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Restaurant Daily News 5 7 Saturday, May 18, 2019 SKECHERS Caters to Foodservice Industry An interview with Harold Surabian, National Sales Manager, SKECHERS Direct. RDN: How long has SKECHERS been in this business, offering a line of work shoes? HS: SKECHERS originally started in 1992 as a utility footwear company, so this goes back to our roots from day one. Most people are really surprised to see all the different work shoes we make, but you can see in our booth that we provide a lot of options for foodservice employ- ees who want to look good, stay safe from slips and falls and be comfortable throughout their shifts. RDN: Tell our readers about the SKECHERS Direct Corporate Shoe Program. Who can join? HS: Our corporate shoe program has been out for about seven years now and it's available to companies with 200 or more employees who are based in the U.S. or Canada. It's a cost-free program with no minimum purchasing require- ments, no set-up fees, no costs whatsoev- er. Your employees simply buy direct from SKECHERS and get 30 percent off year-round on our ASTM Mark II tested slip-resistant work shoes and corporate casual styles. If your company does not meet the minimum employee require- ment, we can set you up on our 25 per- cent off program. RDN: Can you accommodate companies with uniform requirements that include shoes? HS: Yes. Purchases can be made online on our SKECHERS Ecommerce site that's custom-built to the uniform needs of your company. If you require black slip-resistant shoes, your employees won't see a brown boot on the website, so they can't buy it think- ing that it would be okay to wear to work. That's the beauty of our program com- pared to many of our competitors. RDN: How long does it take to get the shoes ordered through the website? HS: Orders usually ship within 48 hours and online orders receive free shipping and free returns. If you have an employee that you hire to start the next day or would simply like to try on their shoes before purchasing, they can also shop at any of our 500-plus SKECHERS retail stores nationwide and in Canada. We have a SKECHERS retail store in every major city and this is an enormous bene- fit that none of our competitors can touch. RDN: Are there any other benefits? HS: Yes. Our slip- resistant shoes come with a $5,000 slip and fall warranty that helps protect your company from the expensive conse- quences of slips and falls. Plus, your employees will enjoy our quarterly friends and family day events, which allow them to extend their 30 percent dis- count on SKECHERS shoes for the entire family, including kids' shoes, san- dals, casual shoes and our performance line of running, walking and golf shoes (over 3,000 styles to choose from). This is another employee benefit that our com- petitors can't offer, as they only make work shoes. For more information, visit the SKECH- ERS Direct Booth in the South Hall at booth #3126. After the show, call Harold Surabian at 310.318.3100, ext. 1860 or email haroldsu@skechers.com. Award-Winning Authentic Ethnic Street Food Street food-inspired dishes were named a top trend prediction on NRA's What's Hot 2019 Culinary Forecast, and 40 percent of 18-34 year olds are looking for ethnic items specifically described as "street foods," according to Technomic. A previous hurdle for restaurant operators interested in men- uing authentic global street foods was the need for specialized equipment like vertical broilers, plus the necessary kitchen space and labor talent. With new technology and product innova- tions like ReadyCarved™ Flame Broiled Off-the-Cone Slices from Grecian Delight, any operator can now serve popular ethnic street foods like gyros, shawarma and al pastor. At the 2019 National Restaurant Show, Grecian Delight is being recog- nized with FABI Awards for its new ReadyCarved Natural Halal Shawarma Slices, available in Beef & Lamb and Chicken, plus its new ReadyCarved Al Pastor Pork Slices. These new addi- tions join ReadyCarved Gyro Slices which were introduced in early 2018 and available in Beef & Lamb and Chicken. ReadyCarved Flame Broiled Off- the-Cone Slices are the quick and easy way to add real, authentic ethnic street foods to any menu. New ReadyCarved Al Pastor and Natural Halal Shawarma feature cuts of meat that are tumble marinated, then hand stacked by artisan carvers to 500-pound cones, flame broiled, robotically sliced and individu- ally quick frozen to lock in that cone- carved freshness and flavor. ReadyCarved Slices go from freezer to plate in four minutes or less. No extra space, labor, special skills or equipment needed. ReadyCarved Slices can be heated on a flattop grill, in an oven, high speed oven, impingement oven or even a microwave, making authentic ethnic street food a possibility for any operation. Beyond their classic sandwich for- mats, ReadyCarved Slices have applica- tions all across the menu. These authen- tic ethnic proteins make delicious and exciting additions on salads, in popular ethnic bowls, omelets, breakfast sand- wiches, on loaded French fries, Mediterranean nachos, Mezze-style sampler or shareable platters, or even as pizza toppers. In addition to the FABI Award recognition for ReadyCarved Al Pastor and Natural Halal Shawarma Slices, Grecian Delight was also the recipient of a third 2019 FABI Award for its reformu- lated Skhug sauce (a.k.a. Four Pepper Cilantro Sauce). Skhug is a spicy Middle Eastern sauce and a traditional accompani- ment to shawarma and falafel, but also has great applications with any meat, as a salad dressing, pizza drizzle or mix in with hummus or Greek yogurt for an amazing dip. Skhug has been called out by Technomic, Datassential and NRA's What's Hot Annual Chef's Survey as a trend for 2019. Grecian Delight, A Pure Mediterranean Foods Company, brings you the very best of Greek and Mediterranean cuisine with products including gyros and specialty meats, pitas and flatbreads, tzatziki, hummus and spreads, falafel and additional Mediterranean specialties. Visit Grecian Delight at booth #812, South Hall. For more information, go to www.greciandelight.com or call 800.621.4387. DeBrand Truffles: Effortless, Profitable, Enticing Imagine having the perfect dessert to complement your menu that requires no preparation. DeBrand Truffles are the luxurious sweet conclusion that will entice each and every customer. These 12 incredible variations seem almost too beautiful to eat ... almost! Each oversized piece is individually and artistically designed, but their true beauty lies with- in. These irresistible silky, rich truffles are petite, gourmet chocolate desserts, perfect for the table or to go. DeBrand Truffles boast a minimum shelf life of two months at room temperature, with no need for refrigeration or preparation by your staff. All varieties are guaranteed in stock and are available to ship within one to two business days, all year round. DeBrand packaging is also available for purchase, and its truffle wholesale prices are currently set for resellers to earn a margin over 62 percent. DeBrand makes it easy to offer a gourmet chocolate expe- rience year-round. Featuring these beautiful truffles on your menu and in a display case is the perfect way to entice your customers. As they arrive, they will be greeted by the promise of a high-quality, gourmet dessert. Even if they decide against indulging immedi- ately after their meal, they can purchase truffles as they leave to be enjoyed later. This is an easy add-on sale and has no need for any preparation, just bag or box and go. DeBrand is also happy to provide art- work and product descriptions for menus, displays and social media adver- tising. DeBrand recommends carrying an ongoing selection of at least four to six different truffles to provide a wide selection and an eye-catching display. Its four most popular truffles are Dark Chocolate, Caramel, Peanut Butter and Raspberry. In addi- tion to selling truffles by the piece, they are also available in prepackaged assortments, ideal for holidays, events and when guests are in a hurry. DeBrand Truffles deliver a high-quality, gourmet chocolate experi- ence that your guests are sure to remem- ber. For more information, visit booth #10618. Yes Way, Rosé! Your customers can now rosé all day with Stonewall Kitchen's new Rosé Vinaigrette, a delightful dressing that features a bright and vibrant vinegar distilled from everyone's favorite blush-toned wine. Once only thought of as a summertime drink, today rosé is the "it" vino on the market, ubiquitous yet still effortlessly chic and available bot- tled, boxed or canned. It has even made the leap beyond the wine aisle and into seltzers, ciders, candies – and, yes, vinaigrettes. To create wine vinegar, rosé is aged until it's concentrated in flavor, developing a pleasantly tart taste with lovely fruity notes. Stonewall Kitchen then pairs this vinegar with black pep- per, garlic, oil and a few other ingredi- ents, resulting in a wonderfully refreshing dressing that's tangy and sweet. An ideal product for ever-popu- lar brunch gatherings, Rosé Vinaigrette will leave customers tick- led pink by how it complements dishes like berry-studded salads and roasted vegetables. For more information, call 888.326.5678 or go to www.stonewallkitchen.com.