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Your source for all things foodservice and hospitality related! Join us for industry expert interviews, product reviews and trending news all centered around helping owners, operators, and foodservice professionals stay on top of industry trends, best practices and cost-saving solutions that help their businesses run more efficiently and drive revenue to their bottom line.
Episodes
Wednesday Aug 24, 2022
Wednesday Aug 24, 2022
Episode 05
Ken Fraser, Southeast Divisional Sales Manager with Eco-Products joins John and Nick D. at the table. Ken shares a 2022 update and what's new in the industry with compostable packaging and how is Eco-Products handling the crazy demand for sustainable, disposable products. He also shares how Eco-Products separates itself as a leader in the “green” space and from its competition.
He breaks down what PFA's are and what the operator needs to know about their affect on their operation. Ken further explains the all important difference between biodegradable vs. compostable and the increased accessibility to composting facilities today in the marketplace. Ken also shares what the Eco-Products current “Core Bundle” is and what it's comprised of for your packaging needs.
Ken discusses how Eco-Products are now back offering logo PLA cup sizes, lead times, and what are the minimum ordering specs for them. He then shares some advice on how to get started with Eco-Products, how to request samples, and encourages the operator to thoroughly test their product to see how it performs and why Eco-Products could be the right choice for you!
So if you thought of going green, and if it's the right option for you, then pull up a chair, 'cuz it's all here, on the table!
Show Notes (topical points of interest and links)
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4:39 Who is Eco-Products, some history, what do they do and what value do they bring to the industry today?
5:55 What’s new in the green industry with compostable packaging and how is Eco-Products handling this crazy demand for sustainable products?
8:30 Eco Product update in the marketplace, success stories, initiatives that they have had in the different sectors of the markets and various customers they serve?
11:45 Why Eco-Products, and what separates them from other “green” competitors?
18:59 Biodegradable and composting, are the two words that are often confused or mistaken by people. What is the difference between biodegradable vs compostable?
22:50 Market update on composting facilities and accessibility to them.
25:26 What are PFA's and what does the operator need to know about them in the green space and industry?
30:55 What has changed within Eco products packaging portfolio with options and what does their “Core Bundle” look like today? (See the link below for an attached guide)
34:20 PLA Cups have returned and are readily available at Eco-Products. Can they be customized and what are the specs, lead times, and requirements to get them?
37:48 Advice for that operator that may be on the fence about whether or not to build his or her packaging bundle for carry-out/take-out dining with Eco-Products?
43:07 Eco-Products position on testing and sampling? How to get samples?
Guest Information:
Ken Fraser
Southeast Divisional Sales Manager
Eco Products
Past Show References:
EP.01 - Product & Zero Waste Specialist - Wayne Koekeritz - Eco-Products
https://letssetyourtable.podbean.com/e/state-of-green-going-zero-waste-with-eco-products/
Eco-Products Core Bundle Guide:
http://hgiresourcecenter.com/files/pos_catalogs/2022-core-products-guide622f89d81d30c.pdf
Eco Products - Custom PLA Cup Ordering Specs
The Plastic Age-A Documentary feat. Pharell Williams
The Hode Group Chicago Showroom
The Hode Group
Info@hodegroup.com
p: 815-455-0500
Check out our HGI Testimonials:
Friday Aug 05, 2022
Friday Aug 05, 2022
Episode 04
John and Nick D. visit with the President and Founder of JAVA JACKET, Jay Sorenson. Jay shares with us who Java Jacket is, where they are located, how they got started and what a cool innovative idea & product they produce domestically for coffee houses, coffee servers and coffee baristas in the industry.
Jay shares the status and availability of paper and paper board, its challenges and issues with the supply chain, production, and keeping up with demand for the paper out of the pacific northwest and Canada.
He also shares the importance of using his product for branding or advertising your business or establishment. Jay tells why branding a sleeve vs the cup is a better play, safer, and most of the time, more affordable than placing a logo on the cup itself.
So if you are pouring coffee for your customers and you want to make your coffee a marketing tool for your business to sell more coffee, then...
Join us for this episode, pull up a chair, cuz it's all here...on the table!
Show notes: topical points of interest :
2:58 Who is Java Jacket and what value do they deliver to coffee houses, culinary, and hospitality groups?
4:18 Using a coffee sleeve as an advertisement with branding and a marketing tool to sell…
5:53 Sizes and minimums to secure your sleeves to fit your desired size cup
6:40 What is current the status of paper and paper board and potential supply chain issues out there today and what type of paper material is used for your sleeves?
8:10 What has been the effect of COVID and its fallout on your business and has this settled down?
9:34 Where is your paper and material sourced and where do you produce Java Jacket?
10:05 You want cups - then you need to have super strong relationships with your vendors.
10:51 The cup question; do you have them ...and can you get them yesterday? How about a sleeve?
12:04 What kind of lead times and process can operators expect given the challenges in the marketplace today with custom printing?
15:10 Java Jacket will offer Floor Stocking and can be available if the size and volume is there
16:50 The Conundrum …go with a logo insulated cup or…. a logo sleeve for the cup? How safe is a sleeve on hot coffee?
20:13 The glue option is safe and works with hot coffee and is on all custom prints
22:38 What is the max # of colors Java Jacket can print and will you print QSR codes on them too?
24:09 How "green" and sustainable is Java Jacket and are your sleeves compostable?
Guest information:
Jay Sorenson
President and Founder - Java Jacket
The Hode Group Chicago Showroom
The Hode Group
The Hode Group Testimonials
Friday Apr 01, 2022
Friday Apr 01, 2022
Episode 03
Matt Murray, Director of Sales at Anchor Packaging, and Jack Hode, Senior Vice President at the Hode Group join us at the Table. We discuss who Anchor is, what they are known for, and what value Anchor brings to the commercial operator in the food service and hospitality industry. Matt shares with us some incredibly exciting news at Anchor and the strategic offense they played during the pandemic while everyone else was struggling to stay in the game, they are now back, stocked up for business. Jack also tells us why Anchor is one of the best packaging lines in the Hode Group portfolio of packaging and how he has worked with hundreds of operators over the years using Anchor Packaging. Listen to why the Triple T effect is so vitally important to the operator in the success of their take-out-home delivery program for re-orders in the future. Learn how a specific line at Anchor is taking the industry by storm using their patented cutting-edge packaging technology for carry-out orders and killing it. "Do you want to just buy packaging or do you want to sell more food"?
Join us for this episode, pull up a chair, cuz it's all here...on the table!
Show notes: topical points of interest :
3:06 - Who is Anchor Packaging in the industry?
4:25 - Why the Hode Group is proud to rep Anchor Packaging.
6:03 -Listen to the incredible news at Anchor Packaging in the wake of supply chain issues.
8:49 - Why having a consistent steady stream of supply continues to be a strength for operators wanting to “deliver the goods” and grow sales.
9:45 - What has Anchor Packaging learned thru the pandemic season?
11:57 - What's the hard truth the pro operator learned thru the pandemic
13:51 - What obstacle (s) remain for the operator in their carry-out OR take-out dining program?
16:02 - Where does Anchor packaging best fit in? What space? Fine dining, QSR’s or …?
18:39 - What is the absolute go-to line/ product in the Anchor Packaging bundle for the foodservice operator to increase sales and re-orders?
26:21 - Anchor Packaging shares what they see in the future in our industry.
28:48 - Anchor's sampling policy and what you can expect!
Guest information:
Matt Murray
Director of Sales - Anchor Packaging
Anchor Packaging Fry Baby
Customers Agree Food Tastes Better In Crisp Food Technologies
Jack Hode
Senior Vice President- The Hode Group
The Hode Group Chicago Showroom
The Hode Group
The Hode Group Testimonials
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
Episode 02
John D. visits with Rich and Jack Hode of the Hode Group. Rich and Jack enlighten us on how they got their start and what value they as a group bring to the industry professional and how they assist operators in literally "setting their table". They share the past, present, and what they see for the industry‘s future. They also make a strong case of why they decided to upgrade their current showroom to a new 4300 square foot space in the West Loop of Chicago in this crazy marketplace and time. They discuss the supply chain issues and it’s impact on operators and their operations. They also address the pandemic fallout, what's changed as we roll into a new year. They share what "Home Meal Replacement" is and why it's important to your survival and revenue stream. Rich and Jack also address the never-ending question: "Is it still important to work with distribution partners in 2022"? Listen in on the advice given by these 43-year professionals on how to survive and navigate through the sea of ever-changing industry issues.
Join us for this episode, pull up a chair, cuz it's all here...on the table!
Show notes: topical points of interest :
2:19 - Who is the Hode group, their value to the industry and when did the Hode group get established?
3:40 - Rich and Jack Hode's background and experience and how they got started in the industry?
4:45 - The Hode Group is a family-run business, how challenging has it been for brothers and family to work together?
5:26 - HGI team, their skill sets and how is the Hode Group assembled and where?
& 9:50
6:35 - HGI values adding some humor to the industry workplace and their customers
12:46 - After 40+ years how different is the business landscape now than it was then?
15:08 - How has the pandemic or COVID season or other variables changed the business?
17:33 - What is the industry term –“Home Meal replacement”? Please explain the concept.
23:08 - How important is the distributor partner today for the operator?
25:29 - Why did the Hode Group acquire a 4300 sq. ft. large showroom in the Fulton Market district in the Chicago West Loop.
27:45 - What are your thoughts for the future for the Culinary and Hospitality Industry in 2022 and beyond?
30:44 - What advice would you give to an operator today after 43 years?
Guest information:
Rich Hode
President - The Hode Group
815-455-0500
Jack Hode
Vice President- The Hode Group
815-455-0500
The Hode Group Chicago Showroom
The Hode Group
The Hode Group Testimonials
Monday Nov 08, 2021
Monday Nov 08, 2021
Episode 01
John and Nick D. from the Hode Group visit with Wayne Koekeritz, Product and Zero Waste Specialist with Eco-Products of Boulder, Colorado.
Wayne discusses who Eco-Products is, his role, and what value they deliver to the professional commercial operator and the foodservice industry. He reviews "green" basics and explains commonly used industry jargon and misnomers with terms like biodegradable, compostable, greenwashing, renewable, reclaimed, and sustainable. He addresses the current state of "green" and available choices in green packaging, as well as the various materials/ substrates they are made from. He also discusses zero waste, what it is and, whether it makes sense for your operation or group, and of course, what is the process to get started.
If you ever thought about going green or you only dabble in the green space, then join Nick and I because the green conversation is on the table!
Show notes: topical points of interest
2:05 - Who is Eco-Products?
5:00 - What is a product and zero waste specialist and what is it they do for the commercial operator?
6:08 - How does Eco-Products interface with the commercial industrial operator in their area of expertise?
7:08 - What’s a waste audit?
8:00 - The basics of “Green” definition, concepts, and terminology and what green isn’t.
10:58 - What is biodegradable vs compostable?
13:35 - Back yard composting vs commercial composting
16:58 - The differences between the substrates/ materials that green products and packaging are made from and what’s renewable, sustainable, and reclaimed.
19:00 - What is Zero Waste and is it right for your foodservice operation or group?
24:14 - Why Eco-Products and what separates them from other “green” competitors? Are all green companies created equal?
26:38 - The Eco-Product advantage -Marketing support included? Really?
27:57 - How do I get started with a Zero Waste initiative, who should I contact and can I afford it?
Guest information:
Wayne Koeckeritz
Product& Zero Waste Specialist at Eco-Products
The Hode Group Chicago Showroom
The Hode Group
The Hode Group Testimonial