GEORGIA EDITION GEORGIA’S FOODSERVICE INDUSTRY NEWSPAPER N $3 WWW.TRNUSA.COM VOLUME 5 NUMBER 6 N JUNE 2014 Appetizers: Cloud-based POS popularity is growing with restaurant operators Point of Sale By Todd Baker Jr. trieve that data almost as fast as if it stant centralization of data, ability to in a nutshell 5 resided on their server at home or office. access data from anywhere there is in- You can’t pick up an Industry Cloud-based services also allow users to ternet connection, and lower costs. Magazine or read an article online that access software without installing it on Cloud-based POS also helped expand doesn’t have some reference to the their computers. POS systems to mobile devices. “cloud’. It is the latest buzzuzz word and a Cloud-Cloud-based POS systems are dif- Don’t lose must have among the foodod service elite. ferent from traditional POS largely be- irate customers 6 No topic is also more misunderstood cause useuser data, including sales and than what the cloud meanseans to the inventorinventory need not be stored locally, average restaurant operator.ator. But but in a remote server. The POS because the market iss now system is also not run locally, so Under the toque driving the need for cloudoud therethe is no installation required. with Chef reporting down to thee InI fact, the advent of cloud E.J. Hodgkinson 11 operator that has two computing gives birth to or more restaurants, the possibility of POS 24-7 has acquired the systems to be deployed software to provide as software as a service, Entrées: our clients with the which can be accessed di- cloud features… includd- rerectly from the Internet, using Advertisers Directory. 3 ing reporting and financials.ials. any internet browser. Appell Pie. 3 Many restaurant groups are lookingl ki In the 2013 survey of new technolo- Calendar Events . 10 for easier ways to streamline systems and gies from Hospitality Technology Cloud-based POS solutions can New Openings . 4 facilitate corporate communications Magazine found that more restaurant be tailored to your needs Under the Toque. 11 and data sharing. In light of this, more operators are interested in online or- Whether you are looking for a total restaurant operators are paying close at- dering and using mobile phones for new cloud-based POS system or wish . What’s Going On 2 tention to cloud technology. ordering, but the largest increase was to have cloud capability to a tradi- Using the previous advances com- interest in cloud computing. Cloud tional client-server based system, Dessert: munications, cloud-based POS systems was the biggest jump, and is now de- there is a cloud-based system that can can be independent from platform and sired by 36.2% in their survey (a jump meet your needs. 24-7 Hospitality operating system limitations. Cloud- of 17 percentage points over 2012). Technology offers the all-in-one Brink based POS systems are created to be Behind all of the technological jar- Software cloud-based solution, as well compatible with a wide range of POS gon surrounding cloud technology is a as providing the robust PAR Pixel Point hardware. paradigm shift in how people and cloud-based solution for operators In fact, the cloud allows users to store businesses use computers. The ad- who want a back-end server to sup- Reserve ad space now: 561.620.8888 data on remote computer servers and re- vantages of a cloud-based POS are in- See CLOUD-BASED page 11 Huddle House enters 50th anniversary year with robust first quarter growth Family restaurant franchise signs deals for 15 new restaurants in five s tates Atlanta, GA – Huddle House, a full- one in Newport News, VA and one in cations to remodel and re-open in South service family restaurant franchise Virginia Beach, VA. Company executives Carolina (James Island and Monck’s known for its warm atmosphere, deli- say that several more are in the pipeline The remodel initiative Corner), and a new franchise owner pur- cious comfort food and value pricing, to be announced in the near future has attracted interest chased an existing restaurant to remodel experienced strong First Quarter fran- At 384 units and growing, Huddle in Savannah, GA. chise growth, closing eight deals to open House executives attribute much of the organically within “By all definitions, we had a strong 15 new restaurants across recent interest in the brand the Huddle House first quarter, putting us in a positive mind- Georgia, Illinois, New to a new ‘Evolution’ pro- set to celebrate our 50 years in business,” York, Texas and totype introduced last franchise system, said CDO Jonathan Benjamin. “The pos- Virginia. In ad- year, which features a as well as from itive changes to our menu and our dition, many signature tower en- external candidates. restaurant design are enhancing the guest current and trance, plush seating, N experience and creating optimism among new Huddle contemporary furniture franchisees. We’re confident of con tinued House fran- and vibrant lighting. growth this year and beyond.” chise owners Management is happy to percent of the Huddle House franchise are purchasing report that the remodeled Huddle House, Inc. – Huddlehouse.com - a full- system has the new Evolution look. By service family restaurant franchise, is known for existing locations locations are experiencing the end of this year, the company expects serving “Any Meal. Any Time.”in communities to remodel and re- significant comp sales in- 30 percent of the system to be remod- around the country. The Huddle House menu offers open with the com- creases. eled. With an aggressive approach, the a variety of comfort food items, including signature pany’s refreshed prototype To expedite the restaurant re- Big House breakfast and sandwich platters and fa- entire franchise system could be remod- vorites such as country fried steak with green beans design. designs, Huddle House set aside $2.5 eled by the end of 2019. and marinated grilled chicken with sweet potato The eight franchise deals for new million to incentivize the first 100 fran- The remodel initiative has attracted fries. The core values on which Huddle House was Huddle House locations, all signed chise partners to commit to a restaurant interest organically within the Huddle founded in 1964 – serving quality food in a warm, within the past 90 days, will result in 10 remodel by July 31, 2014. Those franchise friendly environment that brings the community to- House franchise system, as well as from gether – remain intact today. Typically open 24- new restaurants in Long Island, NY; one partners receive financial support to external candidates. In fact, also during hours, Huddle House serves breakfast, lunch and new restaurant in Hahira, Georgia; one help offset the costs of the remodel and First Quarter 2014, an existing Huddle dinner all day. The Atlanta-based, 400-unit fran- in Mount Vernon, IL; one in Forney, TX; for local marketing efforts. Currently, 21 House owner purchased two existing lo- chise has units located in 21 states. 2 What’s Going On Important new products, corporate news and industry events. POS News: inventory management and employee nounced its collaboration with Mercury 24-7’s Total Restaurant POS Next Gen Dine by Prelag Partners scheduling, as well as customized Payment Systems, an award-winning Solution Options can be cus- has released new updates that im- deployments. For more information payments technology provider. CARD- tomized to fit the needs of restau- proves the speed and efficiency of the visit the company website online at FREE focuses on providing integrated JUNE 2014 rant and hospitality professionals. point of sale app. The new update re- whentomanage.com. mobile commerce and loyalty solutions With 24-7’s dedicated lease brings a more speed to the already for restaurants and retail stores that Restaurant Solution N N N N fast point of sale application. The new help large merchants engage con- teamed with some of update is designed to address a few ShopKeep POS ex- sumers based on individual behaviors the best world-class minor bugs along with a boost in speed. ists to help small busi- and preferences. The company’s award- technical support There is overall improvement in nesses run better winning platform provides end-to-end center, the customer performance with the new release. businesses. Founded commerce capabilities, including smart can gain a system that Table-side orders and payments are and designed by a offers, gifting, payments and loyalty. gives increased prof- processed faster. Performance on Next small business owner, With this integration with Mercury, itability. Total Solution Gen Dine brings great value to restau- they provide cloud- CARDFREE will be able to bundle core Options include POS based point of sale payment processing and merchant GEORGIA rants using it as their premier choice for Software for the Fast- POS systems. Next Gen Dine keeps cus- software for man- acquiring with their Casual and Full-Service Restaurant tomers happy as well as helping to in- aging retail shops and restaurants. current suite of Industry along with Easy-to-use, crease revenue. Next Gen Dine is a ShopKeep allows business owners services. CARD- fully PCI compliant and certified cloud-based, mobile restaurant point nationwide to set-up their regis- FREE offers com- products that are flexible and scala- of sale software designed for the iPad, ters in minutes, accept cash and plete, integrated ble. Their Comprehensive Back based in Las Vegas, NV. Next Gen Dine credit cards with their choice solutions for mer- Office Software offers complete in- also offers restaurant owners customer of processor, view real-time chants from mobile tegration between POS, accounting loyalty, gift card, social media, and fine- sales on their smartphone and online through and payroll with detailed controls to grained marketing tools.