Job Growth in Restaurant Industry Expected for 2015

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2014 will mark the 15th consecutive year that the restaurant industry job growth outdid the overall economy by adding jobs at an incredible 3.5 percent rate. The National Restaurant Association’s Chief Economist Bruce Grindy states that “The restaurant industry continues to be a driving force behind the nation’s recovery,” as steady job growth convinces consumers to break away from the recession mindset. Grindy predicts that 2015 is to be a year with continued economic gains in addition to the 300,000 jobs that are to be added to the restaurant industry.

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Trending Cocktails: Citrus and Grapefruit Flavoring

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Citrus has always been a favorite when it comes to both food and beverage flavoring, but trend reports show that 2015 is the year of the orange, grapefruit and lemon. Consumers tend to lean towards bold flavors and citrus helps spice up a meal or beverage without the added calories.

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How Not to Advertise Your Restaurant – 10 Ways

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Running a restaurant is expensive. Advertising is expensive. With steep costs and tricky metrics, I tend to assume that restaurateurs want to make the most of their limited advertising budgets. However, since I see the same mistakes over and over, I have to figure that restaurateurs prefer to spend their time meditating in the peace and quiet of their empty restaurants. Therefore, without further ado, I present you with ten tips you can follow to NOT advertise your restaurant. 

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Bartender’s Choice Menus: Get Free PR and Increase Profits

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Industry insiders predict that, among other things, 2015 will be the year of bartender’s choice menus. The rise of the cocktail over the past few years has whetted customers’ tastes for strong drinks with unique flavor profiles—and for many guests, your Manhattan or Sidecar with artisan bitters is no longer going to cut it. Never fear! At Uncorkd, we’re all about helping you make your cocktail menu awesome. This week’s handy post explains how you can add bartender’s choice drinks to your menu to improve your press and profits. 

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Cocktail Armageddon Is Here

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The End Times might actually be here… but only if you’re a cocktail. That’s because a new trend, the Vapor Spirit, is starting to catch on. The Vapor Spirit is an invention that boils your favorite spirit so that you can literally inhale the alcohol through a straw. The Vapor Spirits product claims to make drinking “as easy as breathing,” and it promises enhanced flavor and smooth “drinking,” all while reducing your chances for a hangover. We’re kind of worried. Here are the details on what the Vapor Spirit is and how to use it, as well as three reasons why it might just kill the cocktail. 

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Uncorkd 8 Top Spirits Predictions for 2015

8 Top Spirits Predictions for 2015

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It’s the end of the year, and everyone is making their drink predictions. Last year, I made food predictions, of which one-third came true… which is enough to have merited me the title of a prophet back in the day. While I still think kumquats are due for their time in the spotlight (man, I love those things), I’m ready to get even more right this year with the eight top spirits predictions for 2015.  Read more

How to Sell Your Beer for $20 a Pint

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If you’re looking for the next big craft beer trend for your restaurant, you might want to consider increasing your prices. Yes, you read that right, I just said you should increase your prices. Worried your customers will go on strike and your restaurant will be blacklisted on Yelp? Trust me, you’ll be fine—if you’re selling estate beers. Here’s how to increase your beer prices up to $20 a pint, and keep your customers coming back for more. 

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Sour Beer: What You Need to Know For Your Restaurant

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Beer-barrel sanitization is a thing of the past. For years, breweries have been religiously following the antibacterial mandates set forth by Louis Pasteur—but now some breweries actually welcome bacteria in their beer. Don’t believe me? Obviously you haven’t heard about the new trend of sour beer. Today’s post will get you up to speed on the methods and madnesses of the sour beer movement. 

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How to Profit Off the Top Wine Trends for 2014 (Part 2)

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Last week, we posted “How to Profit Off the Top Wine Trends for 2014 (Part 1)“. If you missed the last post, you should read it. It talked about three of the main wine trends for 2014, as reported by a study commissioned by E. & J. Gallo Winery. Gallo promises to make their wine trends study a yearly event, and with their interesting findings and easy-to-read infographics, the study is definitely worth a read for restaurant professionals.

Here are the two last tips to leverage the information in the wine trends survey to increase the profits in your restaurant. (Get items 1-3 here.)  Read more

Uncorkd How to Launch a New Restaurant Menu

How to Profit Off the Top Wine Trends for 2014 (Part 1)

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Have your wine sales been lagging? That’s a clear sign you should change your wine sales strategy in 2015. America’s Millennials are a wine-loving crowd, and if you’re marketing and selling your wines properly, your sales should be through the roof. After all, 81% of wine drinkers agree that wine is not just for special occasions anymore.

But what should you do if your wine sales are in a slump? How can you tell what will bring in the business? I have great news for you. Determining what to sell to wine drinkers under 40 is no longer a guessing game. This is because E. & J. Gallo Winery, the winery that sells Apothic, Columbia, Barefoot, and New Amsterdam spirits (and, of course, Gallo), has commissioned a new study about wine trends. They surveyed 1,001 frequent wine drinkers between the ages of 25-64 in the US, and they’ve now published their findings. But what good is a list of trends without advice on how to use it? That’s where I come in. Without further ado, here is part one of the top wine trends for 2014—and how to make those trends work for your restaurant.  Read more