NORTH AMERICA NORTH ALIWORLDTHE ALI GROUP MAGAZINE ISSUE 9 | JANUARY 2021 LAGOMARCINO’S ZIGGI’S COFFEE SERVING UP BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IS KEY FROZEN TREATS TO THIS CHAIN’S SUCCESS AND MORE SINCE 1908 OPERATION BBQ RELIEF STEPPING IN WHEN DISASTER STRIKES Welcome Welcome to this, the ninth The articles in this issue of Aliworld show how our clients are adapting to these changing ways North America edition of of doing business. We’ll tell you about the latest Aliworld. Over the past year, trends in takeout and delivery. And to help you keep your eye on the road ahead, four prominent the COVID-19 pandemic has consultants share their views on the state of the affected all of us. Let me extend industry now and after the pandemic. I know you’ll our deepest sympathies from all find their comments insightful. We have many success stories for you, such as of us at the Ali Group to those of the story of a young couple who had the dream you who have suffered personal of running a coffee shop — and who are now in charge of one of the fastest-growing coffee chains losses due to the pandemic. in the U.S. You’ll see how another entrepreneur continues to capitalize on the CBD trend by t’s no understatement to say that the making infused gelato. As an example of how to pandemic has radically changed the keep going in both good and bad times, we’ll show foodservice and hospitality business you a family-owned business that has made ice over the past year. Like so many of cream for more than 90 years. Also, for a change you, we at the Ali Group are taking of pace, we have the inspiring story of a group of every possible precaution to keep volunteers who bring hope and food to the victims our employees safe, in keeping with of natural disasters. the mandates of local and national We at the Ali Group are following the health authorities. This unprecedented current trend of using more digital and video situation has put great strains on our employees but communications, so I may be seeing you on a II’m immensely proud of the way they have adapted, Zoom screen in the near future. Looking ahead, pulling together to keep our businesses strong and I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to reconnect with serve our clients during these difficult times. many of you at the NRA Show, NAFEM Show or Many of our companies have quickly pivoted HostMilano this year. as our clients have had to rethink their businesses. These are, indeed, challenging times. But I have Whether that meant an increased emphasis confidence that we, as an industry, are resilient on sanitization and food safety or assisting as and will bounce back even stronger than before. restaurants switched to a takeout-based model, From all of us at the Ali Group, my best wishes for our companies have helped their clients survive — a happy, healthful and profitable 2021. and hopefully even thrive — over the past year. Enjoy Aliworld. Filippo Berti Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ali Group 1 Aliworld Aliworld 1 Contents 30 02 05 76 Trends Innovation 10 Accelerated and Amplifi ed: 64 To B is to Do 76 Effi cient Food Prep Helps Key Trends in the Wake of Two Ali Group companies Position Chain for Growth COVID-19 team up to produce an A casual chain is using a Consultants discuss how the innovative new product. Moff at holding/warming pandemic will have an eff ect cabinet to prepare food on foodservice in the future. Success 68 YNOT Create More more effi ciently. Stories Storage Space 14 The Fast Track: Creating storage 78 Bringing Safety and Takeout and Delivery 3004 Nashville Donut Spot Distills Sweets and Fun effi ciency for a growing Sustainability to the Operators are fi nding Donuts and cocktails are an unusual but Italian restaurant chain. Forefront success with expanded successful combination. Producing ice safely and takeout and delivery 72 State-of-the-Art Products with less environmental services. 34 Hot Pot Hot Spot’s Need for Precision Meets Victory Receive Awards impact. At Haidilao, the traditional Chinese hot pot is at Beverage-Air and Electro 18 2021: The State of the center of the table. Freeze win 2020 Kitchen 80 High-Speed Cooking Drive-Thru Innovations Awards. Made Easy with A panel of experts 38 Landmark 60-Year-Old Restaurant Finds XpressChef from Metro discuss key Modern Solutions 74 Scotsman Brings Ice ACP’s high-speed strategies for eff ective How the historic Dan’l Boone Inn keeps its and Water to Almost ovens help foodservice drive-thru programs. dishware spotless. Any Location operations trim their Ice and water dispensers production time. 42 Opening a Healthcare Facility in the Midst gain popularity in of a Pandemic nontraditional locations. To deal with an infl ux of patients, a Louisiana hospital reopened an underused facility in a matter of weeks. 46 Timeless Hospitality, Modern Technology Frozen treats star on the menu at this 113-year-old family business. 50 Where “Eats” Meets West 03 A Japanese-style fried chicken chain is making People comfort food healthful. 06Ali Group 22 American Dish Service 58 Joins the Ali Group Family 54 CBD is on the Menu at Cloud Cups 82 Our Companies 4 The latest addition to the CBD-infused gelato is a growing trend. Ali Group global Ali Group is a company expertise with a rich family history. 58 Cool Concepts at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center 84 Your Global Partner Cover Story 26 BBQ Nonprofi t Customers have a wide variety of foodservice Ali Group contact 4 Building Relationships, One Cup at a Time Bridges Gap options at Orlando’s convention center. information around A Colorado couple are the drivers behind one of the The inspiring story of the globe country’s fastest-growing coff ee chains. Operation BBQ Relief 62 Hot Pizza and Cool Gelato: A Perfect Pair and its eff orts to help A Minnesota pizza chain fi nds gelato to be the people in need. perfect complement to its pizza menu. 22 012 Aliworld Aliworld 3 01Cover Story BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, ONE CUP AT A TIME Ziggi’s Coffee’s Co-Founders Brandon and Camrin Knudsen he original career goal of Ziggi’s Coffee’s Co-Founders, the husband-and-wife team of Cultivating good relationships — Brandon and Camrin Knudsen, wasn’t to own with customers, employees and a coffee shop. While students at Southern suppliers — is critical to operating a Oregon University in Ashland, Ore., Brandon studied to become a teacher and Camrin a successful business, and that has been nurse. “We decided very quickly that neither key to the success of Ziggi’s Coffee. of us really wanted to do that and both of us disliked school,” Brandon jokes. The Knudsens were avid basketball players and while Brandon Twas on the court, Camrin took a part-time job at a local coffee shop. She was “just crushing it,” Brandon says, earning as much as $100 in tips during an average morning shift. That success convinced them 4 Aliworld Aliworld 5 Cover Story that they should operate a shop with them. Fortunately, Knowing the Customer According to Brandon, coffee shop of their own. Brandon says, “we had the One of the things that making that personal The couple moved to nicest group of elderly ladies differentiates Ziggi’s from connection is as important Colorado in 2003, staying with who’d come in every morning other coffee shops is a focus behind the counter as in front. Brandon’s sister, “until we and they would hold our baby. on customer service and really “I want to surround myself figured out what we wanted They’d say, ‘Give me Elijah. You reading the customer’s needs. with people who are awesome to do with ourselves,” he says. guys get through your rush.’” The chain tasks employees at what they do,” he says. The Brandon took a night shift Around this time, the with putting the company’s business relationship with the job at a Denver ice cream Knudsens’ coffee roaster slogan, “The best part of your Thwaites brothers has become a manufacturing plant while presented the couple with day,” into action. “We want to friendship as well; their families the couple spent their days what seemed like a crazy idea: look at the person coming up go on vacation together. Various looking for a coffee shop they partnering with them on a to the counter and size them Knudsen family members work could purchase. “We had no second coffee shop. “My wife up,” Brandon says. “One person for Ziggi’s, as do some of the money, no credit, no assets is like, ‘Are you kidding wants me to shut up and give students Brandon coached and no clue as to what we me?’ ” Brandon says. “I just felt them their coffee. They look at basketball. “I need to have were doing,” Brandon says. like we could do it. I like the grumpy. Just give them their a personal connection with After months of looking, business, and I’m hopelessly coffee and let them get out of someone or they’re not going to the Knudsens found a small optimistic.” there — that’s the best part be part of our team,” he says. coffee-and-sandwich shop Even though Hava Java of their day. Then you get the for sale in Thornton, Colo., was still losing money and person who walks in and wants Finding the Right Machine about 10 miles north of Brandon was still working at to talk about everything you When customers come Denver.