Smokey Bones and other industry leaders sit down to talk about the trending topic
The Florida Restaurant Show & Lodging brings together restaurants, culinary talent, and area schools for a two-day exposition to showcase local talent in the market. With restaurant experience evolving to be powered by mobile or remote ordering, off-premises dining has become a trending topic in the industry. Members from Smokey Bones, Josie’s Pizza, and Fortuna Bakery & Café all sat down to discuss “The State of Off-Premises Ordering” at the FRSL about how casual brick-and-mortar restaurants can embrace the challenge of digital consumer behaviors.
“Diners love ordering takeout from restaurants, and I’m excited for this panel to share operational best practices with the audience,” said Anna Tauzin, Senior Director of Industry Relations and Community Affairs for ChowNow, and President of Les Dames d’Escoffier Austin Chapter. “It’s important for restaurants to have a tech partner who treats them with respect and doesn’t charge high commission rates or restrict access to their customer data.”
Speakers on the panel included:
- Nichole Robillard, Chief Marketing Officer, Smokey Bones
- David Gray, General Manager, Josie’s Pizza
- Jean Carlos Lausell, Operations Director, Fortuna Cafe and Bakery
“We want to continue enhancing the dining experience and making it convenient for customers so they can enjoy what they want under their own roof,” said Cole Robillard, CMO for Smokey Bones, parent company to all the BiteHall brands. “Customers are more likely to order from the restaurant’s app or website than a third-party source.”
Smokey Bones has been at the forefront of virtual dining with its e-commerce site, BiteHall.com, which offers customers five different dining options under one digital umbrella. Smokey Bones, The Wing Experience, Burger Experience, plus two new virtual brands Bowl Market and Tender Box have opened the possibilities for any type of craving at all 62 restaurant locations.
To add to the convenience factor, customers can select menu items on BiteHall from any of the concepts, pay for everything in the same check, and have all the food picked up or delivered on the same transaction. BiteHall puts “all the bites in one site.”
When restaurants don’t have to sacrifice their profit to third-party delivery apps, they often pass the savings on to their guests. Ordering directly is better for them and helps keep them in business.
Both Josie’s and Fortuna are right beside Smokey Bones in the state of virtual dining experiences. The Orlando based restaurants use ChowNow to better connect with customers by using a transparent and efficient business model for their ordering systems. Restaurants that work with ChowNow see a 25:1 return on investment in their first year, whereas other restaurants must sacrifice their profit to third-party delivery apps.
This panel was only one of the several Education Programs FRSL held at its annual summit with industry-leading educational content that is practical and relevant for foodservice professionals. For more information, visit https://www.flrestaurantandlodgingshow.com.
The Masters of Meat Smokey Bones is a full-service restaurant delivering great barbecue, award winning ribs, perfectly seared steaks and memorable moments in 62 locations across 16 states. Smokey Bones serves lunch, dinner, and late night, and has a full-bar featuring a variety of bourbons and whiskeys, a selection of domestic, import and local craft beers, and several signature, handcrafted cocktails. We offer a variety of meats that are slow-smoked, fire-grilled, and available for dine-in, pick-up, online ordering, catering, and delivery. Smokey Bones offers a 10 % discount to active duty and veterans with ID. Smokey Bones is an affiliate of Boca Raton, FL based Sun Capital Partners. For additional information and a list of locations nationwide, please visit www.SmokeyBones.com. Smokey Bones, Meat is What We Do!
