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Supercharging the Food Service Industry: How Ghost Kitchens Are Redefining It

Ever heard of ghost kitchens? It’s the rising trend among restaurant owners and businesses.

The way we order and consume food has changed drastically in the recent years, and the emergence of ghost kitchens have had an unprecedented impact on the food service industry. Ghost kitchens, also known as virtual kitchens, are fully equipped restaurant kitchens that solely operate for the purpose of preparing and delivering food orders placed online. By allowing restaurateurs to skip the need for a dining space, ghost kitchens have opened several possibilities for the food service industry, from cost-savings to increased efficiency. Ghost kitchens have been revolutionizing the way the food service industry operates, and it’s only a matter of time before they become the new normal.

Benefits of Ghost Kitchens

Ghost kitchens are on the rise, and for good reason. They offer several benefits that are changing the food service industry.

First and foremost, they’re cost effective. By removing the need for a physical restaurant space, you can significantly reduce your overhead cost.

Second, they’re efficient. With delivery and take-out options becoming more popular every day, these virtual kitchens are the perfect way to offer your customers multiple brands and concepts for different day parts and increase the hours of useable time for the kitchen itself.

And finally, they’re scalable. Whether you’re looking to expand your business of just want to experiment with a new menu item, ghost kitchens make it easy to do so without having to worry about brick-and-mortar location.

How Ghost Kitchens Impact the Food Service Industry

Ghost kitchens or dark kitchens have been steadily gaining in popularity and are setting a new standard for the food service industry. How? There are several ways that ghost kitchens are redefining how restaurants operate and serve customers.

First, they reduce overhead costs by removing the space needed for sit down dining and service staff. This means lower overhead and operating costs and can create a more efficient supply chain. It also offers the option of selling multiple brands and concepts from the same kitchen.

Second, ghost kitchens offer an amazing opportunity for restaurants to expand their reach beyond their current markets. Companies can easily open new locations and start serving customers in markets that they have not had access to before.

Third, with the rise of technology such as apps and delivery services, customers now have more control over what they order, when they order it and who is delivering it to them. Ghost kitchens can easily capitalize on this trend by offering partnering with one of the many delivery service (GrubHub, Uber Eats, etc.), offering pick up at the kitchen site or developing your own delivery service.

Key Considerations for Restaurants When Setting Up a Ghost Kitchen

From the moment you start thinking about setting up a ghost kitchen, there are a few key considerations you’ll need to think through. While this list is by no means exhaustive, here are a few points to think about:

Social Media and online marketing- Having a good online presence is key for any successful ghost kitchen – make sure to optimize your business listing on food delivery platforms, as well as create attractive visuals for your menu items on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

Offering multiple brands and day parts- Consider the ability to offer all day parts: Breakfast, lunch, dinner as well as brands for each of those day parts. Breakfast burrito and bowls in the morning, and pizza, fried chicken and salad/greens as different brands for lunch and dinner.

The Future of Ghost Kitchens

As ghost kitchens become an increasingly popular option for the food service industry, it will be interesting to see how they continue to evolve and grow into the future. The possibilities are endless and the potential for growth is tremendous.

We can expect to see more restaurant owners taking advantage of ghost kitchens’ ability to manage multiple brands from a single location. These innovative kitchens can help new businesses and entrepreneurs enter new market by reducing the need to invest in a huge physical infrastructure. This also means that with less overhead costs, businesses can focus more on creating innovative products for their customers and increased profitability.

Overall, ghost kitchens are likely to become a major part of the food service industry in the near future due to their efficiency, convenience, and cost savings. So, keep your eyes open – they sky’s the limit!

Are you considering building your own ghost kitchen venture? Have a look at our restaurant equipment guide. For further questions or requests related to restaurant equipment, you can get in touch with us via email at sales@dsl-nw.com or call us at 877-665-1125.

February 28, 2023 DSL Northwest DSL Northwest Blog Comments Off

5 Delicious Food Trends We Can Expect In 2023

It’s hard to believe, but we’re already coming up on the end of 2022. While we can’t see into the future, we can take a look at some of the food trends that are predicted to take off next year.

Below, you’ll find a list of delicious food trends that we can expect in 2023. Keep an eye out for these and be sure to get ahead of the curve by trying them out in your restaurant!

1. Sustainable Restaurant Menus

You’re probably wondering what types of food trends we can expect in the coming year.

First and foremost, sustainability will be key. This includes using ingredients that are organic and locally sourced, as well as reducing waste by composting and recycling. Menus will be designed with these values in mind so you can expect to see inventive dishes made from sustainable ingredients.

Of course, flavor won’t be sacrificed in favor of sustainability. Chefs will experiment with new flavor combinations to create unforgettable dishes. So be prepared to see new and interesting options on restaurant menus in 2023.

2. Healthier Takeout Options

You might have already seen this trend in other restaurants: a surge of healthier takeout options. More and more restaurants are offering meals that are lower in calories by using healthy alternatives while minimizing processed ingredients.

This is great for customers who want to enjoy restaurant food without the guilt. Traditional takeout favorites like pizza and burgers are now having healthier alternatives including whole wheat crusts, lean meats, plant-based alternatives, and fresh vegetables. Restaurants are finding different ways to serve a diverse set of customers with delicious and nutritious meals.

3. Plant-Based Proteins Making Their Mark

There’s no denying that plant-based proteins are making their mark. From the Impossible Burger to Beyond Meat, companies are coming up with new and innovative ways to make meat alternatives. And this trend is only going to continue in 2023.

According to a report by Meticulous Research, the plant-based protein market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12.4% from 2022 to 2029. This means that more and more people are going to be eating plant-based proteins, whether they’re vegetarian or not.

What’s driving this trend? Health-conscious consumers are looking for alternatives to meat that are lower in saturated fat and cholesterol while higher in fiber and vitamins. With plant-based proteins, they can get the best of both worlds.

So, if you’re a restaurant owner, it’s time to start thinking about how you can incorporate plant-based proteins into your menu. Trust us, your customers will thank you for it.

4. Emergence of Ghost Kitchens

The food industry will continue to see the rise of ghost kitchens in 2023. These are commercial kitchens that do not have a storefront and are optimized for food delivery services. They exist purely to prepare food and are most commonly found in areas with a high concentration of food delivery demand.

Ghost kitchens are popping up all over the northwest, offering consumers a convenient way to enjoy restaurant quality food from the comfort of their own homes.

They also provide a significant advantage for restaurants, as they don’t need to rely on a physical location to serve customers. Instead, all that is required is a kitchen, allowing them to significantly reduce overhead costs, allowing for more opportunity to focus on creating and cooking great food.

5. Localized Cuisine Reinvented

You can expect to see a lot of localized cuisine in 2023. What this means is that chefs will be taking traditional dishes from their culture and giving them a modern twist.

For example, you might see a dish that traditionally contains meat being made with plant-based proteins. Or a dish that typically uses white rice being made with black rice or quinoa.

The possibilities are endless, but the one thing you can count on is that these dishes will be absolutely delicious.

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking to improve your culinary game or want to change up your menu, save this article and read on for our list of the Most Delicious Food Trends Set to Take Over the Culinary World. Bon Appetit!

December 22, 2022 DSL Northwest Uncategorized Comments Off

5 Tips to Maximize Your Ice Cream Sales

As an ice cream business owner, it’s important to always be looking for new ways to increase your sales and profits. One way to do that is by maximizing your ice cream sales. Here are 5 tips to help you do just that:

1. Expand Your Flavor Options

Are you considering expanding your flavor options? If not, then this is your sign.

When it comes to ice cream sales, variety is the key to success. If you can offer your customers a wide range of flavors, they’re more likely to buy from you again. So, it’s important to add new flavors to your menu and see how they do. You might be surprised at how well they sell.

And don’t forget about seasonal flavors! Offer your customers something special for the holidays or for summertime. They’ll love it! More on holiday flavors on the next tip!

2. Introduce Interesting Holiday Flavors

It’s no secret that people love ice cream, and businesses with ice cream machines should take advantage of that by introducing interesting holiday flavors.

Some fun ideas to get you started include pumpkin spice, peppermint, eggnog, and gingerbread. These flavors can be used to create seasonal sundaes, shakes, and floats too!

And don’t forget about adding in toppings, some of the classics are – Christmas cookies, candy canes, and peppermint bark. By offering a variety of flavors, you can appeal to everyone’s taste buds and increase your sales in the process.

3. Put Up Exterior and Interior Visual Displays

When it comes to displays, you have two options: exterior and interior. In this case, let’s use both!

Exterior displays are a great way to attract attention from passerby, and they can be as simple as a sign or a banner. Interior displays are a little more complex, but they can be very effective in getting customers to buy your ice cream. You can use cases, freezers, or even windows to showcase your products.

Remember, the key is to make your displays as appealing as possible so that customers will want to buy your ice cream.

4. Use the Power of Social Media

It’s no secret that social media is a powerful tool for business. So if you’re looking to increase your ice cream sales, it’s time to start using social media to its full potential.

Here are a few tips to get your started:

Make sure your social media profiles are up-to-date and look professional
Use interesting and eye-catching visuals to draw people in
Share positive customer service reviews and stories
Use the power of hashtags to reach a larger audience
Host social media contests and giveaways

5. Offer Discounts and Promos

If you want to increase your ice cream sales, you need to think outside the box! Plan out discounts and promotions for holidays, community events, or business-related events. You can also do loyalty rewards, coupons, free samples, or even a social media contest!

There are plenty of ways to flavor-up your discounts and promos and you will surely never run out of customers with it.

Start Boosting Your Ice Cream Sales

Maximizing your ice cream sales might just be the perfect opportunity for your business to increase its overall sales. It’s not always easy to do, but with the right strategies, you can make it happen. With these tips in mind, you should be able to boost your ice cream sales and see a big difference in your bottom line.

Keep your customers’ sweet tooth satisfied all year round with ice cream equipment from Taylor! At DSL Northwest, we’re here to help you choose the right Taylor equipment for your business. Call us at 877-665-1125 or email us at sales@dsl-nw.com and let’s talk about how we can help your business.

November 16, 2022 DSL Northwest Desserts, DSL Northwest Blog, Uncategorized Comments Off

The 7 Common Causes of Restaurant Equipment Failure

The core of consistently good restaurant food comes from its equipment in the kitchen. It helps cook, store, and keep the restaurant going. However, after years of use, it can also breakdown or malfunction. When this happens, it can cause a lot of problems for the restaurant. This article will discuss some of the most common causes of restaurant equipment failure and a few tips on how to prevent these failures from ever happening in your kitchen.

Reasons For Equipment Failure

There are several things that can cause any commercial kitchen equipment to fail. Some of the most common causes include:

1. Improper installation

If the restaurant equipment is not installed properly, it can easily malfunction and possibly cause equipment failure. Improper installation can also lead to safety hazards in the kitchen. However, this can be easily avoided by hiring a professional to properly install your restaurant equipment.

When installing any commercial kitchen equipment, make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If you are not too familiar with how to install the equipment, it’s best to consult an expert to do the job for you.

2. Overuse

Restaurant equipment is designed to handle a predetermined amount of volume. Equipment is considered overused when it is working harder and longer than it was engineered to perform. Overusing equipment without regular preventative maintenance and replacing “wear” parts care can easily add to the equipment’s cost of ownership.

To prevent this from happening, make sure and consult with an equipment specialist who can match the right piece of equipment with your anticipated volume.

3. Poor maintenance

When kitchen equipment is not regularly and properly serviced it will be much more susceptible to unnecessary wear and tear. Issues such as carbon build up, grease migration, excess motor or compressor run times are common when a regular service program isn’t scheduled.

There are a few ways to avoid this:

Have a regular cleaning schedule of all equipment, including the backside of the cookline.
Regularly replace wear items such as gaskets, o-rings, blades, belts and filters.
Schedule a regular Preventative maintenance program on all key equipment by a trained service professional to identify any potential issues before they become a problem. A comprehensive PM program can drastically reduce the likelihood of “down equipment” in your kitchen.

4. Years of Use

Every piece of restaurant equipment will eventually wear out. As the equipment ages it becomes more susceptible to damage and failure.

The best way to maintain the quality of your equipment is to regularly have it inspected by a qualified technician. Similar to your car, regular scheduled service will extend the life of your equipment and allow you to budget for upcoming expenses of equipment repair.

5. Environmental Factors

Extreme temperatures, humidity, poor ventilation, and grease migration can also cause rapid deterioration of any restaurant equipment.

Maintaining not just your equipment but the supporting systems such air conditioning, exhaust hood ventilation and returns and drain systems can be impactful as well.

6. Electrical Problems

Electrical issues can impact equipment by over supplying or under supplying the necessary voltage and amperage to your equipment. Too little power can cause motors to work harder than designed and too much power can short controls, switches and motors. Having an electrician identify the actual voltage in your kitchen will provide you with a better understanding of what you can do to ensure the longevity of your equipment.

7. Improper Use

Plan for regular training with staff on the proper use, cleaning and maintenance of your equipment. With today’s current turnover in kitchen staff this can often be overlooked but proper training can prevent unnecessary expenses for repairs.

Keep all manuals and procedures in the same are or near the equipment for easy reference.

Conclusion

These are the most common causes of restaurant equipment failure. Always remember that when in doubt, call an expert to help you with your kitchen woes.

At DSL Northwest, we are always ready to solve your restaurant equipment problems. We are a full-service company that provides repair, installation., and maintenance services for restaurants in the Northwest. Our technicians have years of experience and are qualified to handle any problem that you may encounter with your restaurant equipment. For inquiries and concerns, let us know through an email at sales@dsl-nw.com or call us at 877-665-1125.

November 5, 2022 DSL Northwest DSL Northwest Blog Comments Off

Preventative Maintenance: The Importance of a Regular Restaurant Equipment Check

Preventative maintenance involves functional checks, servicing, repairing, or replacing of necessary parts and equipment in a restaurant kitchen. These cost-effective practices keep kitchen equipment operational and restaurant operations running smoothly, reducing down time and increasing profitability.

What are the Common Preventative Maintenance Tasks?

Usually, there are routine tasks performed by trained technicians to ensure that all the pieces of equipment in the kitchen are working well. Depending on the size of your kitchen and the number of pieces of equipment you have, a regular preventative maintenance takes at least a few hours to several days. This involves a thorough inspection, testing, repairing and replacing wear items inside your equipment.

Here are the common tasks that your field technician may perform:

Checking door hinges, gaskets, and handles.

Whether its an oven, a freezer, or a grill, these pieces of equipment usually have doors or handles that are used frequently. Any damage, trapped dirt or grease can cause doors to close unevenly, overworking your equipment in the long run.

Cleaning or replacing filters, blowing out condensers

Any equipment that involves refrigeration in the kitchen should be thoroughly inspected and filtering/condensing systems cleaned at least every three months. Cleaning the filters can prevent grease and dirt build-up that may cause extra stress on condensers.

Fryer maintenance

Regular checking of high limit sensors, ignition sensors and gaskets as well as quarterly deep cleaning of the fry pot improves food quality, reduces stress on heating elements due to carbon build up and improves recovery time for oil

Running diagnostic tests

To prevent unwanted and unnecessary damages that may affect you during business hours, a professional technician will run a few diagnostic tests to guarantee that your equipment is running smoothly and identify any potential issues that you may wish to repair to prevent equipment failure during operating hours.

Types of Restaurant Kitchen Maintenance

We do regular maintenance on our home heating and cooling systems as well as on our vehicles, the same should be done with your kitchen equipment. A strategy and plan for regularly maintenance is an investment in lowering your cost of ownership and extending the useful life of your equipment.

Preventative Maintenance (PM Program)

A planned preventative maintenance program (PM) is a scheduled maintenance visit that can occur quarterly, semi yearly or yearly depending on the specific piece of equipment. The goal of a PM is to reduce the likelihood of breakdown which may limit the ability to serve parts of your menu for a day or days. These routine check-ups are aimed at detecting and correcting any possible signs of equipment failure before it occurs.

Reactive Maintenance

Reactive Maintenance is the costliest type of service on your equipment. Not only do you have the expense of the technician’s time, travel and parts, often you are losing sales while the unit is in need of repair and parts.

Why is it Important?

Regularly having your kitchen equipment checked by a professional significantly reduces the likelihood of breakdowns and downtime. When a piece of equipment stops working, part of your menu may be affected and sales will be lost. This is much more detrimental when a critical piece of equipment from the kitchen breaks as equipment repairs are much more costly and may take hours or even days to complete.

Having regularly scheduled preventative maintenance ensures that all kitchen equipment will be in excellent condition, ready to fry the next batch of fried chicken, grilled burger or produce the crowd-favorite ice cream for the next few months.

Looking for field experts for your restaurant’s regular preventative maintenance? At DSL Northwest, our primary goal is to keep our client’s businesses running and their customers happy. If you want to make restaurant equipment planning easy and hassle-free, send our team a message here, and we’ll be more than happy to discuss what kind of program makes sense.

August 9, 2022 DSL Northwest DSL Northwest Blog Comments Off

The Ultimate Restaurant Equipment Guide

Opening a new restaurant requires a lot of planning on what restaurant equipment is needed for your business. This can easily add up to your start-up cost together with other expenses such as lease, licenses, labor, and marketing promotions.

Getting the right equipment is essential to have a fully functioning kitchen that efficiently serves your customers daily.

In comes the question: What restaurant equipment do you need in your kitchen? Here’s a list of the essential restaurant equipment that you’ll want to consider for a fully operational restaurant:

Big Equipment

Ovens
Grills
Fryers
Rotisseries
Breading systems
Display area
Food warmers
1. Counter warmer
2. Holding cabinet
Dump tables
Beverage machines
Carbonated beverages
Juices, shakes, and smoothies
Coffee maker
Ice cream machines
Freezers and refrigerators
Prep counters
Washing equipment
Ranges
Point of sale system

Medium-sized Equipment

Storage rack and containers
Food processors
Mixers
Microwave

Small Equipment

Cutlery
Cooking equipment
Cleaning supplies
Safety equipment

Things to Consider When Sourcing Restaurant Equipment

Industry Specific

The type of equipment you will need greatly depends on the type of restaurant you are opening. Are you running a bakery? If so, then your list will be different from a quick service concept or casual dining.

Also consider what your operational challenges will be and evaluate equipment that can reduce the number of staff on the line and improve ticket times.

Size of Restaurant

Another thing to take note of is the size of your restaurant’s kitchen. Study the blueprint and layout of your space. A well-thought kitchen will have enough room for people to move without bumping into each other. Workflow from one piece of equipment to another will maximize the efficiency and limit energy spent.

Equipment Quality

Quality is everything when choosing your restaurant equipment. When doing a quality check, consider the following: Which equipment will you be using the most? What is the expected wear life of the equipment you are purchasing? What is the cost of ownership for service and repairs?

Choosing the Right Supplier

How much can your supplier help you through your buying process? Do they cater easily to your specific requests? Don’t hesitate to ask a lot of questions regarding your restaurant equipment. Making sure you are in the right hands will put your mind at ease with all the planning.

Post-purchase Servicing

When the inevitable happens to your equipment, will your supplier provide you with post-purchase servicing? It is important to keep in touch with your supplier to make sure your equipment is always in top shape.

Pricing

Pricing is perhaps one of the most crucial things when it comes to buying your restaurant equipment. Make sure and understand that the equipment you are purchasing is capable of handling your projected volume. An equipment expert can match your estimated volume with the proper size of grill, oven, fryer, etc.

Another financial alternative is leasing your equipment. Instead of paying cash, leasing provides you with the equipment you need with a manageable monthly payment.

The Right Restaurant Equipment for Your Business

Getting the right restaurant equipment for your business is no easy task. It involves a lot of planning, researching, and budgeting. Make sure to evaluate your restaurant’s menu and your kitchen layout to find out which restaurant equipment works best for your business.

It will take time to cross-off items in your restaurant equipment list but having a well-planned kitchen with all the restaurant equipment that you need ensures the long-term success of your restaurant and keeps your customers coming back for more!

Remember, when in doubt, ask for advice from experts in the field of restaurant equipment. At DSL Northwest, our primary goal is to keep our client’s businesses running and their customers happy. If you want to make restaurant equipment planning easy and hassle-free, send our team a message here, and we’ll be more than happy to help you with your restaurant.

July 11, 2022 DSL Northwest DSL Northwest Blog Comments Off

Three Questions You Should Be Asking This Fall

Question 1: Is my current equipment able to deliver a profitable Fall menu?

As we move into the next season, you will more than likely be adapting your menu to reflect favorite items that your customers demand. This could include different smoothie flavors, a move from cold to hot beverages, more hot dishes and cooked items as opposed to lighter summer offerings.

Many of these menu items require grills, ovens and dispensers that are able to handle larger volumes of cooked foods and multiple beverage options. In addition, Fall and Winter menus often require additional labor to process these menu items.

New advanced kitchen equipment is designed to handle year-round menus, reduce the pressure on labor and adapt products accordingly at the touch of a button such as the Lainox Naboo, Taylor Grills and Taylor Frozen Beverage Freezers. The new technologies support your aim of consistently creating dishes that deliver on quality every time – often a major headache for foodservice operators.

Question Two: Am I able to absorb higher wages while delivering customer satisfaction?

The minimum wage is the #1 topic of debate across the USA and particularly in the Pacific Northwest where the food service sector has been the most affected. This is a time for operators to consider new ways of delivering a menu in order to reduce costs and any negative knock-on pricing effect to customers. New food service equipment is designed to be more efficient and effective in helping to reduce the amount of manpower required; thereby reducing overall wage costs. In addition, the equipment is able to improve the throughput and ticket times while addressing the reality of rising labor rates we are rapidly seeing in the kitchen. For example, it is possible to cook a whole recipe at the touch of a button e.g. Lainox Naboo or Taylor Grill. Cook-and-hold technologies allow for overnight cooking of items that have historically required a cook on premise and overseeing the cooking of roasts, entrees, etc. Sophisticated smoothie and milkshake machines are able to dispense quality, tasty products with a traditional flavor profile at the touch of a button rather than requiring intensive manpower. New blenders such as the MagnaBlend incorporate a rinse station for speedier service where signature recipes can be uploaded from a laptop to create consistent quality smoothies avoiding the need to mix complex blends by hand.

Question 3: Is my Fall and Winter menu plan delivering on what the customer wants?

The millennial generation is focused on sourcing locally, healthful and natural ingredients as well as seasonal ingredients. This is filtering to the street fast as specials boards on sidewalks boast smoothies and desserts that feature regional ingredients and menu items that include locally sourced meats, fish and produce. Factor these into your menu to stand-out and drive footfall. Fall offers a range of tempting on-trend produce and ingredients and in the Pacific Northwest there is a plentiful choice such as blackberries, blueberries, beets, cauliflower, eggplant, beef, seafood – the list goes on. Whether you are a fine dining restaurant, café, food service or quick service operation, locally sourced and seasonal product can be integrated into your menu – whether as tempting specials or as permanent menu fixtures.

DSL Northwest has significant experience of working with leading foodservice operators across the Pacific Northwest to increase efficiencies and optimize menus in order to appeal to a new generation of restaurant goers. To optimize your own operation, call the team at DLS Northwest for a free consultation and let’s focus on improving your bottom line together. www.dsl-nw.com.

August 29, 2017 DSL Northwest DSL Northwest Blog, Uncategorized Comments Off

Who is DSL Northwest?

1.Who is DSL Northwest?

DSL Northwest is one of the Pacific Northwest’s premiere foodservice equipment providers and consultants. We are proud to be the exclusive distributors for Taylor, Flavor Burst, Fusion Frozen Beverages and Lainox Combi Ovens as well as offering several other specialty products. Our factory-trained service technicians also support after the sale, as well as part, supplies, and consumable product offerings – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

In addition to our foodservice equipment business, our value added consultancy helps our customers to design and achieve their business goals cost-effectively. It is our knowledge in foodservice equipment, and our passion for food, that has led to many trusted partnerships with our customers across the region; the majority of which are major global and USA brand-names. We help them to increase efficiencies within their current menu, find new items to serve or simply help them to keep their equipment running properly to minimize costly downtime.

2. How do you see the future of the foodservice sector?

The future of foodservice is very bright and we are bullish on the ability of the industry to continue to grow as we service the changing demographics of the foodservice consumer. More and more dollars are being spent by the younger generations but competition and external influences such as labor availability and wage rights will make success even more challenging. Make no mistake, this isn’t your parents’ foodservice industry…. and partnering with a company that knows and understands how to navigate this landscape is crucial.

3. What FIVE issues will dominate the foodservice sector?

ONE: Availability of labor is tight and will continue. Executing your menu needs to be achieved using less labor hours and through higher volume sales. (Talk to us about how to achieve this balance as we are experts in this area).

TWO: Wage rates will continue to rise. As a mandatory $15.00 per hour wage rate lurks on the horizon, what are you doing to address this issue? If it hasn’t hit you already, it will, and now is the time to review how to execute your menu and processes in the most efficient manner possible.

THREE: Natural and Organic food requests are here to stay. Consumers are making their dining decisions around these issues and demanding that their restaurants have the appropriate and sustainable sourcing methods for the ingredients that they purchase.

FOUR: As families spend more of their disposable income on dining out, what are you doing to attract the “whole” family? Recent studies have shown that when a family decides to dine out, 75% of the decisions are made by family members 13 and under. How are you doing to grab the hearts and minds of the youngest family members and influence their decisions?

FIVE: Social media will continue to influence and be part of the decision making process for consumers 40 and younger. As this group of consumers continues to increase in numbers you will need to have a strategy in place for meeting and exceeding their expectations. A partnership and pro-active strategy on reaching this consumer base will drive loyalty and volume.

4. What is your history?

DSL Northwest was co-founded by Mike Ross and Mark Taylor in 2006. Due to customer demand, DSL Northwest expanded its offices to include six locations; Spokane, Portland, Kent WA and with service agents located in Fairbanks, Anchorage and Juneau. For over 10 years, DSL Northwest has been servicing customers in the Northwest including WA, AK, OR, MT, WY and ID. Our fantastic DSL Northwest team is one of the most highly skilled in the region, and is able to provide our customers with the service support that they need and when they need it; 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

5. Who is your leadership team?

The DSL Northwest team is led by Mike Ross, Co-Founder and President, Mark Taylor, Co-Founder and Vice President and Jim Neil, Principal and VP of Sales & Marketing who all have extensive experience in the foodservice business in the Pacific Northwest:

Jim Neil: President

Jim Neil is the president of DSL Northwest and oversees all business operations and sales. Jim is a 24-year veteran to the foodservice industry, having spent the majority of his career as the President and co-owner of JG Neil and Company, a leading foodservice agency in the Pacific Northwest. Jim has been helping independent restaurant operators and chain accounts in the Pacific Northwest develop and deliver creative menu options as well as source the finest ingredients for their operations. When not working with customers, Jim can be found fly fishing, golfing or with his wife and 3 kids.

Mark Taylor: Co-Founder and Vice President

Mark is a co-Founder and Vice President of DSL NW with 39 years of experience working in the food service equipment industry. Mark’s years of industry experience has helped hundreds of independent restaurant operators expand their menu offerings and improve their operational efficiencies and product quality. Whether a single restaurant operator or a 100+ location national account, Mark can and will utilize his experience and expertise to help you grow your business.

6. Why are you located in Kent, WA?

When DSL Northwest originally relocated to Washington State, Kent was the obvious choice with its excellent transportation links to other parts of WA, and also into OR via I5. After DSL Northwest gained early momentum in 2006, it made sense to expand the offices and service centers deeper into the Northwest territory. That is why we now have centers in six locations including Spokane, Portland, Kent WA, Fairbanks, Anchorage and Juneau.

7. Who are Taylor and Flavor Burst?

Taylor Company – DSL Northwest is proud to be the exclusive distributor of Taylor freezers in the Northwest and Alaska. Taylor Company has a 70-year heritage as a pioneer in their specialized field, and as a leader in new technologies, creating some of the world’s finest foodservice equipment including softserve machines, The Taylor® grill line, Frozen Carbonated Beverage Freezers, Taylor® batch freezers, Magnablend blended ice machines and Shake Freezers. https://goo.gl/hfGKCz

Henny Penny – DSL Northwest is proud to be the exclusive distributor for Henny Penny branded products in the Northwest. The results – in quality, flavor and cooking speed – are revolutionary. AS well as the unique Henny Penny equipment, the Henny Penny branded program includes access to Henny Penny’s unique and flavorful chicken products, proprietary coatings and marinades, plus a wide selection of other ready-to-cook favorites such as shrimp, mozzarella sticks and potato wedges. https://www.hennypenny.com/

Flavor Burst – this revolutionary add-on allows you to add a variety of flavors to your soft-serve or yogurt freezer by injecting concentrated flavorings throughout your finished product such as a soft serve, shake, frozen carbonated beverage, or slush program. FlavorBurst.com

Fusion Frozen Beverage – Fusion Frozen beverage includes a freshly brewed, naturally caffeinated ice tea slush beverage that brings a new twist to the booming ice tea market and Cold Brew Frozen Coffee. Brew your own cold Brew Coffee or tea and simply add our base to create your base flavour, then let your customer decide what flavor they want to add. https://goo.gl/bWjdEt

8. There are lots of foodservice equipment providers. Why should we choose DSL Northwest?

DSL Northwest is much more than a foodservice equipment operator. Our mission is to optimize our customers’ menus which is why we work with, and consult to, some of the leading, best-loved brands across the Pacific Northwest and the USA; from McDonald’s and Wendy’s to MOD Pizza and Salt&Straw.

Our customers come to us because we provide extraordinary value through menu optimization and implementation. This might involve re-thinking current menus, evaluating customer demographics, interrogating profit margins and re-working kitchens and front-of-house operations to successfully drive profits throughout the year.

Because of this added value, our customers come back to us again and again for help with expansion and growth plans, on-going service contracts or to meet the demands of changing consumer tastes with relevant equipment technologies that also drive operational efficiencies.

9. What experience do you have in optimizing menus?

We have extensive experience in optimizing menus across the Pacific Northwest for some of the best-loved brands. For example, we recently helped:
MOD Pizza – How great are the milkshakes you enjoy at MOD? We helped with the implementation and selection of the shake freezers that produce those delicious Milkshakes for you and your kids!
Hopjacks – We worked with Hopjacks on a clamshell grill cooking system that improved their food quality and consistency, speed of service and improved their labour efficiency.
Dutch Brothers Coffee- In the rapid pace environment of specialty coffee, we worked with Dutch Brothers to improve the speed of service on all of those delicious frozen beverages you have come to love. Using our beverage freezers we have helped delight Dutch Brothers customers through quality and speed of service.
Burgerville- Dining at Burgerville is not only delicious – it’s also extremely efficient. We have helped with their Soft Serve, shake and burger production using Taylor Grills and Combo Shake/Soft serve machines.

10. What is your focus?

AT DSL Northwest our focus is helping customers through a process we call “Menu Optimization”.

Menu Optimization is about you and your business. Through our discovery process we ask questions of you and your business to determine if we can help you Optimize your menu one of two ways:

1) Identify opportunities to improve efficiencies in your operations that will lead to more profit to your bottom line or

2) identify potential new menu offerings that will add new revenue streams and profit to your business.

Our process is risk-free to you and comes at no cost. Simply put, if we cannot find a solution in one of the two ways listed above, we will put you in contact with one of the 1000’s of industry resources we know who can assist you. If we do have a solution for you, we will sit down and provide a validated ROI to show how our recommendations can help you improve your profitability.

11. Are you involved with the local community?

DSL is active in our local communities and supports our customers and their charities. For additional information on what and how we work in the community please feel free to reach out to us directly.

12. What ambitions does DSL Northwest have?

We already work with an enviable list of customers including a blend of cafes, convenience store chains, food service operators, grocery chains, quick service, fast casual and fine dining restaurant operators such as Costco, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burgerville, Dutch Bros, Burgermaster, Tulalip Casino, QFC, Microsoft, Muckleshoot Casino, Salt&Straw, Great State Burgers, Whidbey Coffee and many, many more.

Our strong reputation ensures that we are able to acquire new clients through word-of-mouth, and our aim is to continue to build on our existing client list and work alongside additional successful brands across the Northwest.

If you need help with a challenge or issue, or simply want to conduct an audit on your operation, call the DSL Northwest team on 877-665-1125 for a free initial consultation.

July 7, 2017 DSL Northwest DSL Northwest Blog Comments Off

Cool Ideas for Summer: A Beverage Focus

Looking for new ideas to boost profits, drive footfall and keep customers cool, refreshed and coming back this summer?

Then it could be time to introduce new styles of beverages that will appeal to a wide range of customers including millennials, Gen Y and families. From frozen margaritas and frozen tea to milkshakes and smoothies, there are plenty of options available. State-of-the-art machines can deliver superior quality beverages that can be quickly and easily installed to deliver a fast pay-pack for your restaurant, bar, café, convenience or grocery store.

Beyond Iced Tea & Coffee: The Frozen Opportunity
Of the 80 billion+ servings of tea consumed by Americans every year, approximately 85% is iced tea, and according to the Tea Association of the USA, sales are expected to double in the next five years.

The millennial generation and Generation Y are seeking out healthful beverage solutions that factor in customization, natural flavors and freshness. There are profits to be made, but balancing these consumer demands with your own beverage program and labor requirements can be complex. How do you provide additional choice and contemporary beverages while reducing your overheads?

Consider introducing a beverage program such as Fusion Frozen Beverage that delivers both Frozen Tea and Frozen Cold Brew Coffee through a Taylor model Slush Machine. For Fusion Frozen Tea, simply add freshly brewed tea, with the provided tea base mix, into the Taylor model Slush Machine. For Frozen Cold Brew Coffee, simply add Cold Brew Coffee with milk and provided coffee base mix into the Taylor model Slush Machine.

We have an additional option of flavoring the Fusion Tea and Cold Brew with our Flavorburst system using all natural syrups in Peach, Mango, Lemon and Raspberry flavors for tea and French Vanilla, Mocha, Caramel and Hazelnut for Cold Brew.

A Milkshake Revolution
A national favorite, milkshakes are the wholesome, heat-busting accoutrement to a sweltering summer day loved by kids and adults alike. With the evolution in eating habits, the rise of all-day snacking and the gradual disappearance of the lunch occasion, consumers are seeking out alternative appetite-satisfiers throughout the day. Milkshakes also make the perfect ‘morning commute’ companion (according to Harvard Business School) because they’re not messy or greasy and provide the ingredients normally associated with breakfast or brunch.
For operators, the opportunity exists to make milkshakes available throughout the day and avoid pigeon-holing them to a certain demographic or eating occasion. However, operators often avoid featuring ingredient-heavy milkshakes on a menu because of the amount of manpower required to create them. New technologies and innovations are making the life of the server easier by delivering quality, tasty milkshakes with a traditional flavor profile at the touch of a button.

Taylor produces a wide variety of shake machines based on one flavor, vanilla, and then transformed into limitless flavors through the addition of syrups or sauces. By adding a milkshake spinner, texture and flavor can be recreated perfectly. The electronic viscosity control continuously measures product viscosity and regulates operation of the refrigeration system within the Taylor machine.

With the added benefit of wrap-around branding, a Taylor machine offers operators customization, labor efficiencies, quality products and a fast pay-back on an initial investment.

For operators looking for a more compact but equally technologically advanced solution, then the MagnaBlend Revolutionary Blender integrates an ice dispenser, blender and rinse station for faster service in nine seconds or less! You can upload signature recipes straight from your laptop, and a pre-programmable menu supports servers in high volume scenarios where the touch of a button can deliver a perfect milkshake.

Smoothies Go From Strength to Strength
Smoothies are a $5B/yr profit center. Their rise over the past decade is unrepresented and is evident in the dedicated smoothie chains, bars and stalls that have popped up across the country. The smoothie revolution continues unabated and it’s hard to find a menu that doesn’t feature some smoothie option in restaurants, cafes, chains, colleges, universities and bakeries.

Drive additional profit opportunities this summer with superior smoothie options – think outside the box and offer Millennials customization choices and adventurous flavors. Also consider conducting a cost-benefit analysis on your smoothie production; in light of pressures on operators such as the rise in the minimum wage and the difficulty in recruiting staff, what is the most efficient way of generating margins from smoothies?

Operators are increasingly looking to technology to solve the problem such as a Taylor Frozen Beverage Freezer that features a specially designed viscosity control to automatically maintain superior smoothie product quality. Adjustable controls allows the operator to serve a wide variety of frozen beverages at the desired thickness, so the machine can also be used for shakes or frozen cocktails, fruit juices, coffees, cappuccino and tea slush beverages. An optimized refrigeration system offers efficient operation in an extremely quiet, compact, self-contained freezer. The Taylor Frozen Beverage Freezer offers operators the chance to reduce manpower, and drive preparation and server efficiencies, for smoothie production that can often be time-consuming and result in variations in product quality depending on the server.

Again, the MagnaBlend Revolutionary Blender is the perfect solution for space-limited serving areas and smaller operations.

Frozen Cocktails: with or without alcohol
Frozen cocktails are becoming the norm in restaurants and bars with new innovations such as Frosé (rosé wine slush) and signature drinks take on a cooler personality with the addition of ice such as frozen margaritas. In addition, the millennial generation (18-35 years old) is increasingly swapping alcoholic drinks for non-alcoholic, but they still demand all the taste of a sophisticated cocktail according to recent research.

Operators may tend to avoid cocktails on menus because they eat into server time and require an extensive supply of ingredients that can generate waste and require additional clean-up time. But cocktails offer great margins. Investing in new technologies can generate frozen cocktails, both with or without alcohol, while delivering taste consistency and efficiencies – such as the Taylor Frozen Beverage Freezer and MagnaBlend PRO-Revolutionary Blender.

When it comes to cocktails, the MagnaBlend is in a class of its own with automated mixing from up to 8 refrigerated flavor mixes, integrated touchscreen, ice dispenser, storage & rinse station for quick service. A favorite with high footfall restaurants and bars, the MagnaBlend is taking the hard work out of cocktails and delivering back profits and fast pay-back timelines.

Kids’ Favorites
The joy of a slush drink as a child is an enduring memory; after swimming, baseball practice or a weekend treat, a slush created joyful memories. Slush drinks and carbonated beverages continue to cut across the generations and prove to be one of the most profitable offerings for operators; especially where the customer profile is skewed towards families.

Talk to us about the wide choice that Taylor offers such as the Taylor Frozen Carbonated Beverage freezer that dispenses a choice of slush textures. For example, select to dispense a light, fluffy, high overrun slush product (via a pressurized system) or opt for the nonpressurized system that produces a wetter, lower overrun slush.

Easy-to-use controls and superior cleaning and operating technologies make the Taylor Frozen Carbonated Beverage Freezer an essential for high volume operations looking for reliable, quality equipment.

Add additional and healthful options such as fruit drinks, frozen lemonade and non-alcoholic drinks by installing the Taylor Frozen Uncarbonated Beverage (FUB) Dispenser; the convenient way to generate additional drink options that are automatically dispensed using your existing Taylor machine. The mix is stored in a remote location or walk-in cooler and delivered to the Taylor dispenser automatically. Customized mix delivery systems are available based on volume needs for Bag-in-Box, other post-mix or pre-mix products.

What’s Next?
The aim for any operator is to serve consistently high quality products that keep your customers coming back, but that also present labor savings and efficiency opportunities. However, it can be hard to navigate what is right for your operation from the choice in the sector; and whether to lease or buy new equipment. Talk to the DSL Northwest team about how new technologies and innovations in foodservice equipment, such as the Taylor series of machines, that can help to drive profit margins, but more importantly, equipment that works for your operation and your budget.

June 20, 2017 DSL Northwest DSL Northwest Blog Comments Off

Addressing Menu Voids for Survival

Restaurants need to ensure that their menus match the needs of their customers. Understanding who the customer is now, and in the next few years, is essential in order to engender long term loyalty and remain profitable. However, menus can languish for years as habits become ingrained. When did you last perform a thorough, honest audit on your menu in relation to your customer profile and the long-term future of your operation? DSL Northwest is an expert in helping clients to optimize their menus, and the following recommendations are based on years of experience in advising some of the best-known names in the Pacific Northwest and the USA:

Appealing to Changing Tastes

A new generation of customers including both Millennials and Generation Y are looking for menu items that appeal to them. They have different needs to previous generations that need to be considered including:

1. Healthier options – not necessarily weight-loss but organic and ‘free-from’

2. Snacking – the all-day occasion that is rapidly replacing the traditional lunch occasion

3. Seasonal – dishes that reflect food without the miles and with more taste

4. Weather – serving the right dishes at the right time of year such as pasta sales up in winter

5. Locally sourced ingredients – a radius of known, local suppliers

6. Innovative dishes such as dessert alternatives e.g. sippables from the bar

Operators should review their menus at least every year or more in addition to fresh sheets. It is vital to understand the changing demographic in your region and offer menu items that will appeal to them. It is no longer possible to assume that your restaurant will survive if it is ageing alongside its core customer base. To help get a feel for any changes in the local demographic, scope out nearby stores, facilities and other restaurants to identify who you are targeting in order to remain viable and profitable. For example, if younger families are now the target, then you need to be doing something to attract the children; 75% of restaurant visits are decided by family members under the age of 18. Add a separate kid-friendly menu, include dishes that appeal to a younger demographic or include ‘free’ items such as sodas, desserts or treats.

Your Menu is Your Voice

Menus need to go further than a list of dishes. Today, they need to communicate brand values and likeminded thinking with their customers. Are you going the extra distance that your customers will want to know about such as:

* Community support – how do you give back to the local community?

* Environmentally friendly – do you incorporate activities such as composting and recycling?

* Ethical – do you source ingredients from reputable suppliers/treat employees fairly/fair-trade?

Often restaurants are fulfilling almost all of the above, but they fail to communicate this with the customer and thereby create valuable connections. Your menu needs to work in tandem with marketing and branding activities and convey the essence of the restaurant; talk about your activities – they matter to people.

For example, on a previous blog we have addressed the issue of sourcing locally from within a 300 mile radius. If this is something you have adopted, how are you making the most of this? Highlight specific partnerships or certain local suppliers more prominently on the menu and through marketing routes. And be honest; are they genuinely new and different to appeal to the customers you want to attract? If everyone is partnering with this group, can you improve on this? Perhaps you have a partnership with a seafood supplier who prides themselves on sustainable fishing methods. Your menu and your brand should also communicate this pride.

Affiliations to the community are now expected. But the reason why you have chosen to work with them and what you are doing often gets forgotten. Your menu provides an opportunity to creatively communicate any community partnerships through design and/or narrative techniques.

Flexibility, Flexibility, Flexibility

Customization: Think differently about how your menu works in response to the meteoric rise in the demand for customization of dishes. Customers want to be able to select a mixture of proteins, starch and vegetable combinations and create their own dishes such as Kigo Kitchen. Balancing the needs of the customer without adversely affecting the cooking time or process is important, so offering enough options to provide choice is key but not at the expense of the efficiency of the kitchen.

Interestingly this hasn’t yet been seen with burgers to the same degree as with other foods such as MOD Pizza and its incredibly successful customization model that also enhances the customer experience. Salad bar concepts have been highly effective in adopting the customization model early to appeal to customers and especially in cities where a hungry workforce can experience maybe a dozen standardized recipes where they interchange the protein and other ingredients.

We believe that the opportunity exists in the burger sector to create e.g. a standard burger with different cheese options, additional vegetable and protein options. For example, a standard 6oz burger costing approx. $8.95 could increase to $12.45 with the addition of extra items.

Available Ingredients: Utilizing ingredients that are readily available and more cost effective is another way to provide variety and choice. The chefs menu, in addition to the set menu, is a model already tried and tested by a number of white cloth and smaller community restaurants. However, it doesn’t mean it should remain as the preserve of these groups. The chef’s menu typically services ingredients that are available that week.

Seven Key Questions

Finally, these are the main seven questions DSL Northwest recommends you should be asking yourself now in order to create a profitable menu:

1. Is my menu sustainable? Can I keep ingredients as fresh as possible? Do I have multiple dishes that utilize ingredients or do I have legacy menu items that feature a limited amount of ingredients? Is this an ineffective use of ingredients and therefore creates cook-time inefficiencies? This is a priority to interrogate on your menu!

2. When was the last time I introduced a new seasonal item to the menu?

3. Is my menu designed for the new eating occasions such as more frequent snacking throughout the day?

4. Do I understand my local area’s customer profile and can I attract more customers with a revised menu? For example, if I want to attract families, have I incorporated items for the children (3-12 years old)? Or do I have an offer that will make the experience memorable such as free ice cream cone?

5. Does my menu include items that can help to drive additional revenue such as creative bar choices that can replace desserts? Boozy Shakes, Signature craft desserts, shareable offerings?

6. Am I incorporating best practices into my menu that will appeal to a new generation of customers such as local sourcing, organic and transparency of ingredients, flavors and food preparation?

7. What am I doing to create menu items that customers can be ordered on the go as take-out or delivery? Am I looking to work with third parties such as UberEATS? If not, you could be missing out on valuable business as an increasingly tech-savvy generation prefers to order online.

To understand how you can conduct a thorough audit and optimization of your menu, call us at DSL NorthWest on 877-665-1125 for a free consultation.

Photograph courtesy of Melissa Hartfiel https://goo.gl/AWUjWI

April 11, 2017 DSL Northwest DSL Northwest Blog Comments Off