Published on January 2, 2026 Brad Peters, Founder & CEO of HRBUniversal & The Plate & Pour Collective Equity Partner Program The continued viability of independent and national dining and drinking establishments is gravely imperiled. After forty years in the hospitality sector, my assessment is that the industry is in a precipitous decline, evidenced by the…
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Smaller Portions and Family-Style Takeout to Boost Sales and Reduce Costs
Listen to the Podcast Short at: Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube Published on December 28, 2025 Brad Peters, Founder & CEO of HRBUniversal & The Plate & Pour Collective Equity Partner Program The 2026 outlook for the food service industry is characterized by two essential and complementary strategic shifts, both engineered to enhance profitability,…
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The Essential Mandate for Food Defense in the Food Service Industry: A Proactive Imperative
Listen to the Podcast Short at: Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube Published on December 21, 2025 Brad Peters, Founder, Director, CEO of HRBUniversal & The Plate & Pour Collective Equity Partner Program The contemporary threat landscape has elevated the urgency for rigorous food defense measures from a suggested best practice to an essential mandate….
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Beyond Liability: The Financial Impact of Workplace Complacency
Listen to the Podcast Short at: Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube Published on December 14, 2025 Brad Peters, Founder, Director, CEO of HRBUniversal & The Plate & Pour Collective Equity Partner Program The legal resolution involving Panda Express ($1.05 million settlement) concerning a carbon dioxide incident serves as a significant and costly cautionary example…
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Five Transformative Food and Packaging Trends for QSRs in 2026
Listen to the Podcast Short at: Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube Published on December 7, 2025 Brad Peters, Founder, Director, CEO of HRBUniversal & The Plate & Pour Collective Equity Partner Program The quick-service restaurant (QSR) sector stands at the precipice of a year defined by fundamental, tech-driven transformation. To not only sustain a…
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The Phenomenon of “Drinksgiving”: Thanksgiving Eve Evolves into a Preeminent Social Event
Listen to the Podcast Short at: Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube Published on November 23, 2025 Brad Peters, Founder, Director, CEO of HRBUniversal & The Plate & Pour Collective Equity Partner Program Thanksgiving Eve, once merely acknowledged as the high-volume travel day preceding the customary American holiday feast, has decidedly transcended that quotidian status….
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Regulation Shockwave: Steep New City Fees Threaten to Wipe Out Streateries and Small Businesses Nationwide
Listen to the Podcast Short at: Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube Published on November 16, 2025 Brad Peters, Founder, Director, CEO of HRBUniversal & The Plate & Pour Collective Equity Partner Program The expansion of outdoor dining facilities, commonly referred to as “streateries,” which provided a vital economic lifeline to the restaurant sector during…
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The Third-Party Food Delivery Model: An Unsustainable Paradigm for Restaurants
Listen to the Podcast Short at: Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube Published on November 9, 2025 Brad Peters, Founder, Director, CEO of HRBUniversal & The Plate & Pour Collective Equity Partner Program The pervasive reliance on third-party food delivery applications has created an increasingly untenable operational model, threatening the long-term viability and profitability of…
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The Sober-Curious Revolution: A New Era for Functional Beverages
Listen to the Podcast Short at: Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube Published on November 2, 2025 Brad Peters, Founder, Director, CEO of HRBUniversal & The Plate & Pour Collective Equity Partner Program As health and wellness continue to hold paramount importance in consumer consciousness, a subtle yet profound transformation is occurring within the beverage…
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Curated Meal Kits and Retail: Bringing Restaurant Quality Home
Listen to the Podcast Short at: Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube Published on October 26, 2025 Brad Peters, Founder, Director, CEO of HRBUniversal & The Plate & Pour Collective Equity Partner Program In an evolving culinary landscape, restaurants are increasingly identifying innovative avenues to engage with consumers beyond the confines of their traditional dining…
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