Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://specialtyfoodmagazine.epubxp.com/i/235863
trends & happenings Chefs Against Smartphones It's no compliment to the chef to have your nose in your iPhone instead of gazing at the food on your plate. While many restaurants post "No cellphones" signs, one has come up with a new way to encourage customers to leave their email until later. Bedivere Eatery & Tavern, a small restaurant in Beirut, Lebanon, has implemented a policy that gives customers 10 percent off their food bill when they leave their cell phones at the door. With any luck, it's the wave of the future.—D.S. KIDS HOLD SWAY OVER BEVERAGE PICKS Visit us at Booth #4213 at the Winter Fancy Food Show January 19-21, 2014 Parents do listen to kids' food desires—especially in the portionpack beverage category—making 80 percent of their purchases with direct influence from their children, according to research conducted by Tetra Pak. A full 55 percent of planned purchases are specifically made based on kids' requests. And when children are along on the shopping trip, which is 60 percent of the time, they're more likely to have their way. The study suggests that the secret to increasing product sales is to appeal to both parents and kids by focusing on three important elements: taste, nutrition and inspired packaging and design. And while familiar fictional characters appeal to young kids, packaging can make loyal customers out of moms, too, if it helps them make healthful choices.—D.S. Castle Importing is an Italian family business which started over 20 years ago by processing hard Italian cheeses. With their 70,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility, Castle Importing has expanded to include other cheeses that can be processed into an infnite variety of packaging options, including sizes and private labeling for retail as well as wholesale use. Castle Importing also imports a wide assortment of olive oils and other fne Italian products. Please call or stop by today to discuss your needs with a sales representative. Castle Importing, Inc. ♦ 866.720.9886 ♦ castleimporting.com Winter Fancy Food Show Booth 4213 28 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE specialtyfood.com Denise Purcell is editor and Nicole Potenza Denis and Denise Shoukas are contributing editors to Specialty Food Magazine.