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Peter Romeo

Editor at Large

Articles by
Peter Romeo

Page 358

The week in ideas, March 23, 2012

Restaurateurs have to fulfill a slew of professional roles, from accountant to marketer to motivational speaker, if they want to remain successful. This week’s crop of ideas shows why “psychiatrist” should often top the list. Consider, for instance, how one place contended with a crazy riff on the old dine-and-dash scam.

The Week In Franchising, March 20, 2012

A roundup of developments affecting franchisees and franchisors.

The Week in Franchising, March 13, 2012

A roundup of developments affecting franchisees and franchisors.

Five social-media mavens to steal from

No one’s calling you a thief, pal. But the restaurant business certainly abounds in “coincidence.” A successful idea hatched by one operator tends to appear in short order throughout the industry—in almost exactly the same form! Mini-desserts anyone?

Five insightful employee blogs

When social media first appeared, restaurateurs worried that malcontents on their staffs would use the new soapbox to slam their employer. Little did the industry suspect that a good restaurant whine would become a staple of the new communications channels.

The best (but still not great) chain blogs

Maybe the industry is leery after seeing so many “trends” fizzle into fads (low-carb menu, anyone?). Or it could just be a bandwidth issue. Whatever the reason, restaurant chains clearly lag other businesses in the use of blogs as a public megaphone.

Technology

Computing the outlook for restaurant tech

What’s ahead tech-wise for restaurants in 2012? Probably less of the pent-up demand they’ve borne in the years just prior, according to the National Restaurant Association.

Technology

How Domino's avoided Super Bowl fumbles

The three hours leading into the Super Bowl is the busiest time of the year for the chain, by a blowout margin. Rob Crookston, franchisee of the Roslyn Heights store, will see business soar even in that unit, which is roughly the size of a single-car garage.

Secrets to a happy franchise marriage

Relations between franchisee and franchisor have always been a make-or-break dynamic for restaurant chains. But the prescription for a mutually lucrative partnership has been scrambled a bit by the Great Recession.

The Year of the Franchisee

The Great Recession left clear winners and losers in the chain restaurant game. Fast-food places? Burger King wasn’t the only one that could wear a crown.

What the new breed of franchisees looks like

Check out the new breed if franchisees, including The Super Zees, The Career Changers and The Franchisee-Franchisors.

Leadership

Ron Shaich to focus on 'conscious capitalism'

Attention, Wall Street Occupiers: The sort of corporate conscience you’re demanding isn't alien to the restaurant business, as the trade’s leaders will be reminded at the 2012 Restaurant Leadership Conference.

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