Tuff Gards® High Density Disposable Cookie Bags
Crafted from high density polyethylene (HDPE), these specialty bags are engineered to withstand extremem temperatures ranging from -50°F to 220°F, ensuring reliability and flexibility in various storage conditions. Ideal for storing cookies destined for concession stands, curbside pickups, deliveries, or any culinary venture, these bags come in a convenient saddle pack for effortless dispensing. Available in a crystal-clear finish, the 5.5″ x 5.5″ size offers ample space for neatly packaging treats.

Empress “Cool Wave” Paper Cold Cups with Lid
A stylish and practical choice for serving up refreshing beverages like smoothies, slushies, juice, water, and soda. These cups feature a distinctive “Cool Wave” design in shades of blue, adding flair to any occasion. Ideal for a wide range of settings including take-out orders, catering events, food trucks, and other establishments serving cold beverages, these cups offer versatility. The smooth rolled rim enhances strength and ensures a tight fit with compatible lids, reducing the risk of spills during transport or enjoyment. Now available in three sizes (12 oz, 16 oz, and 22 oz), along with matching flat slotted lids for spill-resistant serving.

Ready Seafood Breaded Lobster Meat
A delectable and convenient option for creating gourmet dishes. This product features premium lobster claw and knuckle meat, expertly breaded and frozen to preserve freshness. Each piece is coated with a flavorful breading, providing a delightful crunch with every bite. Ready Seafood Lobster Meat is incredibly versatile and can be used to prepare a variety of dishes, including appetizers, seafood platters, pasta dishes, and unique seafood entrées. The convenient packaging includes 8 packs of 1.5 lbs each, offering flexibility in portioning and storage.

Ruby Kist Orange Juice Blend
This juice blend combines the refreshing flavors of apple and orange juices, delivering a delicious and nutritious drink that will delight customers. Each case contains 8-64 oz bottles, providing ample servings for various food service settings such as breakfast buffets, brunch menus, or as a refreshing beverage option throuout the day. Ruby Kist 100% Orange Blend Juice is crafted from 100% natural juices, ensuring exceptional taste and quality with every pour.

New Item Details:

Dennis Food Service delivers thousands of foodservice products and supplies to restaurants and food operations in Maine and New Hampshire. If you have a question or are interested in becoming a customer contact us or call 1-800-439-2727

First on our list, try the sausage and cheese stuffed hashbrowns from Jimmy Dean – simply thaw and serve for a breakfast that’s as quick and easy as it is delicious. Next, we have cream cheese loaves. These are great for incorporating into different desserts and sauces for that rich, creamy element.

From TableCraft, we have 16-ounce squeeze bottles. With clear finishes and a wide-mouth tip, these are perfect for back-of-house condiments/sauces for easy distinction and quick applications. Lastly, we have diet Mountain Dew in cans. The cans are 12 ounces and come in a 24-pack, and very useful for cocktail mixers or as a beverage on its own.

Take a look at our full list below:

Dennis Paper & Food Service delivers thousands of foodservice products and supplies to restaurants and food operations in Maine and New Hampshire. If you have a question or are interested in becoming a customer contact us or call 1-800-439-2727.

When compared with coffee, tea is arguably as interesting and complex in its sourcing, flavors, formats and health benefits. Operators who know more about tea and the art of tea can differentiate themselves by providing insights and expertise.

Today’s consumers are moving away from sodas and soft drinks to healthier beverage options. This has made operators ask, “What now?” Experts are predicting that because of the serious innovation in the tea category, the tea market will experience significant growth*.

Millennials appear to be leading the growth. In fact, 87% of Millennials are tea drinkers**. Consumers tell us that the health benefits of tea play an influential role in their choice of tea over other options. In fact, dieticians in particular foresee tea sales continuing their ascent. In today’s food and beverage culture, it’s common for consumers, and especially Millennials, to pay close attention to the ingredients and craftsmanship that goes into everything they consume. Today’s tea drinkers know a good thing when they see it. And taste it.

Eighty-five percent of tea consumed in America is chilled***. And while many consider iced tea a warm-weather beverage, it’s actually evolving into a year-round favorite. Iced tea’s all-season popularity is do in part to consumers are wooed by iced tea’s health benefits and fresh, crisp flavor, regardless of the time of year.

Consumers are increasingly seeking iced tea options that are more than just something to drink, but that meet their increasingly selective palates. Now more than ever, serving a top-quality iced tea that provides a crisp, clean flavor can be a valuable addition to your beverage menu.

Offering familiar and unique flavors, from peach and mango to mint green tea or your own signature house-made concoctions, gives your customers more options and your beverage program more sales power.

Dennis stocks a variety of hot and iced tea products from New England Coffee, Bigelow, Lipton and Maxwell House.

*Beverage Daily, 2016
**Tea Association of the U.S.A., Inc.
***Washingtonpost.com

Source: GreatMenusStartHere.com

Just how popular is cold brew coffee? We’ve got the stats. What makes cold brew different? We’ll help you understand the steep. What’s the biggest hurdle for foodservice operators? We’ll tell you and share the solution in this episode! If you’ve been pondering how to prepare better pizzas with quality ingredients, how to expand your menu with new flavors and combinations, and most importantly – how to produce more profit from your pies… Then you need to tune into this episode!

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For this week’s foodie fact we’re asking, how many acres of pizza do Americans eat per day? If you laid all the pizza Americans consume each day out on a flat surface, how many acres would it take up? We’ll have the answer, and then some, in this episode!

Links and product information mentioned in this episode include our website: www.DennisExpress.com

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We look forward to your feedback, send an email to podcast@dennisexpress.com!

It’s hard to imagine a beverage menu without coffee and tea. These hardworking staples can be served hot or iced, no matter the season or weather, throughout the day from breakfast to between meals and after dinner.

Coffee

It’s no surprise that the overall coffee market is growing. Driving this growth is the quality of coffee and the options for customization available to customers. New formats and varieties are emerging as coffee continues to resonate with consumers. Read more in our Coffee Break-Down.

1) Offer “flavor shots” of syrup or creamer, for any hot or cold coffee or espresso-based coffee beverage—such as lattes and cappuccinos—either à la carte or as part of a customization program.

2) Provide alternative sweeteners and lighteners—including honey, agave, and plant-based milks, such as soy and almond—for those avoiding refined sugar and dairy.

3) In addition to the familiar latte and cappuccino, experiment with next-level espresso-based beverages, such as:

• Macchiato (espresso “marked” with a small amount of foamed milk)
• Americano (espresso diluted with hot water)
• Cortado (espresso “cut” with warm milk)
• Shakerato (espresso shaken with sugar and ice cubes to chill it)

4) Get serious about iced coffee by making it available year-round—not just during warm weather. Iced latte and iced cappuccino are also growing in popularity, according to Datassential.

5) Consider getting in on the fast-growing cold-brew coffee trend; according cold brew has experienced explosive growth over the past few years.

6) Upsell iced or cold-brew coffee with such add-ons as:

• Specialty flavors (for example, maple-pecan, salted caramel, vanilla)
• Whipped cream
• Frozen coffee ice cubes

7) Use coffee in cocktails, such as an espresso martini or Irish coffee and other coffee-based after-dinner drinks. (Listen to Episode 18 of Dennis Knows Food for more.)

Tea

Specialty Tea is a fast-growing segment in beverages sales, from breakfast tea to spiced chai to classic sweet tea, there’s a tea for every time and place.

8) Step up tea service with a selection of different teas, including not only traditional black tea, but also herbal tea, green tea, and premium specialty teas such as jasmine or Rooibos.

9) Experiment with globally inspired tea concepts:

• Serve hot tea as the Russians do: with a side of cherry preserves or another sweet jam that the customer can stir in to taste
• The spiced, sweetened milk tea from India called chai can be served either hot or cold, or turned into a blended beverage
• Moroccan mint tea consists of green tea steeped with sugar and lots of fresh mint
• Make a tea latte with extra-strong brewed tea and hot steamed milk, sweetened to taste

10) Offer iced tea year-round, not just during the summer; according to Datassential, iced tea is now more likely to be consumed than hot tea.

11) Mix iced tea with sweetened condensed milk as a variation on Vietnamese iced coffee.

12) Combine iced tea 50-50 with lemonade or fruit juice to create a refreshing specialty beverage.

13) Infuse iced white, green, or black tea with flavors such as ginger, pineapple, strawberry, and more.

14) Use hot or iced tea in cocktails, such as a hot tea toddy or black tea punch with rum.

Cocoa

Hot chocolate is the last piece of the classic beverage puzzle. Although 47% of customers love it, according to Datassential, hot cocoa/chocolate is only featured on 16.7% of U.S. restaurant menus, representing an opportunity for renewed growth. One way to boost sales of this cold-weather favorite is by marketing it as an indulgent treat.

15) Topped with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle or sprinkles.

16) Flavored with mint or peppermint.

17) Laced with mocha and ancho or cayenne chile.

18) Offered in dark or white chocolate.

19) Paired with a biscotti or churro for dipping.

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It’s no surprise that the overall coffee market is growing. Driving this growth is the quality of coffee and the options for customization available to customers. New formats and varieties are emerging as coffee continues to resonate with consumers.

The increasing interest in specialty coffee drinks is creating an expanding market of discriminating coffee drinkers. While the quick pick-me-up isn’t quite a thing of the past, today’s coffee drinkers are more focused on finding the finest in flavor, aroma and freshness. Younger coffee drinkers in particular are influenced by the prevalence of coffee shops and come to expect the same quality wherever they dine. Staying out in front of coffee trends can be a critical factor in an operator’s success.

According to research at Mintel, cold brew coffee is the hottest trend in the industry with the coffee format experiencing steady growth since 2010, and sales rising 115% between 2014 and 2015. Considering that over the past five years cold brew coffee sales have skyrocketed a whopping 580%, estimated to be an 18 billion dollar business in 2020. Consumers have proven that cold brew is here to stay.

While cold-brew is growing, hot beverages are still a pillar of today’s c-store business. C-stores represent about 11 percent of overall hot-beverage revenue and rank fourth in hot-beverage segments, behind limited-service coffee shops, quick-service restaurants and full-service restaurants. The success of coffee sales outside of the c-store realm is not only driven by the growing number of outlets for coffee drinkers to get their fix, but also by coffee shops capitalizing on consumers’ love for customizing what they eat and drink.

Coffee is the perfect beverage for Millennials. Coffee offers expansive variety and the ability for almost endless customization, something that this newest generation of consumers have come to expect. No wonder, people aged 19 to 34 make up 44% of the world’s coffee drinkers.

What makes Millennials so influential in this recent boom? For starters, younger consumers are more likely to consume coffee out-of-home at a rate of 46% versus 26% of older consumers. Millennials are also the core contingency of today’s third wave of coffee brewing. This move away from traditional coffee to new trends is exploding in big cities and spreading in popularity among young out-of-home coffee consumers.

A strong coffee program is also a great pull-trough sales generator. Experts suggest utilizing bundling opportunities to increase both coffee and ancillary product sales. According to Technomic, “meal complement” purchases account for about 70% of overall hot-dispensed-beverage volume. Playing to the value and convenience that today’s consumers seek, bundling for breakfast is an effective sales strategy, especially among younger consumers. Technomic insights reveal that more than half of consumers ages 18 to 24 say that breakfast combo meals, often featuring a coffee beverage, are important offers at foodservice outlets and impact their decision to visit that operation. As c-stores upgrade their specialty coffee programs, they should consider pairing with gourmet breakfast pastries or breakfast sandwiches to compete with the bakery-cafes and QSRs that have similar premium offerings.

Partnering with the right coffee provider is the surest way to drive customers in for their daily cup. With today’s discerning coffee drinkers, the quality of the coffee you serve is the make-or-break difference on whether they continue to frequent your operation.

Dennis Paper & Food Service is partnered with New England Coffee and together we are helping our customers meet the demands of today’s coffee drinkers. New England Coffee’s roasters have developed and refined their roasting process to guarantee premium coffee beans with distinct smoothness and characteristic taste. Each variety of coffee bean requires a different roast time and their experienced roasters use both smell and sight to determine when the desired roast has been achieved. This roasting process has been a tradition at New England Coffee since 1916.

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Sources
NCA National Coffee Drinking Trends Report, 2017
Gourmetinsider.com, 2016
National Coffee Association
Content courtesy of Red Diamond
2017 Red Diamond Beverage Council
Bloomberg, Oct. 2016