Imagine your customers ordering their pizza not by the inch –– but by the pound. And the goal? Getting them to polish it off in-house for a chance at t-shirts and cash but best of all, glory. Such is the idea behind eating challenges popp...

I’ve been in a real rut lately. There are dozens of quality pizzerias in my area, but when my friends want to go out for a pie or two (or six) we end up at the same place every time. It isn’t even close to my apartment; I have to take the...

No one likes to think about it, but employees do steal from their employers. The SBA reported that 10 percent of businesses filing bankruptcy cited employee theft or fraud as major causes. Pizzeria operators have two options: ignore the possibility o...

Cajun-inspired dishes add flair to traditional Italian menus Cajun-Creole cooking is hot (as in trend, but also because customers are taking to spicy-heat dishes like never before). So why not jump on the bandwagon and play along? I am sure your cust...

Dough Doctor Mix it Up The Dough Doctor explains mixing time, oven decisions By Tom Lehmann What will happen if I mix my dough less than the normal time? A: If you mix your dough in the 15- to 20-minute range, you probably won’t see much change...

Think breaded chicken, and the ubiquitous chicken tender may come to mind. Yet many pizzeria operators find that breaded chicken also fits nicely in entrées and salads — and even as specialty pizza toppers. At Casa Del-Dio Pizzeria and Italian Kit...

Chuck Wilburn was already a veteran Shakey’s Pizza Parlor operator when he watched a new restaurant open across the street from his Redlands, California, store several years ago. The restaurant was good, and the business flourished quickly. But...

Dave, I just opened my first pizzeria a couple of months ago. Labor has consistently been running between 20-22 percent. At times, I feel short-staffed, but I really can’t afford to hire new help right now until I get sales higher. Do you have ...

Did you know that a 14-inch pizza actually has nearly twice the surface area of a 10-inch pizza? It’s true, and all it takes to show customers that fact is a little simple math. Let’s turn back the clock to your school days, where we&rsqu...

Last month, I discussed a few of the ins and outs of making great thin- and thick-crust pizzas. This month, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss some of the ways to manage thick-crust pizzas. The greatest management problem with deep-dish ste...

Good, old-fashioned hamburger has adorned pizza across America for decades now. Using ground beef is simple, but bear in mind that there are different levels of leanness to consider when purchasing the ingredient. The leaner you go, the more expensiv...

Editor’s Note: This is the second installment of a two-part series on tip reporting. Part I was published in our March issue. Your employees are required by law to report 100 percent of their tips. As the employer, it is your responsibility to ...