Southern Pride of Texas
Restaurant & Catering Industry News
253 articles on smoker care, BBQ tips, industry news, and more.
What Wendy's, Chipotle, and IHOP Are Telling Us About Where Smoked Protein Is Headed
Major chains are pushing smoked and slow-cooked proteins hard in 2024. Here's what that means for independent BBQ ope...
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Food Trucks Are Running Real Smokers Now — And Some of Them Are Doing It Right
How serious food truck operators are using commercial-grade smokers to produce restaurant-quality BBQ on the road.
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McDonald's Added 900 Restaurants in 2025 — And Here's What That Signals for BBQ Operators
McDonald's aggressive U.S. expansion reveals trends BBQ restaurant owners can't ignore. What the QSR giant's moves me...
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Hire for the Pit, Train for the Register: Building a BBQ Crew That Actually Works
Which restaurant skills you need on day one vs what you can teach. A practical breakdown for BBQ operators hiring in ...
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What Equipment Standardization Actually Looks Like When You're Running 12 Locations
Franchise BBQ operators need standardized equipment that holds up across every unit. Here's what works at scale and w...
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What the Big Chains Are Doing Right Now—And What It Means for Your Smoker Schedule
Ray breaks down April 2026 restaurant trends from NRN and explains how independent BBQ operators can adjust equipment...
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McDonald's Just Added 900 New Locations — Here's What That Means for Independent BBQ Operators
McDonald's aggressive 2025 expansion signals shifting consumer patterns. What independent BBQ restaurants can learn f...
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Chipotle's Menu Moves and What Chain Growth Actually Means for Independent Operators
Major chains are expanding aggressively in 2026. Here's what that means for your BBQ operation and equipment decisions.
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Nobody Talks About Insurance Until the Grease Fire — Then It's All They Talk About
Earl covers the insurance and liability realities commercial BBQ operators face, from equipment coverage gaps to why ...
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What Zaxby's Giant Chicken Wraps Tell Us About Cooking for the Protein-Hungry Crowd
Zaxby's new oversized chicken wraps signal a shift toward protein-heavy menus. Here's what that means for BBQ operato...
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What Chili's Chicken Sandwich War With McDonald's Actually Tells Commercial Operators
Chili's latest chicken sandwich takes shots at fast food. Here's what BBQ operators should learn about protein wars a...
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What Philippe Chow's New Midtown Flagship Tells Us About High-Volume Kitchen Builds
A look at what Philippe Chow's Manhattan expansion reveals about smoke program equipment decisions for high-end, high...
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