Certified Food Manager MN Archives

November 15, 2016November 10, 2016

How MN Certified Food Managers Take Advantage of Black Friday

MN Certified Food Managers and Black Friday

Black Friday arrives at the end of the month, with the shopping frenzy approaching, we decided that it would be beneficial to discuss how MN Certified Food Managers at local restaurants and food producers can take advantage of the millions of potential guests that are out and about the day after Thanksgiving.

MN Food Safety Managers and Black Friday

We think that this day is a prime opportunity for MN Certified Food Managers to show what they can do and build their customer base. Here are a few ideas that we think can attract customers who have finished their shopping or are looking for a quick meal on the go.

Run easy to serve take-out specials
Offer free items with any order
Offer promotions based on the time of day

Many of the shoppers on Black Friday will be in a hurry and won’t want to take the time to sit down to eat breakfast or lunch. If your restaurant has hot food ready to go that your guests can order and receive without a long wait, it may attract customers who are looking for grab-and-go dining options.

Everyone loves free stuff, even if they have to buy something else to get it. We suggest offering something that is easy and affordable. Many shoppers will have already been out since midnight, and something as inexpensive as a free cup of coffee or espresso with every order will look attractive to guests looking for that extra boost to finish off their search for the best deal.

Last year, we noticed that one restaurant changed their promotions every hour. We think this is a great idea to let your guests see what is coming up, and, if they don’t have time to stop right away, it may give them an incentive to return later in the day.

Finally, don’t forget to advertise your restaurant in the days leading up to Black Friday. Social media is a great way to get the word out there. With outlets like Twitter and Facebook, MN food safety managers can plug their restaurants for free with a few creative hashtags.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen different strategies when it comes to making the most out of Black Friday. What will your business be doing to attract customers?

November 1, 2016October 5, 2016

Restaurant Websites and the Certified Food Manager

When we give certified food manager exams we are often privileged to discuss other aspects of the food industry with experienced professionals after they have completed food safety testing. Recently, we engaged in a discussion on the value of restaurants and food-production facilities having their own websites. We see a lot of benefits to investing in having a unique web presence, so we thought we would share some of the highlights of past discussions.

The Certified Food Manager and Restaurant Websites

While word of mouth advertising has its benefits, we have discovered that more and more potential guests turn directly to their smart phones and tablets when scoping out local restaurants. While having great reviews on Yelp and a five-star Google rating can help you attract customers, many will take their review of your restaurant one step further by looking at your business’ website. From listening to qualified professionals, it is our opinion that a guest may choose a similar restaurant to yours simply because they can easily access the menu and get a feel for you a location’s ambiance from the convenience of their computer or tablet.

Your website should be unique, and we have a few suggestions to could help you come up with a visually appealing plan if you choose to create a website or hire a designer to do it for you.

Visually show off your style
Have an easily accessible menu
Allow mobile viewers to easily navigate your site

It is important that visitors to your webpage get a feel for your cuisine and ambiance the second they visit your site. It is also important to note, that many of these viewers will be on the move looking for a place to eat, so you may wish to consult with a web designer that has experience designing mobile friendly websites.

Finally, potential diners are going to want to know what is on your menu. Having a concise, easy to read menu on your web page will go a long way towards attracting them to your location. It could also have visually appealing pictures of your dishes, but if they get in the way of the actual menu, visitors to your site may look elsewhere if your menu page is convoluted.

Having a well-designed webpage does not only benefit local food producers. If you are a certified food manager that has a product on local grocery shelves or sell your prepared food at any other outlet, consumers may pull out their smartphones to investigate your product for further information before making a decision to purchase your goods.

Web pages are just one modern marketing technique used to attract customers. Do you have an online marketing strategy that works for you?

(Note: Street Level Solutions has been handling Safe Food Training’s Internet marketing needs since 2013. They have years of experience and will give a free no strings attached consultation to anyone who mentions this blog.

“Websites are just one of the many digital marketing tools that a business needs to consider when creating a marketing plan. Each restaurant and food-production facility is unique, if you want to get more customers you need to tell them how you’re different, show them why they need to try your establishment then consider the most effective way to get that message in front of your prospective customers. I’d be happy to brainstorm with you to help create a plan. You can contact me at (763)416-2000.” Dave Haas, Street Level Solutions)

January 12, 2016

MN Certified Food Managers and Evaluating Procedures

MN Certified Food Manager and Evaluating Procedures

The beginning of the new year is often a slow time for many restaurants and food preparation facilities. Now may be the time for MN certified food managers to take advantage of the slower pace to look at current operating procedures and inventory to assess whether changes need to be made.

Reevaluating Operating Procedure for the New Year

One of the first things that MN certified food managers should take a look at the beginning of a new year is their facility’s food handling procedures and food safety training. In an effort to help you keep your employees aware of basic food safety procedures, the Minnesota Department of Health has made available a wide variety of

January 8, 2016January 11, 2016

Food Manager Certification MN Guide to Setting the Table

Food Manager Certification MN Guide to bread basket reuse

When food safety in restaurants is discussed, front of the house topics are quite often ignored. In fact, when your local health inspector arrives for your yearly inspection they may never even set foot in your dining room. Over the course of our experience providing food manager certification in MN, we have noticed that there are several misconceptions as to what can be done when resetting a table after guests have left.

Food Manager Certification MN Guide to Setting the Table

We once had a food service professional who was concerned with his restaurant