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Menu Development
Bacon Pizzas — You’re bacon me crazy
The king of all pork products Bacon is tops in pizzerias As my wife and I watched a competitive cooking show a few months back, one of the judges tasted a certain dish and said, “Chef, I loved your dish but you cheated.” “Uh, excuse me? I don�...
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Employee Management
The Big Break-Up
The dissolution of a partnership doesn’t have to be painful If a restaurant partnership is similar to a marriage (as many will attest it is), then dissolving a partnership must be very much like going through a divorce — which should be a ...
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People & Pizzerias
2014 Pizza Today Hot 100 Independent Pizzerias List
The following is a ranking of America’s largest independent pizza operations (based on sales) in the U.S. Find out who climbed more than 10 spots from last year’s list. Restaurant Name ’13 Owner(s)/Manger(s) City, State # Units Gross Sa...
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Menu Development
Trending Recipe: How To — Anna’s Carbonara
By Brian Weavel, Anna’s Pizza & Pasta, Winnabego, Illinois At Anna’s, we don’t do a traditional carbonara. This is our twist on the original. Give it a try. I hope you like it! Watch my how-to video on this dish. Anna’s Spinach...
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People & Pizzerias
Hold the Fizz
Operators offer alternatives to soda It turns out not everyone likes soda with pizza. In fact, soda sales are down in restaurants, as consumers seek something new in non-alcoholic beverages. Operators are responding with everything from old st...
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Operations
Employee Incentives: Fair Trade
Years ago I realized that my employees were one of my most valuable assets, both in my operations and marketing. Although I can be a savvy businessman, I couldn’t execute my strategies without good people behind me. Once I had acquired such a crew ...
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Employee Management
Out In The Open
Nick Sarillo, owner of Nick’s Pizza and Pub, takes home $120,000 a year, and he doesn’t care who knows it, including –– and perhaps most importantly –– the 200 full and part-time staffers who work for him. Sarillo, who operates pizzerias ...
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Operations
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance
Minding the complexity of the Americans with Disabilities Act may make your head spin with worry. Face it –– this law creates frustration for many, not only because of the business cost it incurs, but also because of fear that an unhappy customer...
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People & Pizzerias
Places that Rock: Empire Slice House / Pizza Villa / My Pizzetta / Sedona Pizza Co.
Empire Slice House 1734 NW 16th St. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73106 (405) 557-1760 www.empireslicehouse.com This hip pizzeria made Eater.com’s “Hottest 21 Pizzerias in the U.S.” list this year. Operators Rachel Cope and Avery Cannon are under 30 ...
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Menu Development
Know When to Fold ’Em
Calzones are a no-brainer If you are thinking about adding calzones to your menu, now is the time to do it. Calzones bring diversity to your lineup without getting off base from your menu theme. It’s the perfect spinoff from pizza — and it...
Topics
Employee Management
Finding Greatness
Hiring the right people can make or break your business For reasons well known to pizzeria operators, finding great employees, particularly for entry-level positions, is often “throw-up-your-hands” frustrating. But despite the challenges i...
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Operations
Engaged: Five critical moments of service
I was traveling the interstate close to midnight when I stopped by a restaurant still open in the small community of Canyonville, Oregon. My 18-year-old waiter, Kyle, graduated last year from his small high school in a senior class of 12 students. He...