Southern Pride of Texas
Restaurant & Catering Industry News
220 articles on smoker care, BBQ tips, industry news, and more.
Hire for Instinct, Train for Technique: Building a BBQ Team That Actually Lasts
Which skills should you hire for in a BBQ restaurant vs. train on the job? A practical breakdown for operators buildi...
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Hire for Feel, Train for Technique: Building a BBQ Crew That Won't Burn You
After 30 years running crews, Earl breaks down which skills you can teach new hires and which ones a cook either has ...
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What the 2026 Top 500 Restaurant Chains Tell Us About Commercial Smoker Demand
Ray breaks down the Nation's Restaurant News Top 500 list and what it signals for BBQ operators planning equipment pu...
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Pork Belly Burnt Ends Changed My Menu Math — Here's What Actually Happened
How pork belly burnt ends went from social media trend to serious profit center, and what commercial operators need t...
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What BJ's Hiring a Darden Marketer Tells Us About Where Casual Dining Is Headed
BJ's Restaurants taps Darden executive as brand president. Here's what this leadership shift signals for BBQ operator...
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What a 10-Piece Chicken Box Tells Us About Where Foodservice Is Headed
Lee's Famous Recipe adds a 10-piece box. Earl breaks down what QSR menu moves mean for BBQ operators watching the sam...
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What a 10-Piece Chicken Box Tells You About Where Smoked Protein Is Headed
Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken expands their menu with larger family portions. Here's what that signals for BBQ operator...
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Running Short-Staffed? Your Equipment Needs to Pick Up the Slack
Practical equipment strategies for BBQ restaurants struggling with labor shortages—from automated smokers to smarter ...
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Menu Math: What Smart Operators Are Actually Doing About Food Costs Right Now
Real strategies BBQ restaurants are using to protect margins in 2024 — from portion engineering to smarter equipment ...
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What BJ's Restaurant Leadership Shuffle Tells Us About Chain BBQ Operations
BJ's hires Darden marketer as brand president. What this means for restaurant equipment decisions and why chains keep...
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Chain Restaurants Are Scrambling — Here's What It Means for Independent BBQ Operators
Cracker Barrel's turnaround plan, KFC testing table service, and menu pivots everywhere signal opportunity for prepar...
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What Red Robin's $72.5M Franchise Selloff Actually Tells Us About Restaurant Equipment Strategy
Red Robin's sale of 86 corporate stores signals shifting costs in foodservice. Here's what operators should take from...
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