Total Food Service

Independent restaurants and bars are more than places to eat and drink. They are employers, gathering spaces, neighborhood anchors, and essential parts of local economies.

In this episode of Total Food Service's Virtual Breakfast Sessions, Erika Polmar joins the conversation to discuss the work of the Independent Restaurant Coalition and how advocacy continues to play a critical role in supporting independent operators, their teams, and the communities they serve.

The conversation looks at what it takes to give independent restaurants and bars a stronger voice, secure meaningful relief, and keep pushing for policies that recognize the realities of running a foodservice business today.

LIsten here: https://open.spotify.com/show/1U0eqgxKOENSOhT6lheP8L

Buffets are back — but not in the old way.

Today’s buffet is less about “more food on the table” and more about smarter strategy:
✨ Better guest flow
✨ Flexible layouts
✨ Smaller-batch presentation
✨ Labor-saving design
✨ Energy-conscious equipment
✨ A stronger visual experience

This article looks at how buffets are moving from volume-driven setups to experience-driven platforms that can support margins, sustainability, and operational efficiency.

The piece also features insight from FOH Worldwide's Cherylee Cruz on how operators are rethinking everything from presentation and mobility to technology and service flow.

The takeaway? A well-designed buffet does more than serve food. It helps tell a story, guide the guest experience, and make the operation work better behind the scenes.

Learn here: https://totalfood.com/buffets-foodservice-strategy-smart-design-margins/

New Issue Alert! Total Food Service's June issue is packed with exclusive interviews, industry event coverage, regulatory updates, and inspiring stories from across foodservice.

🔥 Inside the June Issue:

📖 Exclusive Q&A with legendary restaurant executive and author Don Fox — Pg. 36

🍕 New York's bromate ban is reshaping dough formulation strategies — Pg. 4

💵 Chicago's tipped wage pause follows significant industry pushback — Pg. 8

❤️ Chefs Who Care rallies support for families battling cancer — Pg. 30

🎤 NRA Show 2026 highlights optimism, innovation, and practical foodservice solutions — Pg. 48

Whether you're an operator, chef, distributor, manufacturer, or industry leader, this issue delivers the news and insights shaping foodservice today.

📲 Read the full June issue today: https://totalfood.com/june-2026-total-food-service-digital-issue/ -2026-digital-issue/1