Southern Pride of Texas
Restaurant & Catering Industry News
165 articles on smoker care, BBQ tips, industry news, and more.
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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Your Smoker Doesn't Need to Talk to Your POS System (But Here's When It Actually Helps)
Earl cuts through the tech hype to explain when kitchen management integration matters for commercial smokers — and w...
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What Chipotle's Honey Chicken Return Tells You About Your Smoker Capacity
Chipotle bringing back honey chicken signals menu trends that affect commercial BBQ operations. Here's what it means ...
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Your Restaurant Already Has a Catering Business — You Just Haven't Built It Yet
How BBQ restaurant owners can launch a profitable catering operation using existing equipment, staff, and reputation ...
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The Chicken Sandwich Wars Are a Warning Sign for BBQ Operators Who Aren't Paying Attention
What Chili's jab at McDonald's reveals about protein trends, and why BBQ operators need to think beyond brisket right...
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