Five Most Overlooked Foodservice Design Details (FES Magazine)

I was fortunate to be asked by talented writer Amelia Levin of Foodservice Equipment & Supplies/Specifier recently for an interview about restaurant design. This featured article was just published in Foodservice Equipment & Supplies Magazine. The Zoomba Group, a provider and distributor of commercial foodservice content and information, is the publisher of FES. We appreciate […]

Our Friends At Turbo Chef Our Accepting Scholarship Applications

Don’t miss this college scholarship opportunity! The Turbo Air Charitable Foundation is accepting applications through July 31, 2023. College students from low-income families could receive a $1,500 scholarship from Turbo Air to help with tuition and educational expenses. The scholarship is reserved for full-time students currently enrolled in an American university. Follow the link to […]

Members CA State Assembly – Oppose + Stop California AB 1228

April 12th, 2023 TO: Members, California State AssemblyRE: Opposition to AB 1228Dear Speaker Rendon & Members of the Assembly: The International Franchise Association, California Chamber of Commerce & California Restaurant Association, along with our collective members and undersigned coalition partners wish to express our strong opposition to AB 1228, the Fast Food Franchisor Responsibility Act introduced by Assemblymember […]

ON TAP Episode Twelve with Bill Bender – Hosted by the dynamic Wade Koehler

I’m thrilled with each episode of FCSI’s ON TAP Series Hosted by Wade Koehler, Executive Director of FCSI-The Americas. I have been so impressed by my fellow FCSI professional members. They’re a very smart, talented group of professionals and colleagues, with wide-ranging skill sets that can assist any operator. We really do cover The Americas […]

Bill Bender joins Wade Koehler for ON TAP, FCSI The Americas, New Video Podcast

As a longtime member of the Foodservice Consultant Society International (FCSI) I’ve been fortunate to meet and develop professional relationships with fellow consultant members and the leaders of allied (manufacturers + services) members. All members are foodservice professionals, truly caring and sharing people. They provide knowledge and assistance whenever they are asked for counsel or […]

Consulting Project Collaboration and Management Advisory Services (MAS) Client Success!

As an FCSI Management Advisory Services (MAS) consultant, many people I meet or talk with are unfamiliar with the term “MAS” and what services are available from foodservice consultants. Owners and operators are facing the most difficult business environment in several generations. I thought it may be the right time to share some details on […]

Developing A Successful Go-To-Market Strategy for the 2022 Marketplace

W.H. Bender & Associates develops and provides Go-To-Market Strategies, Strategic Marketing Plans, Brand and Concept Development, and Product Incubation for: Restaurants Foodservice and Hospitality Projects New Food and Beverage Products Restaurant and Foodservice Hospitality Technology Restaurant and Foodservice Industry Equipment and Services Bill Bender, FCSI Principal of W.H. Bender & Associates is a professional member of Foodservice Consultants Society […]

Let’s Celebrate CRAF California ProStart Students Now

In March the California Restaurant Association Foundation (CRAF) was forced by the Covid-19 pandemic to cancel it’s in-person California ProStart Cup. This year’s Chair John Tallichet (Speciality Restaurants Corp) with CRAF Executive Director Alycia Harshfield and the CRA management team weighed all event points and consulted with School Districts, Teachers, Parents, Advisors, Coaches, Mentors, Sponsors, […]

SSA Providing Free COVID19 Relief Consulting to Foodservice Operators

I recently passed my Foodservice Consultants Society International (FCSI) 20th anniversary as a professional member. People ask “Why are you a member of FCSI”, or “What are the benefits of being an FCSI professional member?” Let’s go into the Wayback Machine. As a hard-working entry-level team member in restaurants, I had the life-altering opportunity to join […]

San Francisco 49’ers Faithful Will Enjoy NFC Championship Game at Michael Mina’s Tailgate

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, the NFC Championship game will be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Longtime San Francisco 49er fan and award-winning Chef Michael Mina has been waiting a long time to experience this game at “his stadium” – Levi’s Stadium®. Levi’s Stadium® opened July 17, 2014, large projects like these take years to design […]

Winning the 1969 Pepsi-Cola Name the System Contest.

I eagerly entered the foodservice industry in 1967 when my parents purchased a Berkshire mountain inn located in the small town of South Egremont, Massachusetts. I was 13 when I was introduced to the art of dishwashing at our Red Saber Inn. It was a family business, so my younger sister Joan and I had […]

The 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Mission – The Food Supply of Lunar City by Issac Asimov

July 16, 2019, marked the 50th Anniversary of the Saturn V rocket liftoff from Cape Kennedy, Florida that carried three courageous American Astronauts starting their Space voyage to the Moon. The brave Astronauts were Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Dr. Buzz Aldrin, the Apollo 11 Mission TEAM. What an exciting week that would be as we […]

The Next Big Restaurant Idea Might Just Come from Teenagers (ProStart Students)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 13, 2018 Contact: Alycia Harshfield 916.212.8484 / aharshfield@calrest.org The Next Big Restaurant Idea Might Just Come from Teenagers (Sacramento, CA) – For two exciting days each year, California high school students take part in the CA ProStart Cup, an intense culinary arts and restaurant entrepreneurship competition that awards much-needed college scholarships […]

At A Glance – Restaurant Quality Checkback’s Timing – A repost

  June 15, 2017 – I’ve returned from moderating the Future Food Panel (what a kick) at Foodable.io and the massive four day National Restaurant Association Show with Paul Barron’s Foodable Network and International Foodservice Manufacturers Association rocking Media Stage. We recorded many informative and fun On Foodable Weekly episodes and I met numerous Restaurant, Foodservice and Manufacturing Industry […]

March 9, 2017 15th Annual California ProStart® Cup Competition Starts March 19th.

The 2017 California ProStart Cup will be the high energy California Restaurant Association Foundation Event of the year. ProStart® is a two-year high school curriculum for students interested in Restaurant and Hospitality Management and/or a Culinary Career. BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse is the title sponsor for the Management Cup and Johnny Rockets is the title sponsor for the Culinary […]