DoughXpress

The New DoughXpress Bread Slicers

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:22:52 -0400

The New DoughXpress Bread Slicers
- October 2009

Discuss this article on the community forums…

Here at DoughXpress it is our goal to make your kitchen more productive and cost efficient. That is why we are once again expanding our Commercial Food Equipment line.

We would like to introduce BakeryXpress to our current online product catalogs. With this new line comes the addition of Bread Slicers to our expanding product line.

The DXSM-270 and DXSM-270C slicers are easy to use and will slice a multitude of products including French Bread, Bagels, Hamburger Buns, Hoagies, Biscuits, and Bread Sticks to name a few. It can completely slice or hinge as quickly as the product can be feed into the chute.

These units feature the following capabilities; ability to cut product up to 6” wide by 3” thick, variable width cutting, ease of use with repeatable accuracy, and tool less chute removal for safe, easy access cleaning.

The DXSM-270 & 270C are ideal for use in Supermarkets, Bakeries, Schools, Delis, Sub Shops, Hospitals, Restaurants, Bagel Shops, Caterers and much more.

Please visit BakeryXpress for additional information on our Bakery line of products.

http://www.doughxpress.com/insiderxpress/article/the_new_doughxpress_bread_slicers

The DoughXpress Forums - The Industries Community

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:15:09 -0400

Don’t forget to join us on the DoughXpress Forums - The Industries Community… http://forums.doughxpress.com

You Get What You Pay For, The Exception To The Rule

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:29:42 -0400

Discuss this article on the community forums…

Don’t Let Our Competitors Break You, doughXpress The Exception To The Rule

“You get what you pay for”, definitely the statement made by the guy with the biggest price tag. Not always the case - Doughxpress has made it our goal to provide a quality product at an economical price as well as being the number one choice in customer care.

Doughxpress carries a product line of Pizza, Tortilla, and Meat Presses to fit any customer’s needs both big and small. With a network of Product Representatives nationwide, I am sure we can accommodate any of your “pressing” needs.

Please take a few minutes and browse our product line and find a representative in your area. Questions, suggestions, or comments, please take advantage of our online forum. Our customers are our #1 priority, and we will continue to keep the customer needs foremost in our minds. We look forward to hearing from you…

Minimum-Wage Increase Hits Restaurant Chains on Friday

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:17:41 -0400

Minimum-Wage Increase Hits Restaurant Chains on Friday

The new federal minimum wage takes effect on Friday, July 24. The restaurant industry’s lowest paid workers—except those who are tipped—will receive $7.25 an hour, a rate 11 percent higher than the current $6.55. This is the third increase since 2007 and the last mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act passed that year.

The increase is a done deal, but the arguments continue. Here is a look back at some discussions and solutions for minimum-wage issues.

Restaurant, Consumer Survey Predicts Doom for Many Chains
A new study by the global business-advisory firm AlixPartners LLP shows that, given the current economy plus current conditions-including federally mandated pay increases-up to 40 percent of America’s restaurant chains could face severe crises within the next 12 months.

Teamsters Protest Against National Restaurant Association
Teamsters rallied outside National Restaurant Association to support U.S. Foodservice workers; workers, labor leaders tell U.S. Foodservice and NRA to stop anti-worker lobbying.

Do You Want Living Wages with That?
Given the financial crisis, it seems odd that someone would argue against the “living wage” issue, at least in print. Sure, most businesses opposed raising the bottom-most wage during the last round of Congressionally mandated increases. But that was then.

New Parameters for Payday
Wage and hiring trends remain a subject of abiding concern among restaurant executives, who are adjusting their companies’ compensation practices to absorb the impact of the slowdown.

Invest in Recruiting and Retaining General Managers
One of the most important and profitable steps any restaurant should take to maximize performance is effective labor management. No matter the size of the chain or how fast it is growing, controlling labor can help offset increases in minimum wages.

McDonald’s Skinner on Looming Labor Crisis
“I don’t have to tell you times are tough,” McDonald’s CEO Jim Skinner declared at the 2008 National Restaurant Association Show. “We’re facing a perfect storm in many ways. We face a tightening labor market, minimum wage, mandated health care and immigration regulations.”

Professor Jerry Newman Finds Committed Workers Behind QSR Counters
The problem with raising the minimum wage is that it rises across all industries so QSRs are in the same competitive position as before. The real question is whether you can find ways to use labor dollars more effectively.

Editorial: Minumum Efforts
A minimum-wage increase may not be the solution, but we need to help our own working poor.

British Hospitality Association Asks for Tip Code
The British Hospitality Association is urging all restaurants to adopt a new Code of Practice on how to distribute service charges. The Code has been developed in conjunction with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to back up new legislation banning the practice of topping up minimum wage with service charge.

http://forums.doughxpress.com/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=275

TOP PIZZA RESTAURANT CHAINS

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:13:23 -0400

Segment sales: $25,259,000,000 Share of Top 400 sales: 8.1% Segment units: 37,341 Concept 400 Rank Sales $MM Pizza Hut 6 10,400.0 Domino’s Pizza 9 5,505.6 Papa John’s 26 2,262.4 Little Caesars 42 1,170.0** Sbarro 56 715.3 Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza 69 585.0 CiCi’s Pizza 70 580.0 Chuck E. Cheese’s 84 444.0** Round Table Pizza 98 388.0** Godfather’s Pizza 105 330.0** Hungry Howie’s Pizza 129 265.0 Peter Piper Pizza 168 196.0** Donatos 180 177.0 Papa Gino’s Pizzeria 195 152.2 Noble Roman’s Pizza 198 150.0** Gatti’s Pizza 201 148.8 Pizza Inn 206 139.0** Fox’s Pizza Den 208 137.0** LaRosa’s Pizzeria 213 134.0** Jet’s Pizza 231 116.0** Rosati’s Pizza 232 116.0** Giordano’s Pizza 242 103.0** Pizza Ranch 246 101.4 Boston’s The Gourmet Pizza 248 101.0** Marco’s Pizza 261 93.3 Imo’s Pizza 278 84.0** Ledo Pizza 286 79.0** Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen 295 76.0** Mountain Mike’s Pizza 298 75.0** Pizza Pro 317 66.0** Vocelli Pizza 326 62.0** Shakey’s 329 60.0 Monical’s Pizza 349 54.0 Me-N-Ed’s Pizzeria 354 53.0** Pizza Factory 371 50.0** Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream 387 45.0** Simple Simon Pizza 389 45.0**

# Sales data for chain restaurants are for calendar year 2008 or for a fiscal year ended between July 1, 2008, and April 1, 2009. Exceptions are noted in the ranking pages. # As with the main ranking pages, chain restaurants are defined as restaurant concepts with more than five locations operating under the same name. In a few instances, concepts with two or more brand names but a single management team (i.e., Checkers Drive-In/Rally’s Hamburgers) are considered to be one chain. # Unless noted, chain restaurant sales are worldwide totals (company-owned, franchised and licensed) and are in U.S.$ millions.

National minimum wage rises this month

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:33:29 -0400

National minimum wage rises this month

Millions of American workers are about to get a federally-mandated raise, but the recession has left many wondering if and how the economy will benefit.

The raise, which will go into effect on July 24, represents the final wage hike in a three-step boost to the federal minimum wage increase passed by Congress two years ago. The minimum wage will rise 70 cents — or about 11% — to $7.25 per hour from $6.55. (Last summer, it went up 70 cents from $5.85.)

Whether Congress would have approved the wage hike had legislators known how dismal the economy would look two years later is an open question. But there’s no doubt the timing is awkward.

“There’s low inflation, high unemployment and this is when teens are looking for summer jobs,” says Mike Gibbs, a professor of economics and human resources at the University of Chicago.

The hike will give about 4.5 million workers a raise and boost hourly wages by $1.6 billion a year, according to the Economic Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington, D.C.

The final phase of the federal minimum wage hike will impact 31 states whose minimum wage levels are below $7.25, including Florida, Pennsylvania, Nebraska and New York. Firms in these states will have to match the federal minimum. The increase has no bearing on 20 states (including Washington, D.C.), which already mandate an hourly wage of $7.25 or more.

Wage hikes are always controversial pitting employees against employers and triggering historical arguments over the legacy of trickle-down economics. Yet this hike comes at particularly poignant moment for all sides. Employers are strapped and facing new benefits requirements, while workers are struggling to pay their bills.

For many workers the increase is a boon. It might mean being able to afford a visit to the doctor or college textbooks for the fall semester. But given the 26-year high unemployment rate and the fact that so many companies are hamstrung by the gloomy economic climate, some might see a mandatory wage increase as a setback in terms of hiring and pricing.

Here are a few ways the federal minimum wage increase might affect you.
Job seekers stand to lose

A mandated raise won’t do job seekers any favors especially if they’re looking for temporary or entry-level positions. Studies suggest that increasing the minimum wage has a slightly negative effect on the job market. A 10% increase in the minimum wage is associated with a 0.9% to 1.1% decline in retail employment and a 0.8% to 1.2% reduction in small-business employment, according to a study published in July 2008 in the Journal of Labor Research.

Minimum wage increases typically target low-wage, low-skilled workers as well as teens and young adults. The industries that rely most on minimum-wage workers include fast food restaurants, small-scale independent retail stores, day care establishments and hotels.

The prospects for a teen looking for work are grim, and the wage hike may exacerbate their problems. The unemployment rate for 16- to 19-year-olds climbed to 24% in June, according to the latest Labor Department data, more than double the national rate of 9.5%. The mainstays of summer youth employment — movie theaters, restaurants and mall stores — are increasingly turning to older workers or scaling back their hiring amid cutbacks.

With a higher minimum wage, already-cautious companies will decide they can do without some of their low-wage, low-skilled positions. They’ll use less low-wage labor, cut their hours or drawn on more skilled workers if they can.
Low-skilled and younger workers stand to gain.

http://forums.doughxpress.com/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=201

The Changing Role of the Manufacturer's Rep

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:04:21 -0400

Occasionally, the most challenging of situations can help two parties emerge stronger than before. Such is the case today with foodservice consultants and manufacturers’ reps as the two seem to be working closer together in light of the unique economic climate.

Indeed, the challenging business environment has forced most every member of the foodservice industry to re-think their organizational structure, value proposition and the way they interact with customers and channel partners alike. And, unfortunately, some organizations have had to downsize a little, too.

“As a result, we have to rely on each other more than we did before because some companies don’t have the resources to do the work they might have done themselves in the past,” says Bill Kelly, principal at Kelly-Mincks, a manufacturers’ rep firm in Woodinville, Wash.

Product education represents one opportunity for consultants and manufacturers reps to work more closely together. Despite the economic downturn, factories continue to introduce new and innovative products that are more sophisticated than their predecessors. Examples of these developments include combi-ovens with Bluetooth technology that syncs recipes and photos of food with cooking instructions; faster toaster ovens that can melt cheese on breakfast sandwiches and keep their middles soft, while simultaneously crisping the outer layers of the bread, and any bacon that might be tucked inside; and the countless energy efficient or green features on the market today.

To help keep abreast of these developments and better understand how these features can help meet their clients’ needs, consultants are turning to manufacturers’ reps. Seeing this opportunity, one manufacturers’ rep firm, Preferred Marketing Group, has launched a special consultants’ section on its website.

“We tried to give consultants one spot where they could go to get all the information they need, from getting all the spec sheets for the different brands we represent, to Cad drawings, and links to FCSI and other resources,” says PMG principal Jeff Couch. Dubbed “Consultant’s Corner, this section of the PMG site features a tab with drop-down categories for different foodservice operator segments to help consultants pinpoint the resources they need.

As the manufacturer landscape continues to change through mergers and acquisitions, consultants are turning to their reps as a conduit for information. Reps continue to prove helpful in providing updated information about specific product lines and detailed product specifications.

At the same time, as consultants continue to work on more build-out projects, and as projects become more customized, the nuances behind specifying continue to grow, and as that process becomes more complex. Again, manufacturers’ reps can offer guidance in completing this process.

The pursuit of LEED certification from the USGBC represents another opportunity for manufacturers’ reps and consultants to work more closely together. In Kelly’s case, his company has traditionally worked with the”hot side” of the foodservice equipment industry; however, he recently picked up a line of ice machines. Being in Seattle where so many new construction foodservice projects are seeking LEED certification, it was important to the consultants he worked with that Kelly knew his stuff when it came to how his line of ice machines fit into the energy-efficiency and water-saving requirements under the new LEED guidelines. Kelly spent hours researching this area just so he could work efficiently with the other team players on projects involving his products. “There’s so much changing right now that if you don’t stay tuned into it you can really miss the boat,” he says

At the same time, a growing number of consultants continue to earn LEED Accredited Professional status, meaning they qualify to assist or head up LEED projects. As a result, their level of knowledge and expertise when it comes to energy- and water-saving and other green/sustainable equipment features has grown exponentially in just the last year or two. Whereas now this knowledge may just be an added plus for many consultants, it could become a requirement in the future. As this need evolves, manufacturers’ reps can help consultants understand how available equipment can help meet restrictive guidelines.

Any dichotomies that existed in the past between manufacturers’ reps and consultants seem to be slowly melting away as the two parties find ways to work together more closely to fill their needs. From streamlining forms online, to supplying each other with green product information, it seems as if, in this case, a staggering economy has been paving the groundwork for a better supply chain relationship in the short and long-term.

Pizza Hut Installs TV Net

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:57:10 -0400

As Pizza Hut explores rebranding its stores as The Hut, an integral part of the effort is an in-store digital video network designed to engage customers.

Called Hut TV, the new video net has already been installed in 20 stores in Jacksonville, Fla., and four in Dallas. The chain plans to roll out the network to more locations into 2010.

The largest player in the fast-food pizza category, Pizza Hut is looking to offset stagnant same-store sales by positioning itself as a solution for home meals with new menu items such as lasagna and WingStreet-branded wings, and enhancing the in-store experience for the customer.

“We’re in the middle of the transformation of the Pizza Hut brand, both in terms of how our store looks and creating a different consumer experience we’re calling The Hut,” said Bob Kraut, vp of marketing for Pizza Hut. “Hut TV is a way to engage and entertain customers and make those who own our stores feel better about Pizza Hut.”

Hut TV’s video content is designed to enhance the in-store experience by entertaining customers, decreasing perceived wait time, increasing frequency of visits and promoting specials. Split into three sections, the largest section features entertainment (trivia or games) or short customized segments from CBS-produced brands such as Wheel of Fortune or Entertainment Tonight. CBS also provides a news ticker at the bottom of the screen. The right-hand portion of the screen is devoted to Pizza Hut’s menu, from information about ingredients to special promotions. Eventually, Pizza Hut may sell ad space to its suppliers, but for now Hut TV is all about engaging the customer.

DoughXpress Welcomes New Team Member

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:59:18 -0400

We have strengthen our team on the Sales side adding Cathy Edwards to the Team.

Cathy will be at the NRA Show, stop and introduce you & your group to our newest team member.

As everybody cuts back on personnel we are showing growth…

Pepperidge Farm Stuffed Pork Tenderloins en Croute

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:07:37 -0400

Pepperidge Farm Stuffed Pork Tenderloins en Croute

SERVINGS: 8

INGREDIENTS

1 sheet Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 (7 ounce) bag dried mixed fruit, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup port wine
2 (1 pound) pork tenderloins
1/3 cup all-purpose flour

DIRECTIONS

Thaw the pastry sheet at room temperature for 40 minutes or until it’s easy to handle. Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease or line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Stir the egg and water in a small bowl with a fork.

Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until it’s tender. Stir the fruit and wine in the skillet. Cook for 5 minutes or until all the liquid is evaporated. Let cool completely.

Coat the pork with the flour.

Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Roll the pastry sheet into a 14-inch square. Cut the pastry sheet into 2 (14x7-inch) rectangles. Spread half of the onion mixture lengthwise on each rectangle. Top each with a pork tenderloin. Brush the edges of the pastry with the egg mixture. Fold the pastry over the filling and press the edges together to seal. Place seam-side down on the baking sheet. Tuck the ends the pastry rolls under. Brush the pastry rolls with the egg mixture.

Bake for 30 minutes or until the pastry is golden. Remove the pastry rolls from the baking sheet and let cool for 10 minutes. Slice and serve warm.

FOOTNOTE
Serving Suggestion: Serve with sauteed broccoli florets and red pepper strips. For dessert serve sauteed apple slices in butter with cinnamon and almonds. (Optional: add a splash of apple brandy.)

Pepperidge Farm Stuffed Pork Tenderloins en Croute

Grilled Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:49:03 -0400

Grilled Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla

Yield: 1 serving

Flour tortilla 1 (14-in.) tortilla
Monterey Jack cheese, shredded 1/8 cup
Manchego cheese, shredded 1/8 cup
Chipotle-marinated chicken breast, grilled, sliced 1/2
Jalapeno, sliced 1/8
Corn, roasted 1/8 cup
Black beans, cooked, seasoned 1/4 cup
Escabeche (Mexican pickled vegetables), julienned 1/8 cup
Cilantro, chopped 1/8 cup
Tomatillo salsa 2 oz.

Sprinkle one side of the tortilla with cheeses. Top with chicken, jalapeno, corn, beans, escabeche and cilantro. Fold tortilla in half, place on a flat top or grill. Warm over low heat until cheese is melted, about three minutes per side. Serve salsa on the side.

Grilled Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla

New Manual Dough Docking Press

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:12:36 -0400

Discuss this article on the community forums…

The Dough Docking Station Press… “The Perfect Docking Tool for Pizza Crusts”
http://www.doughxpress.com/dxdd

Docking dough is an important step to both prevent oil absorption and to prevent crust from separating and bubbling. Now docking dough has been made easy, from doughXpress, the manufacturers of the pizzaXpress line of pizza dough presses. The DXDD dough docker docks pizza dough is as quick and easy as pressing dough. The DXDD is available with interchangeable 8”-18” docking platens for docking up to an 18” pizza. The docking press can be use with any type of Pan or pizza screen.

Easy-To-Use Platens

The DXDD (Manual Dough Docker Press) Features 6 easily interchangable plantens ranging from an 8” pie to an 18” pie. The platens are simply unscrewed by 4 wing nuts convienatly located at the top of the planet and quickly replaced with the desire size platen.

DoughXpress’s platens are uniqly designed so that the pins will not break off in your dough creating a perfect dock with every press.

Interchangeable docking platens.
Docking platens available in 8”, 10”, 12”, 14”, 16” & 18”
Clean appliance white finish.
Swing-out upper platen for easy dough placement.
Marked lower platen for perfect center placement.

The perfect docked pizza…

Join The Food Industries Community Today!

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:28:00 -0400

Need food industry related help? Are you an expert n the field? Visit us at forums.doughxpress.com & join the industries community today!

While Supplies Last! Appliance White DXM & DXA Special

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:08:00 -0400

HURRY! While Supplies Last!

For a limited time you can get an Appliance White DXM for only $2,000 OR an Appliance White DXA for only $3,100!

For more information on how to take advantage of this great deal please call us at 800-835-060 ext. 205 - OR - contact us here.

Two New Reps - PMA & Velkey

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:33:22 -0400

http://www.doughxpress.com/insiderxpress/memo/two_new_reps_pma_and_velkey
- March 2009
We would like to take the time to welcome two new Reps to the DoughXpress family.

PMA, Inc.
Will be representing Region 24 - Territory (Northern California, Northern Nevada).

and

Velkey & Associates
Will be representing Region 14 - Territory (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, West Tennessee).

http://www.doughxpress.com/insiderxpress/memo/two_new_reps_pma_and_velkey

View Reps Line Card on DoughXpress

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:27:00 -0400

http://www.doughxpress.com/insiderxpress/memo/view_reps_line_card_on_doughxpress

- March 2009
As a way to help out our reps, and to help our customers connect with products/companies they need for their businesses, we have included our reps product line card under their profile information directly on doughxpress.com

Customers can now obtain most (if not all) information about our reps directly from our website making interaction more fluent, functional and easy to access so that they can get what they need right away.

http://www.doughxpress.com/reps

To DoughXpress Reps:
If you’re a rep for DoughXpress and you want us to display your product line card please contact DoughXpress directly at bstuckey@hixcorp.com

What we need:
We need your product line card

1. The companies name
2. A VERY brief description of what they sell
3. The companies website addres

http://www.doughxpress.com/insiderxpress/memo/view_reps_line_card_on_doughxpress

New InsiderXpress Article - Pizza Expo 2009

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:26:00 -0400

http://www.doughxpress.com/insiderxpress/article/the_international_pizza_expo_2009_in_las_vegas

The show was excellent! Over 5,700 attendees made the trip to Las Vegas. This show was a little different from the past by the attendees; the traffic was attended by high quality decision makers. We also ran into a lot of first time pizza operators looking how to become successful 1st time pizza restaurant owners.

Read The Full Article Here
http://www.doughxpress.com/insiderxpress/article/the_international_pizza_expo_2009_in_las_vegas

New Site!

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:55:47 -0400

Check out our new site!

doughxpress.com

You're Invited! Pizza Expo '09 Booth #465

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:09:29 -0500

You’re Inivted!

Come join us at the 2009 International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas.
Stop by our booth to check out some of our NEW Products include The Dough Divider AND The Dough Divider Rounder

http://www.doughxpress.com/upcomingshows.php?show=29

New Product!! The Dough Divider Rounder

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:03:48 -0500

We have introduced some new product to our line.

The DX-JN Dough Divider Rounder
http://www.doughxpress.com/products.php?product=22

The DX-BMIH Dough Divider
http://www.doughxpress.com/products.php?product=23