More and more people are opting for healthier lifestyles.  It has long been assumed that a vegetarian diet is healthier than diets that include large amounts of meat and animal products, however, many people shy away from complete vegetarianism and embrace what is now referred to as a “flexitarian” lifestyle, eating both vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods, but limiting their intake of meat and other animal products for health reasons.  As a result, the numbers of vegetarian restaurants and vegetarian-friendly menu options is increasing significantly.

It used to be that vegetarians were excluded from most restaurants based on the limited number of meatless dishes (other than a house salad).  Many restaurants now offer extensive vegetarian choices, such as entrees featuring beans, tofu and other proteins.  This helps consumers make healthier choices when dining out.

The trend toward more vegetarian choices comes from the growing concern by many about their personal health, as well as concerns about more eco-friendly lifestyles, including the use of fewer animal products.   It is thought that the livestock industry contributes more toward global warming than the combined effect of all forms of transportation, making it a significant issue for environmentalists.

Many celebrities have hopped on the meat-free bandwagon and adopted patterns like “Meat Free Mondays” and other promotions that help reduce the global warming caused by the livestock industry.  This has helped to raise awareness surrounding the correlation between animal products and global warming.

Research has shown that there is a significant increase in the demand for vegetarian and meatless foods, with a nearly 25% increase during the past decade.  It is expected that this growth trend is going to continue on an upward swing.  People are going to continue to seek healthier options when it comes to dining out, and the interest in conserving resources and protecting the environment is also likely to grow.

Creating a larger voice for your brand means getting the word out however you can.  Advertising must be very powerful in order to get your message heard.  Television commercials and print ads can be extremely expensive, and many business owners are turning to the Internet to get their brands recognized and advertised.  Using social media has become extremely popular and very effective for small businesses to advertise their products and services.

Finding ways to capture an audience using social media is important.  Many social media consultants are available to help business owners with developing an Internet marketing plan that is inexpensive and extremely effective.  A social media consultant will evaluate the type of business you have and assess the possibilities for clientele.  Once this determination is made, an appropriate campaign can be launched.

Depending on the demographics of the target audience, different types of Internet marketing may be used.  Social media, at first, was targeted primarily at a younger crowd.  However, today’s social media techniques are broad and far reaching, and can catch the attention of many different age groups.  Social media advertising is very powerful, baby boomers are even getting in on the action, especially with the most mainstream options, like Facebook and Twitter.

Establishing a brand for your company takes time and persistence.  You will know you are established when you have customers that recognize and seek out your brand, and help spread the word.  One way to help establish your brand is to develop a motto.  Everyone knows that Wheaties cereal is “the breakfast of champions,” or that General Electric (GE) “brings good things to life.”  These are catch phrases that make these particular brands even more of a household name.  while you may not be the next Nike (“just do it”), you can still develop a strong and memorable message for your customers, one that creates a voice and can be easily spread using social media and other marketing tools.

A successful marketing program needs to incorporate many different aspects.  Whether you are opening a new restaurant, introducing a new chef, adding exciting new menu items or have daily specials to announce, you must be certain that your message gets to the right people and ensure that your customers have the latest information about your restaurant.

For best results, an integrated marketing plan should be used.  Social media is becoming a centerpiece of the up-to-the-minute advertising that is occurring, with the introduction of Facebook, Twitter and other mini-blogging sites.  Having online friends and followers is a key for many small business owners, and a fantastic way for business owners to establish a stronger connection with their customers.

Offering special coupons and discounts for loyal customers is easily integrated when you embrace the power of social media options.  The ability to instantly connect with and have real time interactions with customers will allow for an easier method for building loyalty and getting feedback.  Changes you make will be readily visible to the masses, increasing your credibility and building your brand—for free!

Communicating with your customers regularly is made easy with social media.  You don’t have to go through the cumbersome work of creating and distributing flyers, paying for expensive advertising or dealing with difficult marketing strategies.  All you have to do is make a post or a tweet, and your most loyal customers instantly know.  With the increasing numbers of smart phones and mobile Internet devices, most fans and followers will know within seconds.

Using consumer touchpoints essentially means being able to meet your customers “where they are.”  This doesn’t mean geographically (though that helps), but means that you are able to provide what they need when they need it.  Being able to have close communication and contact with your loyal customers is one way that you can accomplish this.

Social media has become the most popular form of advertising that one can find.  Being posted about or tweeted about will raise brand awareness instantly!  Restaurants that can get their customers to use these means will find that their business will increase (assuming, of course, that the feedback is positive).  So, how can social media be harnessed as a productive advertising method?  Here are a few ways that it can be used.

Encourage your customers to follow you by using social media.  You can do this by offering incentives and online coupons to “followers” or those who “like” your page.  Be sure to designate a staff person to respond to tweets, posts, questions, etc. so that current information is always in the forefront on social pages.  Not staying active and current with social media can make it completely useless.  This may mean simply posting a daily or weekly special to keep your brand and your business in the front of your customers’ minds.

Have drawings or contests for small freebies—these prizes do not have to be expensive or big, but just enough to get customers in the door, or at least thinking about your business so that next time they are out and about they are more likely to stop in and more likely to mention your brand to friends.

The power of social media is growing rapidly.  Marketing research shows that the use of apps and smart phones is exponentially growing, which provides businesses with new tools and avenues for attracting customers.  When apps are combined with microblogging sites like Facebook and Twitter, the possibilities are limitless.

Successful businesses, particularly restaurants since there are so many to choose from, will aggressively pursue the business of the social media clientele.  With the use of social media so significantly on the rise, this is a surefire way to get more exposure.

Small businesses are continually looking for ways to develop a unique presence in the mobile community.  Mobile platforms are growing exponentially and increasing access to businesses by customers.  Most businesses can benefit from using mobile platforms, and there are more and more ways to develop the apps that are necessary at an affordable price.
Individual restaurants can design apps that fit their unique needs, using products that are available.  Hiring a creative team to handle the artwork and logo angles, and being able to upload menus and specials, can result in a highly effective and functional app that helps restaurant owners connect in a mobile way with their customers—in real time.

Apps for the iPhone and Android products are most popular, as well as those for Blackberry phones.  Other smart phones are able to handle certain apps, and the availability is growing rapidly.  Mobile apps can be easily downloaded from iTunes or other programs that offer web interface with phone and Internet.

Restaurant owners are beginning to imagine the power of using mobile apps to keep in constant contact with their clientele.  Apps can send out text messages announcing specials or events, and can even drum up extra business on a slow night by offering exciting contests or other special offers.  These live data apps keeps customers up to date with their favorite hotspots.  Thanks to the mobile revolution that is occurring, the potential for restaurants and other businesses to connect with customers is endless.

Mobile apps have certainly revolutionized marketing and advertising strategies and plans, and not only for the restaurant business.  The number of smart phones is on the rise, and individuals are staying more closely connected with the Internet and like having online information instantly at their fingertips.  Traditional marketing strategies have involved other, more expensive types of media, so having the opportunity to connect directly with your target audience, by using apps that they select and choose to have on their devices, will ultimately be a much more successful and less expensive way to advertise.

The primary function for a filter in a commercial hood is to prevent flames from being able to enter the exhaust ductwork.  Any time that flames or sparks are permitted to enter duct work, there is a significant risk of serious fire occurring, possibly undetected.  This could result in catastrophic damage to the building or persons inside.

Historically, there have been multiple types of filters available for commercial hood usage.  Aluminum mesh filters, baffle filters and other types have been used to prevent the entry of flames and sparks into ductwork, and also to help keep other particles from entering the exhaust system.  New requirements now indicate that the aluminum mesh filters are less safe to use, and these are not being installed on new commercial kitchen ventilation systems.  All filters must now have the baffle style design.

Filters also help to cool the air passing through, which is another way that they can trap contaminant particles from the air and prevent them from entering the ducts.  Air must pass through the filter to become cooled.  The baffles, turns and cooling surfaces will help prevent any particles from remaining airborne by causing condensation.

The new requirements will help to prevent more restaurant kitchen fires and help to keep the commercial kitchen ventilation system cleaner and in better repair, as less residue will build up in the exhaust system.

Other types of filters that are acceptable in commercial hoods include water mist filters.  These filters will quickly cool the heated air and allow condensation to capture and contain the particles that are passing through.

Baffle filters with high velocity cartridges have the largest surface area for condensation, allowing for the quickest cooling of the air flowing through.  Grease particles can be readily removed from the air.  With a larger surface area, the grease will be captured more closely to the exterior of the commercial hood, otherwise, it will be captured later in the ventilation system when it cools, which will make it more difficult to remove.

When the amount of air removed from a commercial kitchen is greater than the amount of air being replaced, dangerous drafting (called backdrafting) can occur.  Backdrafting can cause flash flames, which could easily ignite any greasy residue that may have collected on the cooking surfaces or commercial hood.

Backdrafting can occur as a result of not having the proper replacement make up air system in a restaurant kitchen.  Many restaurant owners focus on the commercial kitchen ventilation equipment that is necessary for removal of the contaminated air, without fully considering how that removed air is going to be replaced.  With too much negative pressure building up in the kitchen, backdrafting will develop.  This will cause doors to stick, papers and debris to blow around, and flames to flicker erratically.  Any of these conditions can be dangerous.

In order to prevent the development of these dangerous backdrafts, special backdraft dampers can be installed, along with replacement make up air systems.  By preventing the return of the captured and contained air, and replacing the air that has been removed, the proper air flow can be maintained.  Generally speaking, a good rule of thumb for airflow is about 2000CFM in a restaurant kitchen.  This will help to avoid the development of backdrafts.

There are different types of backdraft dampers that are available.  Some are metal and will help prevent the removed air from returning.  Metal backdraft dampers do have the downside of being loud when they open and shut.  Fabric backdraft dampers are also available and are far quieter, yet still efficiently prevent backdrafting in commercial kitchens.

The cause of backdrafting is the improper airflow that can result from poorly designed and installed commercial kitchen ventilation systems.  Preventing backdrafting requires simple but important components that must be present to keep the restaurant kitchen safe.  A professional commercial hood company can investigate problems associated with backdrafting and help to provide the appropriate solution.

Ductless hoods are one option that some restaurant owners may choose to consider.  Like the Type 1 and Type 2 commercial hoods, ductless hoods will remove contaminants from the cooking area in the kitchen.  The main difference is that the ductless hoods will clean and filter the air but then return it to the kitchen area, rather than directing it to the outdoors.  While directing the contaminated air to the outdoors is the ideal solution to commercial kitchen ventilation, ductless vents are often the only option for certain kitchen designs and may be appropriate.

When choosing to use a ductless commercial hood in a restaurant kitchen, certain conditions should be explored carefully to ensure that the ductless hood is safe for the particular situation.  Ductless hoods do tend to be less effective at fully cleaning the contaminated air and should therefore be generally avoided in high volume restaurant kitchens.

All commercial and restaurant kitchens require adequate ventilation, and a ductless hood is certainly a better choice than no hood at all (which would not only lead to unsafe and unsanitary conditions, but health and fire code violations as well).

Any time that a ductless hood is used in a restaurant kitchen, the filters should be regularly inspected and either completely cleaned or replaced, depending on the particular type of filter that is used.  Filters must be very effective, as they are removing contaminants and allowing the filtered air to be recirculated.
Having too many contaminants recirculated can lead to dangerous conditions.  Because there is no ductwork and the air does not actually leave the kitchen area, it must be cleaned as much as possible.
Typically, ductless commercial hoods use charcoal filters that must be periodically replaced and cannot be cleaned.  Replacement frequency depends somewhat on the volume of usage in the kitchen.

Generally speaking, ductless commercial hoods are less desirable than the standard type of vented commercial hood, but they are often adequate for smaller kitchens that may not be properly equipped for more elaborate commercial kitchen ventilation systems.