, as well as quirky and fun stories.

“Restaurants are in our DNA,” said MZ President and CEO Richard Zien. "We’ve made food our passion through creating award-winning, sales-generating work for such brands as Carl’s Jr., Taco Bueno, Hardee’s and many others over the last 20 years. As one of the preeminent QSR ad agencies in America, we have a tremendous amount of knowledge and insight into the restaurant category, so we created the blog.”

Written by MZ Director of Brand Analysis Gary Rothlein, RestaurantCatchup.com will be updated on a regular basis. Readers are encouraged to subscribe and comment on stories.

“We hope to build a virtual community of people interested in, and who appreciate, the restaurant business,” said Zien.

Hendrick Construction Completes Osso Restaurant & Lounge

NC Music Factory's New Restaurant is Upscale Modern Lounge in Charlotte

Hendrick Construction Inc. has completed the stylish Osso Restaurant & Lounge, which is now open in Charlotte's premier entertainment district.

(Photo by Mike Hattaway) The 3,000-square-foot restaurant features regional authentic Italian cuisine from Chef Gene Briggs of Charlotte's popular Blue Restaurant & Bar. Osso also features an upscale lounge with modern decor. A state-of-the-art sound system provides upbeat DJ-driven music in the lounge, as well as pleasant down-tempo music in the in the 70-seat dining room.

"This is a totally new concept for Charlotte," said Owner Alex Myrick. "We've created an environment with a hip, urban lounge and a dining area with an elegant atmosphere."

Designed by world-renowned designer Francois Fossard, Osso's upscale interior includes tapered, twisted decorative columns and an elegant fireplace in the center of the lounge. The walls feature barn wood finishes, fabric and cowhide coverings, inset back lighting and hand-cut mirrors.

"The unusual finishes made this a challenging job, but our talented team was able get the job done," said Roger Hendrick, President of Hendrick Construction. "With the intricate custom designs throughout the interior, Charlotte has never seen anything like Osso."

Noah Lazes, President of the ARK Group, the developer of NC Music Factory, said Osso is a great fit for the entertainment district.

"Osso continues to expand our ever-growing selection of fine dining and upscale food and beverage service," Lazes said. "We're thrilled to welcome this unique blend of restaurant and lounge to NC Music Factory."

Hendrick Construction also built The Comedy Zone, The Saloon, The Fillmore, Butter NC and Mattie's Diner at NC Music Factory.

Located in a fully restored textile mill on 37 acres in Uptown Charlotte, NC Music Factory is home to world-class live music venues, pubs, clubs and restaurants, as well as many of Charlotte's most creative-minded businesses. Visit www.ncmusicfactory.com.

Hendrick Construction Inc. is a Charlotte, N.C.-based general contractor that provides commercial construction services throughout the Southeast. The company's portfolio includes facilities for corporate headquarters, manufacturing, industrial, health care and bio-tech companies, as well as schools, government buildings, entertainment venues and restaurants. Visit www.hendrickconstruction.com.

iMunchie Cooks Up Early Success with Niche Social Networking for Foodies

In the summer of 2010, Jacob Baloul took a photo of a bowl of French onion soup he had just made and texted it to friends and family. Within seconds, he began receiving replies. Everyone, it seemed, thought that bowl of soup looked tasty, and most wanted to know how to make it. It set Baloul to thinking: What if he could share photos of his culinary adventures not just with a handful of people, but with thousands? The idea grew into iMunchie (www.imunchie.com), the social network for foodies that has gone viral in the month since its launch.

Calling iMunchie "the Facebook for food, the LinkedIn for chefs, the Google for recipes, the Pandora for munchies and the online version of the hit show 'Top Chef' all in one," Baloul and his business partner, Bryan Pivik, have seen their membership explode right out of the gate. This is social networking with a niche focus.

"In the coming years, we're going to see more isolated and specific social networks," Baloul explained. "Facebook has become the 'world of everything.' A lot of noise goes on over there because people do everything there—but there is a large segment of people that want to get rid of the clutter. So we carved out the social network of food. Today it's iMunchie, tomorrow it may be a social network for doctors or sports enthusiasts."

Baloul and Pivik may be onto something. Foodies, professional and amateur chefs, and home cooks have all embraced iMunchie. Members post pictures of the foods they make and chat about them the way they would across a cafe table. They get ideas for dinner or for their next party. They admire each other's latest creations. They engage in friendly competitions (complete with cash prizes) to see who can make the best holiday meal or fruity drink. They revel in food and friendship.

Those friendly competitions are a big part of iMunchie's rapid growth. Any iMunchie member can create a tournament and offer up a prize of $1 or more. Other members can compete for the prize by posting photos of foods they've made that fit the tournament's theme. Current tournaments include "Most Decadent Dessert," with a $100 prize, and "New Year's 2012 Recipe Competition," with the largest iMunchie prize ever: $2,000.

iMunchie is gaining traction by creating its own space on the Internet. It's not a traditional recipe site with calorie counts and step-by-step instructions. Nor is it a place where people have to fend off requests for help with virtual fish tanks or fashion empires. iMunchie stands apart as a community of people making art with food and photos and sharing culinary inspiration. It's making the Internet feel a little smaller and more intimate at a time when many are hungering for just such a change.

Growers Express Selects Junction Solutions’ Wireless Warehouse for Greater Inventory Visibility Through Distribution Supply Chain

Junction Solutions, a provider of vertical, market-specific on-premise and on-demand software applications and services for the food and beverage, multi-channel retail and distribution industries built in Microsoft Dynamics AX, today announced its selection by Growers Express, one of the nation’s largest suppliers of fresh vegetables. The company, perhaps best known for its Green Giant Fresh brand, will leverage Junction Solutions’ Wireless Warehouse to enhance warehouse efficiency, accuracy and visibility.

“As our company continues to grow, we wanted to find a warehouse solution that seamlessly integrates with our ERP platform, Microsoft Dynamics AX,” said William Cheung, Director of IT, Growers Express. “Our products must be safely and quickly moved from field to processing facility to consumer, so it’s imperative for us to access real-time inventory and order management data. Junction Solutions’ Wireless Warehouse provides us with greater visibility into our inventory at all times, and allows us to streamline operations, reduce costs and maintain our company’s strong competitive advantage,” he said.

“Wireless Warehouse provides automatic and wireless connectivity between handheld devices and business management solutions, eliminating manual order processes,” said Christian Hutter, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing and Distribution for Junction Solutions. “The solution’s flexibility works for any combination of basic inventory dimensions including configuration, batch numbers, serial numbers, license plates, etc., so it can be deployed specifically for the needs of Growers Express. Wireless Warehouse gives growers and distributors extended Microsoft Dynamics AX functionality, ensuring management and control over key distribution center activities. It includes a wireless infrastructure, mobile devices with barcode scanning capability and is natively part of the Dynamics AX Warehouse Management System. Plus, it’s designed to be implemented quickly, so the customer can begin reaping cost and labor savings immediately.”

Traditional Customer Loyalty Gets Kick with Belly Digital Loyalty Program

Belly, the new digital loyalty program, launched today and offers a unique value proposition for small- and medium-sized businesses. Belly replaces traditional "buy 10 get one free" punch cards with a unique loyalty platform that fit each businesses’ personality and connects consumers on a much more personalized level to the places they already love.

Formerly known as Bellyflop, the company is the first digital universal loyalty program of its kind. Belly provides customers with a single loyalty card, instead of a wallet-full. Belly goes wherever you go, and can be downloaded as an iPhone App or Android App, that lets you earn points and redeem benefits at your favorite local businesses by simply scanning the card or app on the provided iPad in-store.

“We took an entirely new approach to the loyalty space. Traditional loyalty programs are broken, for both businesses and their customers. People don’t want to carry a million punch cards, and businesses need a loyalty program that drives visits and adds value,” said Belly Co-Founder and CEO Logan LaHive. “Belly focuses on what’s missing: a smart and custom loyalty program that reflects the unique personality and culture of each store.”

There are already over 285 businesses using the Belly platform, and the Belly team works very closely with each one to ensure the loyalty programs are one-of-a-kind and representative of the stores unique personality. Beyond traditional buy-10-get-1-free offers, or discounts on services for loyal customers, both of which are part of the Belly platform, Belly’s novel approach centers around unique benefits, from a comic book store that lets customers punch the owner in the stomach, to a bakery that rewards a customer with all-you-can-eat-cupcakes for 10 minutes. Belly users can armwrestle a sandwich shop employee for free cookie, or egg their favorite food truck it drives by.

“Small business loyalty is about delivering great product, a great service and forming personal relationships with customers,” said Logan LaHive. “Belly is giving small businesses an easy, smart and affordable way to make those connections and turn customers into long-term, loyal fans.”

Belly is turning the businesses who use their platform into fans, too. As part of the 30-day, no commitment trial, Belly offers a quick-setup, plug-and-play loyalty platform that makes creating, offering and redeeming benefits as easy as the pie just smashed in the baker’s face. Belly trains employees to engage customers, encouraging them to ‘Belly-up’ at every visit and provides the in-store iPad to validate paying customers right at the point of sale.

Monthly subscription to Belly includes placement in the Belly iPhone app, unlimited Belly cards to give to customers, in-store marketing materials and secure access to customer data that reveals checkins, points and redemption data, as well as insights into traffic and Belly usage patterns. Businesses can even use Belly data to send communications about exclusive promotions and other incentives to their customer base.

Nearly 50 new businesses are added to Belly every week, along with some 500 new users a day. In just 12 weeks since its pilot launch, Belly has already racked up more than 18,000 users and 50,000 check-ins. Many stores are seeing more Belly check-ins than all other check-in services combined.

Backed by the Chicago-based technology investment fund Lightbank, Belly is now available in the Chicago area, with immediate plans to expand to additional markets in the coming weeks.

For more information about Belly, visit www.bellycard.com.

Vinotemp Launches 2 Stylish Dual-Zone Wine Storage Options

Vinotemp, a recognized leader in the wine storage and refrigeration industry for 25 years, has added two new unique and practical options to its extensive selection of wine coolers. Catering to varying customer style and storage needs, Vinotemp’s modern Two Drawer Wine and Beverage Cooler and the traditional 18-Bottle Cava Wine Cellar provide two easy-to-use, dual-zone, wine storage options.

“Vinotemp is committed to offering wine connoisseurs a wide variety of quality wine storage options,” states India Hynes, President of Vinotemp International. “These two new coolers make great additions to our product offering because they are stylish, practical, and incredibly functional.”

Featuring the ability to conveniently store wine as well as other beverages, in separate temperature zones (40-50 F and 50-66 F), Vinotemp’s new Two Drawer Wine and Beverage Cooler is a practical solution to captious refreshment storage needs. Stainless steel trim, door frames and handles coupled with mirrored drawer panels enhance this cooler’s modern appeal. The pull-out drawers, along with metal shelving that extends in unique directions, make it simple to access and restock the cabinet.

The upper drawer can store 24 12-ounce cans, while the lower drawer can preserve up to 12 bottles of wine. Interior blue LED light, independent temperature controls, and digital displays complete this cooler’s sleek appearance. And, a front exhaust allows Vinotemp’s Two Drawer Wine and Beverage Cooler (VT–DRAW2WBC) to be built-in or freestanding. The unit measures 23.2" W x 22.375” D x 33" H and is available for purchase through www.vinotemp.com for $1,049.

For those that desire a more traditional approach to wine storage, Vinotemp’s new 18-Bottle Cava Wine Cellar is the perfect solution. Complete with eco-friendly thermoelectric cooling technology, the Cava can stylishly store up to 18 bottles of wine in two temperature zones (48-53 F and 53-68 F). This sophisticated cellar’s tasteful wood exterior and dark finish, along with its storage drawer and pull-out serving tray, make it a practical store-and-serve addition to any room of the home.

Available for freestanding installation, the Vinotemp Cava 18-Bottle Wine Cellar (VT–CAVA1) includes a thermal glass door, soft interior lighting, sliding metal shelves, and independent temperature control knobs. The unit measures 22" W x 21.625" D x 42.25" H and is available for purchase through www.vinotemp.com for $695.

Renowned Chef Tom Aikens Chooses OpenTable Restaurant Reservation, Guest Management Solution

Acclaimed chef and restaurateur Tom Aikens has chosen OpenTable, the world's leading provider of reservation and guest management solutions for restaurants, at his eponymous Michelin-starred flagship Chelsea restaurant when it re-opens Jan. 12 after a three-month refurbishment.

Tom Aikens' other restaurants, Tom's Kitchen in Chelsea and in Somerset House, already use the OpenTable reservation and guest management system.

"The OpenTable system is efficient and easy to use and provides a simple way for us to know and recognise our diners," said Aikens. "We have seen at Tom's Kitchen at Somerset House how the combination of the toptable network and OpenTable technology can help us reach more diners, offer better availability and make a positive impact on business levels. This has motivated us to switch systems at my Chelsea restaurant."

"It is great to see more and more restaurants recognising the way our technology can help them generate more bookings," said Chris Wood, Managing Director of OpenTable. "Our real-time reservation system can help them manage their bookings effectively and maximise their business potential whether it be a restaurant with 20 seats or 200 seats."

In addition to benefiting from the OpenTable Electronic Reservation Book technology solution, the Tom Aikens Restaurant (www.tomaikens.co.uk) will be featured on toptable.com (www.toptable.com), the leading online consumer destination for restaurant bookings in the U.K., which is owned and operated by OpenTable.

HubWorks Launches Test Pilot of iPad-Based Ordering System

HubWorks Interactive ­LLC, the developer of innovative iPad and mobile ordering systems for businesses in the hospitality industry, announced today it recently implemented a test initiative at the Buffalo Wild Wings location in Mississauga, a city located in the greater Toronto area. The test installation is the first live launch of the HubWorks Interactive FoodHub iPad ordering systems.

The Mississauga location operates approximately 60 tables, with 20 now featuring the customized HubWorks Interactive iPad setup. Upon entering the establishment, guests are given a seating option, so they can choose to interact with the system if they desire. Buffalo Wild Wings team members give guests a brief tutorial for using the device and assist with the first order. The iPad interface is easy to use, allowing guests to quickly peruse menu items and prices. Guests can immediately pay for orders or wait until the experience is done using the custom credit card reader attached to the iPad. HubWorks Interactive's proprietary case includes the reader and a 16-hour battery pack located on the back of the device.

During this initial launch, GfK Research Dynamics conducted a series of interviews and in-depth observations that took place over a three-day period, gathering feedback from guests using the new iPad technologies.

"The early results with the HubWorks Interactive solution have been quite positive," said Tim Murphy, Director International at Buffalo Wild Wings. "We are noting a more efficient process, with guests receiving their food and drinks more quickly. Team member reactions have noted the system is a good complement to their own personal interaction with the guests, and they can see its value in adding efficiency to the ordering process, allowing them to cover additional tables, upsell certain items, and generate more tips."

"We are thrilled with the early Buffalo Wild Wings test results," said Rob Berger, President of HubWorks Interactive. "They are providing us with some outstanding feedback from both the guests and team members, and we see this as a real proof of concept for our innovative iPad ordering system. Our solution benefits the guest through ease of use and various entertainment options, and the Buffalo Wild Wings team members who can interact with guests at a more relaxed pace, while retrieving drinks and food more efficiently."

The HubWorks Interactive system includes several entertainment options including multiple games, sports score tickers, and access to social sharing sites including Facebook and Twitter. HubWorks Interactive's solutions integrate seamlessly with most major POS system, and are easy to both deploy and maintain. FoodHub solutions allow restaurants to manage costs while improving the dining experience to ensure larger check sizes and repeat business.

BiteHunter, LocalEats Integrate Apps to Find Best Locally Owned Eateries

BiteHunter, the first real-time search engine for dining deals, and LocalEats, a top-selling travel app dedicated to helping diners find the best locally owned restaurants in America, announced an official partnership today. The partnership integrates the two mobile apps’ content to bring users a curated guide to the top locally owned restaurants with the best dining deals in real-time.

BiteHunter and LocalEats marry up content from each mobile app—dining deal information and curated local restaurant guide—to deliver the best possible prices at the best restaurants in America. Both apps solve problems in the marketplace, whether that be allowing for consumers to find available deals without registering for daily deal emails and newsletters, or allowing business travelers to find the best eats no matter where they are. Featuring more than 15,000 restaurants in more than 50 markets across the US, LocalEats can now pair up carefully chosen restaurants with the best dining deals.

“We’ve been looking forward to this partnership with LocalEats because we both have a vision of bringing the best of the best to our users,” said Gil Harel, CEO & co-founder of BiteHunter. “LocalEats is a top dining and travel app, and each of our content can only benefit our users. This new integration will take each app above and beyond others on the market.”

LocalEats app users will see BiteHunter’s icon in the restaurant detail page, which reveals available deals at that location. When clicking the deal, they will go directly to the deal source. BiteHunter will provide users LocalEats’ restaurant synopsis if a deal is from a LocalEats-selected restaurant, helping them to make better restaurant choices.

“Collaborating with BiteHunter gives LocalEats users an advantage when dining out at LocalEats-selected restaurants,” said Shannon Austin, strategic development officer of LocalEats. “Users can check the app at home or on the road and know they’re getting the best deal available at that restaurant on that day. BiteHunter is a pioneer in the deal aggregation space, and their intense focus on the dining space mirrors our own. This partnership can only benefit restaurants as more customers discover them and feel confident they’re getting a great value for their dining dollar.”

For more information, visit http://www.BiteHunter.com or http://www.LocalEats.com. To download each app, visit BiteHunter and LocalEats in the iTunes App Store.

General Mills Rolls Out Another Marketing First With Debut of Pillsbury Crescents, Shazam Partnership

15-Second “Holiday Ideas Made Easy” Advertisement Released Today Showcases Shazam for TV, Celebrates Favorite Holiday Fare from Pillsbury Crescents

Calling all modern moms in search of delicious, easy holiday nibbles, treats and tasty bites to share with family and friends in coming weeks … keep your smartphones within reach. General Mills via its ever-popular Pillsbury Crescents brand takes a technological twist by integrating Shazam for TV to reach busy millennial moms instantly in a first-in-category ad campaign. The company is the first packaged foods company to leverage Shazam’s discovery service, building engagement and excitement for a trusted product many creative cooks turn to during the holiday season.

The “Holiday Ideas Made Easy” 15-second television spot launches today and will air on national networks through the end of the month. In addition, General Mills and Shazam will showcase the television advertisement at the TV of Tomorrow show in New York. The partnership illustrates how the Shazam for TV service makes it easy for consumers – particularly tech-savvy moms who rely on their smartphones – to access holiday recipes and how-to tips. They can conveniently save the information to their phones and access it later when they’re shopping or finalizing party plans.

“Here’s a modern approach to holiday entertaining that will resonate with our savvy consumers, particularly millennial moms seeking quick ways to round out their recipe repertoire in the coming weeks,” explained Waylon Good, Marketing for Pillsbury Crescents. “The partnership with Shazam is cutting edge and sparks another creative and unexpected way to reach consumers. During this busy time of year, we’re pleased to deliver simple 30-minute ideas that start with a staple holiday product and result in dozens of mouthwatering possibilities.”

The campaign aims to help busy millennial moms who were raised on email and the Internet and who are rarely without their smartphones and tablets to help streamline their lives. When consumers use Shazam during the Pillsbury Crescent commercial, they receive an interactive tag result which lets them flip through different mobile pages that show how easy it is to create an appetizer featured in the ad. The tag result features new technology that delivers a smoother, faster experience and lets users remain within the Shazam App to view the recipe. And with the result in their Shazam Tag List, they can carry the recipe and ingredient list wherever they take their mobile device.

“Shazam is excited to launch a new holiday campaign with such a classic American brand as General Mills and Pillsbury,” said Evan Krauss, EVP Advertising for Shazam. “And we’re proud to highlight as a part of this launch a new interactive feature in our Shazam for TV service that allows people to have a deeper, more engaging experience when they use Shazam on a commercial.”

To use Shazam with the Pillsbury “Holiday Ideas Made Easy” commercial, simply:

1) Download the Shazam App to your smartphone;

2) Use Shazam to listen to the ad when it’s being aired; then,

3) Flip through the various pages of the Pillsbury tag result to see recipes, recipe videos and links to more easy entertaining ideas.

The Shazam-enabled Pillsbury Crescents 15-second spot features Pillsbury’s Crescent-Wrapped Brie, an easy holiday entertaining idea made from just three simple ingredients. Pillsbury Crescents refrigerated dough is convenient, versatile and it can be easily used to make hot-from-the-oven crescent rolls as well as many other delicious dishes such as pinwheels, empanadas, pot pie and mini pizzas. For more Holiday Ideas Made Easy, go to www.pillsbury.com.