CURRENT ISSUE
| Cover Story |
| Columns |
| UFood Grill: Better for ‘U’ Food |
| UFood Grill offers healthier versions of traditional cuisine and is a proponent of menu labeling. Today, it is experiencing vast growth. By Kathryn Jones |
| Kahala Corp: All-Star Team |
| Kahala Corp holds some of the fastest-growing brands in quick-service, and says it believes in letting them stand united but distinct. By Chris Petersen |
| Panda Restaurant Group: Good Fortune |
| Once it found a way to apply its gourmet cuisine to a fast-food service model, Panda Restaurant Group achieved a stunning growth rate. By Kathryn Jones |
| Tableside Chat: Change is Now |
| This month's columnists help readers weather the economic storm today to ensure a brighter tomorrow. |
| Editor’s Choice: Top Companies and Executives of 2008 |
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Food and Drink's editors round up their favorite profiled companies and leaders from 2008. |
| Toppers Pizza |
| For a pizza franchise to succeed in this economy, “It’s all about focusing on the basics,” President Scott Gittrich tells Associate Editor Fernie Tiflis. |
| Southern Wine & Spirits of America Inc. |
| Special Projects Editor Chris Petersen learns that even in the rough economic times, Southern Wine & Spirits of America is successfully adapting to industry changes. |
| HOPE Wine |
| Associate Editor Kate Burrows finds that HOPE Wine is going strong as it rebrands itself to ONEHOPE and continues sharing its wine profits with charities. |
| BPNC Distillery |
| Associate Editor Alan Dorich reconnects with BPNC Distillery's President Brian Pearson to discuss how determination helped grow his firm, known for its unique liqueurs. |
| BANa Bottling Co. |
| Associate Editor Kathryn Jones catches up with BANa Bottling's CEO Benjamin Yoo to discuss his innovative beverage and his plans to take it global. |
| Winter News Briefs |
| The FDA steps up its quality control through the Food Protection Plan. Plus, two firms partner to develop food products for the human and veterinary markets. |
| Product Showcase: Designer Drinks |
| Explore the trendiest new designer drinks hitting the beverage market today. |
| Three Things: Flashback! |
| Food and Drink’s new back page is dedicated to three things the staff loves right now. |
| Silver Reef Hotel, Casino and Spa: A Silver Success |
| Silver Reef Hotel, Casino and Spa, located on the Lummi Indian reservation, brings a unique experience to the Pacific Northwest. By Kate Burrows |
| Silver Reef Hotel, Casino and Spa: A Silver Success |
| Silver Reef Hotel, Casino and Spa, located on the Lummi Indian reservation, brings a unique experience to the Pacific Northwest. Kate Burrows |
| Bad Ass Coffee Co.: Marching Onward |
| Bad Ass Coffee Co. continues to make progress into international markets, spreading its trademark ‘aloha spirit’ to Asia and potentially the Middle East. By Chris Petersen |
| BPNC Distillery: BPNC’s ‘Avenue’ |
| Even as it manufactures its own ready-to-drink beverages, BPNC Distillery also helps others bring their products to the market, its president says. By Alan Dorich |
| Clark’s Cheesestea, Factory Famous Philly Cheesesteaks: Say CheeseSTEAK |
| Clark’s CheeseSTEAK Factory brings authentic Philadelphia cheesesteak sandwiches to a market that needs them – the South. By Kathryn Jones |
| Pusateri’s Fine Foods: Redefining ‘Fine’ |
| Pusateri's Fine Foods grew from a small vegetable stand to a gourmet food emporium, carrying many exclusive items under one roof. By Kathryn Jones |
| Leona’s: Local Hangout |
| Leona;s is a neighborhood restaurant chain that offers something for everyone, its owner says. Italian favorites make up much of the menu. By Chris Petersen |
| Schoep’s Ice Cream: Strong Faith |
| Operating for 80 years, Schoep’s Ice Cream says it has no plans to give up the family owned tradition that helped it become an established market leader. By Fernie Tiflis |
| Camelback Mountain Resort: A Big Draw |
| Camelback Mountain Resort in the Poconos serves up skiing and swimming fun, along with extensive foodservice options for hungry guests that get smiles all around. By Chris Petersen |
| Bernatello’s Pizza Inc.: Covering it All |
| Minneapolis-based Bernatello’s Pizza established a niche in the frozen pizza industry by providing customers with a variety of flavors, as well as price options. By Fernie Tiflis |
| TransPecos Foods: Trans-Formation |
| TransPecos Foods provides retailers and foodservice operators with classic snacks foods and appetizers that might be healthier than people think. By Kate Burrows |
| Sonora Foods Ltd.: One-Stop Shop |
| Sonora Foods says it specializes in providing ‘everything that has to do with basic Southwest food staples’ to a variety of customers in the Canadian foodservice industry. By Alan Dorich |
| SK Foods: Business is Ripe |
| In a volatile industry, SK Foods believes its highly trained employees set it apart from the competition, and create an environment of success. By Kate Burrows and Kathryn Jones |
| Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood: Play Ball! |
| Named after the former St. Louis Cardinals player, Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood scores a home run with hungry fans. Expansion plans are on its horizon. By Kathryn Jones |
| Decas Cranberry Products: Berry Innovative |
| Decas Cranberry Products uses a patented process to infuse extra antioxidants and nutrients into its cranberries, and plans to apply this to other fruits. By Kathryn Jones |
| Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co.: Classic Success |
| Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co. has enjoyed more than 100 years of success in bottling and distributing a variety of beverages throughout Missouri. |
| Indiana Memorial Union Dining Services: A Healthy Mix |
| The Indiana Memorial Union Dining Services program is adding additional, nutritional items to meet students’ tastes at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. By Alan Dorich |
| Kahiki Foods: Lean Machine |
| Kahiki Foods came back from near-bankruptcy to become stronger than ever. It reinvented itself with lean practices and now is focused on product development. By Kate Burrows |
| J&D Produce: Fresh Choices |
| J&D Produce – through its Little Bear brand – delivers its fresh, high-quality fruits and vegetables to customers throughout the country. By Kate Burrows |
| Cedars Mediterranean Foods: Creating a Buzz |
| Cedars Mediterranean Foods is known for its authentic, high-quality hummus, and continues to expand its product line to appeal to customers throughout the country. By Kate Burrows |
| Zoup! Fresh Soup Co.: ‘Comfort’ Food |
| With 100 varieties of soup, Zoup! Fresh Soup Co. says it is a quick-casual concept with a vision of providing comfort to its customers. By Alan Dorich |
| Marconi Foods: Hot Business |
| Marconi Foods has been a successful family business for more than a century. The company specializes in authentic Chicago-style giardiniera. By Kate Burrows |
| The Safe Zone: Safety in a Down Economy |
| A poor economy is no reason to cut safety programs. Learn ways to play it safe on a budget. By Lee Biars |
| The Leadership Cookbook: High Performers |
| The future of your firm depends on the choices leading up to your successes and failures. By Rudy M. Miick |
| Green Kitchen Tips |
| There are five surefire ways to be part of the solution when it comes to the foodservice industry’s ongoing problems with energy inefficiency and dependence. By Steve Kurtz |
| Bob Chinn’s Crabhouse: Driven by Passion |
| With its only location in the Chicago suburb of Wheeling, Bob Chinn’s Crabhouse successfully rivals some chains, thanks to good food and innovation. By Chris Petersen |
| Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino: ‘Center of it All’ |
| Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino mixes it up to attract new customers and keep regulars happy and coming back for new experiences. By Chris Petersen |
| New World Pasta: New Directions |
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As the largest U.S. branded dry pasta maker, New World Pasta takes its brands to the next level with healthy, flavorful ingredients. By Brooke Knudson |
| Rising Sun Farms: ‘Lifestyle Business’ |
| Rising Sun Farms produces cheese tortas, pestos and balsamic drizzles made from fresh, natural and organic ingredients. By Fernie Tiflis |
| Culver Duck Farms Inc.: Pride in Poultry |
| Now in its fifth generation, Culver Duck Farms Inc. is redefining consumers’ perceptions of duck products, its secretary and treasurer says. By Alan Dorich |
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