Let’s Set Your Table Podcast The Hode Group, Inc.

This conversation explores the benefits and applications of foil packaging in the food industry. The hosts discuss the advantages of foil packaging, such as heat retention and even heating, and its suitability for takeout and home meal replacement programs. They also address concerns about the perception of foil packaging and the importance of educating customers about its qualities. The conversation emphasizes the importance of the customer experience and the role of foil packaging in delivering high-quality food. The hosts suggest passing on the cost of packaging to consumers and highlight the potential for creative designs and colors in foil packaging.
Click for images of the California foil takeout packaging referenced in this episode: https://tinyurl.com/5n7xfdyw
Check out the black and gold foil series containers: https://tinyurl.com/3jd6xb5d
 
Key Takeaways
Foil packaging offers excellent heat retention and even heating, making it ideal for takeout and home meal replacement programs.
Educating customers about the qualities of foil packaging can help them understand its benefits and overcome any concerns about its appearance.
Foil packaging provides a grease barrier and helps maintain the quality and freshness of the food.
Operators can pass on the cost of packaging to consumers to ensure the use of high-quality materials.
Foil packaging can be customized with different colors and designs to enhance the customer experience.
What we discussed:
00:00 Show Introduction03:20 Discussion on Foil Packaging08:18 Switching from Compostable Packaging to Foil10:25 Foils as a Viable Option for Takeout Packaging13:02 Crimping and Sealing Foil Containers15:55 Presentation and Grease Barrier of Foil Packaging20:23 Home Meal Replacement Concept24:05 Passing Packaging Costs to Consumers26:06 Different Colors and Designs for Foil Packaging27:35 Maximizing Customer Experience with Foil Packaging29:41 Conclusion and Call to Action
Links: 
Explore the vast product list of aluminum foil takeout packaging at: https://www.hodegroup.com
The Hode Group Chicago Showroom: hodegroupshowroom.com
Let’s Set Your Table: Apple Podcasts 
 
 

Attention Hospitality and F&B OPERATORS! You could be (literally) throwing money away into your trash, the landfill AND it might be costing you more than $100K every year. This savings strategy is one that most of you may have never considered! It is commonly overlooked and we break it down for you and how it works in this episode. 
By the end of this episode, you will soon realize how much money your operation is possible wasting and you’ll want to do an waste audit of your property ASAP. 
“You're not in the business to keep the landfill in business. You're in the business to make more money. So the more money you can save in a disposable - that money needs to be parlayed into things that drive more revenue and ticket sales”
What we discussed: 
(00:15) The savings strategy you NEVER considered
(05:26) Money is in the TRASH!
(10:39) Where are the savings?
(14:50) What you COULD be spending money on instead 
(15:40) Get more return visits 
(20:04) Trash can weights 
(21:42) How much we ACTUALLY save - case studies 
(26:00) Schedule a property audit with us
3 Reasons To Do A Property Audit ASAP: 
Operators often believe they need larger trash can liners than they actually do - and it costs them significantly. A common mistake is buying 60-gallon liners for a 44-gallon, 32-gallon or even a 23-gallon Slim Jim trash can.
Improper management of your trash cans and trash liners can cause increased expense to your business and operation. Addressing overlooked money drainers like trash can liners can possiby save you $1000-$100,000+ every year depending on your property size. 
By optimizing management and the waste stream of your trash, you free up resources to enhance guest experiences, invest in state-of-the-art equipment, and elevate food quality, driving even more revenue 
Links: 
Get an audit of your property,  and possibly save $1,000-$100,000+: https://www.hodegroup.com
The Hode Group Chicago Showroom: hodegroupshowroom.com
Let’s Set Your Table: Apple Podcasts 

It’s not often that a professional knife is passed on as an heirloom, but that’s the case for Dexter Knives which are guaranteed to last a lifetime. They are American-made knives that have been around for 205 years. When brands promise a lifetime guarantee, they usually haven’t been around for centuries - but this brand walks the talk. 
Tune in to discover how Dexter Knives makes knives for chefs who need them and use them all day long. You’ll get an insight into their go-to-market strategy and the principles that guide their manufacturing process. 
Guests from this Episode:
Alan Peppel, President & CEO - Dexter
Andrew Peppel, Marketing Manager - Dexter
Chef David Leathers, Owner, Foodsmith
This episode was recorded during the National Restaurant Show in Chicago.  
What we discussed: 
(00:11) Episode overview (02:42) How was the National Restaurant Show in Chicago?(04:33) How Dexter makes superior knives (3 steps)(07:13) Why heat treatment matters(08:57) The real reason Dexter has over 2500 products(09:59) Go-to-market strategy(12:34) Biggest marketing challenge (14:34) Their fan club?(16:16) Why professional knives are different(19:46) Foodsmith: Running a fine-dining mobile restaurant, Chef David Leathers comments on Dexter Knives
 
3 things to remember: 
To make a great knife (a) start with great steel, (b) heat treat it correctly, (c) then grind the right edge. Different uses require different cutting edges.
Heat treatment gives knives the hardness and grain structure that it needs - not only to be strong but to withstand resharpening.
Dexter Knives believes in providing the right item, made the right way, at good value for professional use. This is a great ethic to have for any operator/owner in the food space.
Links: 
Dexter Helpful Resources:
Foodservice Catalog
 
The Hode Group Chicago Showroom: hodegroupshowroom.com
The Hode Group Corporate Website: hodegroup.com
Let’s Set Your Table: Apple Podcasts 

What’s it like to buy paper packaging? Which type is right for you? Are paper packaging prices up or down these days? Rich Rosenberg, a food paper packaging industry leader, joins the show to answer all your questions to help you find the right packaging for your business. 
Rich Rosenberg is an industry expert in the paper packaging industry. He’s been in the industry for almost 50 years and is the president of PBI sales. 
 
What we discussed: 
(00:24) Is paper back?
(02:27) The best products in the industry 
(03:10) Who is Rich Rosenberg?
(05:49) Paper packaging market update 
(08:02) Ban on foam
(09:02) Raw paper vs. corrugated boxes: what’s the difference?
(13:07) Grease barriers 
(15:16) How packaging helped hospitals in the pandemic 
(18:05) Serving Chick-fil-a, 7/11, Lowe’s 
(20:20) Does he work with small operators?
 
4 things to remember: 
Amazon is one of the biggest users of packaging. When Amazon’s business goes down, paper mill businesses go down too, and supply increases. 
Demand has dropped in the box industry since the height of the pandemic. Prices are coming down.  
Corrugated boxes are made up of 3 layers while paperboard is one ply paper. Paperboard is used in cosmetics and food while corrugated boxes are like pizza or Amazon boxes.
Grease penetrates through board, so a grease barrier typically needs to be applied especially if there is printing on boxes that directly come into contact with food.  
Links: 
PBI Sales Helpful Resources:
Food and Beverage Takeout & Catering BoxesFood & Pizza To-Go Packaging
The Hode Group Chicago Showroom: hodegroupshowroom.com
The Hode Group Corporate Website: hodegroup.com
 

Episode 09
John and Nick D. are joined at the table with the Director of National Sales for Leafware, Diane Maxwell. In the ever-changing world of food service, green compostable food packaging and dinnerware is not a new term. However, Palm Leaf is a new renewable, sustainable and compostable substrate that you may not be familiar with.  Diane shares the features, benefits and the various uses for palm leaf, it's compostability and ability to perform well in the green space for operators as a" Grab-n- Go" or for fast casual green choice of dinnerware.  
So, if you are looking to diversify your disposable food packaging bundle and offer your customers the most sustainable and compostable substrate out there, then pull up a chair with us at the table as we discuss the world of Areca palm leaf packaging and dinnerware with Leafware!
 
Show Notes (topical points of interest and links)--------------------------------------------------
4:22- Who is Leafware, what do you do and what value to you bring to the foodservice and hospitality industry?
5:01 -What is Palm Leaf and where is it sourced?
5:56 -What makes this Areca species or type of Palm Leaf and its ability to perform so different?
9:00-How does the Palm leaf substrate do with various plated foods and sauces?
10:18-Is Palm Leaf best used as a grab-n -go play or for in house casual dinnerware or fast casual serve
11:42 - How long will plated food last and will my food "hold"on palm leaf? 
15:55-Is Palm Leaf compostable, BPI Certified compostable and CMA ?
20:12-Will Leafware coach my group thru a composting initiative? 
21:20- Leafware now offering a Bamboo line and what products are they bringing to the marketplace?
24:16 -What other types of shapes and sizes of products does Leafware offer?
26:01- Leafware and Bamboo sample policy for testing and review.
 
Guest Information:
Diane MaxwellDirector National Sales- Leafware®also representing Bamboo Studio
2023 Leafware Catalog
http://hgiresourcecenter.com/files/pos_catalogs/2023-full-product-catalog64482cf146433.pdf
Bamboo Studio & Bambooware
http://hgiresourcecenter.com/files/pos_catalogs/2020-bamboo-studio-bamboo-catalog5f9af8b8547d0.pdf
http://hgiresourcecenter.com/files/pos_catalogs/2020-bamboo-studio-reusable-catalog5f9af9524eca7.pdf
 
The Hode Group Chicago Showroom
https://hodegroupshowroom.com
 
The Hode Group
https://www.hodegroup.com
Info@hodegroup.com815-455-0500
 
Check out our HGI Testimonials:
https://youtu.be/SLaljpCfcMU
 
 

Episode 08 
In this episode, Jack Hode and John D. caught up with our good friend, Eric Fialkoff, the Smile Distribution Manager at Specialty Box and Packaging and the home of…custom takeout bags!
Eric is a great partner of ours at the Hode Group! He is is an expert in custom logo'd and takeout packaging and is a huge asset in the disposables industry.
Eric shares with us who Specialty Box and Packaging is and how long they have been in the business with multi-generational roots. Listen in as they have pivoted over 60+ years to become your packaging point guard and one-stop shop for custom packaging for restaurant carry-out & takeout programs and for retail business as well.
Eric also shares why custom logo'd packaging is so important for the owner/operator in today's marketplace and why developing brand recognition is so important in a very competitive industry. 
Jack and Eric also discuss the "3 must-do’s" in your branding logo design. Key information, that you are not going to want to miss!
So, if you've ever asked yourself the question, "Why Should I Brand my To-Go Packaging?" or "Why Should I Spend the Money Branding my Business, Concept or Theme?", then tune in to this episode cuz it's all right here on the table! 
Show Notes (topical points of interest and links)--------------------------------------------------
 
The Hode Group Chicago Showroom
https://hodegroupshowroom.com
The Hode Group
https://www.hodegroup.com
Info@hodegroup.comp: 815-455-0500
Check out our HGI Testimonials:
https://youtu.be/SLaljpCfcMU