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Impact of Obama care and Higher Minimum Wage Requirements on Employment

Sep 24, 2016

ObamaCare (PPACA) and the higher minimum wages have had a substantial impact on both our industry (Food Service) and that of many ‘labor-heavy’ organizations across the US.

The Press is trying to tell us differently:

FACT: While we have seen a drop in full-time labor in favor of part-time labor under the Affordable Care Act, as of August 2015 we had also seen 58 consecutive months of net job growth since October of 2010 – According to the Department of Labor

As an effect of the new employer mandate some larger firms who have to provide insurance for employees come 2015/2016 [have been] cutting back employee hours to part-time to avoid paying for their health coverage. Other employers have moved workers from part-time to full-time to embrace the law. Impact of ObamaCare on Jobs

 

What about the employee?
Statistics show that the actual cost for the employee for full coverage is ‘substantially less’ when the employer in fact does not offer insurance. Under an employer plan the employee may end up paying two to three times as much for the premium than they would have if the employer was not required to offer PPACA Qualified Plans.

In addition, there is less “Job Lock” when the employer does not offer health care coverage allowing employees to make better decisions on the best employers for each of them without having to hang-on just because of benefits.

The CBO estimates that the ACA will reduce the total number of hours worked, on net, by about 1.5 percent to 2.0 percent during the period from 2017 to 2024. The reduction in the CBO’s projections of hours worked represents a decline in the number of full-time equivalent workers (total hours based on all part-time and full-time employees, not actual job loss from full-time workers losing their jobs or not being able to find work) of about 2.0 million in 2017, rising to about 2.5 million in 2024. – Obamacare Facts 2016

 

As Restaurant Consultants, we tend to agree with this statement as our experiences in the field, with small to medium size employers demonstrates, there is a focus by employers on remaining below the 50 FTE (Full Time Equivalent) requirement.

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Are you Ready for Gen Z?

Sep 20, 2016

Millennials. By now, you know they’re the most populist demographic in the United States. And as a foodservice operator, you know you want to figure out how to get them to become a loyal consumer at your restaurant. Maybe you feel you’ve got a grip on this segment, but are you ready for the next generation?

Generation Z is defined as the group that was born before the Millennials – roughly those currently aged 5 to 20 years old. You may be thinking how could there be much of a difference between the two groups and you may be surprised to hear that there are many distinctions (and they actually view themselves different from Millennials).

 

Here are a few important points to keep in mind regarding the attributes of Gen Z:

– The older ones are just entering college

– They are more cautious with spending their money

– They expect a large variety when it comes to menu offerings

They are reliant on technology

They are seeking fresh and healthy options

Healthy seems to always be “in.” Synergy has been creating healthy menu offerings for decades. We have innovative ideas to lower food cost and have new items that are plant-based to attract new customers and drive frequency. Please contact us to learn more.

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How Kitchen Optimization Can Help Your Restaurant Thrive

Sep 10, 2016

When it comes to running your restaurant, optimizing your kitchen is critical to your success. Synergy Restaurant Consultants has the experience and tools that can help your restaurant increase BOH productivity, raise the standards of hospitality, and improve your overall concept. How do they do it? They provide three levels of Kitchen Optimization services that are proven to reduce costs and increase sales. Here’s a peek at what you can expect during the KitchenOptimization™ process.

1. Menu Strategy Review

First things first. Synergy Restaurant Consultants always begin with a review of the current strategy of your menu. In this way, they can understand your objectives in relation to the food and beverages you serve. From there, the assessment continues to evaluate other aspects including production, productivity, cooking methods and beverage strategy.

 

2. Standards Review

Is your menu effectively executed and are your budgets and operating costs in line? A review of these items will help Synergy Restaurant Consultants get to the root of the problem.

 

3. KitchenOptimization™ Assessment

Next, an assessment of all kitchen operations from the time your restaurant opens to the time the doors close will take place. Synergy looks at what impacts labor efficiencies, productivity, food quality, procurement, safety and more. In this way, discovering ways to make improvements that will benefit your restaurant will be found.

 

Restaurant kitchen

4. Food Review

No optimization could be complete without a sampling of the menu offerings. Synergy Restaurant Consultants will give unbiased opinions and recommendations on the flavor, quality, presentation, and value, as well as comment about serving methods and temperatures.

 

5. Supply Chain Management

During this assessment, Synergy Restaurant Consultants has one main goal and that is to find the areas of opportunity that will either create financial gain without cutting the quality or that will bring about a better value by upgrading quality.

 

6. Actionable KitchenOptimization™ Strategies

After all is said and done, Synergy Restaurant Consultants will create a detailed report and help your restaurant to take the actions necessary to make positive changes happen, including those that can gain a more immediate positive impact.

 

By working through these 6 steps with your restaurant, Synergy Restaurant Consultants can focus on the solutions that will turn your problems into opportunities and help generate more revenue. This whole process will help you to realize your restaurant dreams and make the success of those dreams a reality. Make a positive change for your restaurant’s future today!

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Using Social Media to Optimize Your Restaurant Profitability

Sep 07, 2016

Thanks to technology, we have a lot more avenues to pursue when it comes to marketing restaurants and connecting with the guests we serve. While conducting extensive research on your restaurant through traditional means, Synergy Restaurant Consultants also uses social media marketing and branding to help bring about a positive rating among consumers.

Name recognition and branding are all part of this though some other key things must take place first before you can tweet your way to success. Beyond Twitter, restaurants that utilize Facebook and Instagram are seeing incredible results by making a tangible connection with the very people they are trying to reach.

Exploring new territory in this regard is crucial to success. Millennials are driving the market when it comes to both flavors and marketing. For example, we’re seeing a surge in offerings that straddle the lines of cuisine. In our global world, tacos are just fine but Korean tacos are much more interesting to consumers. A burger is always welcome but with feisty toppings like wasabi flakes and salmon roe, it becomes something altogether new and divine.

restaurant social media marketing
How are you utilizing social media?

 

 

By perfecting your menu and making sure you’re not wasting money on items that don’t sell, you can reach that achievable market and stand out from the other restaurants in your area. By the same token, offering too many choices can make it too confusing for your clientele. Focus is the key here.

 

Once you’ve aligned your operating systems, menu, undergone simplified training and have systems for testing in place, you can start pushing out on social media to drive more consumer interest in your brand. Getting followers, likes and all that goes with social media gives you all the tools you need to make a connection. Existing customers are most reachable, and when you post on your restaurant’s social media page, you can entice them with incentives to make more frequent purchases as well as spend more with each purchase.

 

Email marketing is also bigger than ever now. Most consumers know they can sign up for coupons and exclusive deals by joining a free mailing list. These marketing tools have proven effective for bringing customers back again and again. It’s also a great way to introduce a new menu offering or a special seasonal item.

 

Providing content for your social media adds more perceived value to what you serve up to your customers so keep that in mind with every post you make. Get help with your social media campaigns and let Synergy Restaurant Consultants show you how to turn social media into your best tool.