Bob Evans BEST Blog

Election Season at Bob Evans Restaurants

With the election season upon us, politicians are out and about meeting their constituents and would-be constituents at local lunch counters and watering holes. What better place to connect with real Ohioans than Bob Evans!

 

 Gubernatorial candidate for Ohio, John Kasich, was recently profiled by CNN’s John King. When King followed him to a Bob Evans location (reportedly his favorite restaurant), Kasich “worked the room” and talked to a number of guests there. (Note: King looks like a biscuit fan!)

 

A few days later, during a gubernatorial debate in Ohio, Kasich relayed a story his interaction with a couple at our New Albany location. Kasich said the couple was sitting in a booth at a Bob Evans and he approached them to say hello. He discovered that both the wife and husband had been downgraded at their jobs and were discussing their family budget, trying to make ends meet.

 

Then Ohio blogger for OhioDailyblog.com, Anthony Fossaceca, questioned the authenticity of Kasich’s story. CNN’s John King brought up the question on his show in a “fact checking” segment, and aired footage of the actual conversation taking place in the Bob Evans restaurant.

 

Candidate Kasich and current Governor Ted Strickland may not agree on much, but we hear they both agree that Bob Evans is a great place to eat. We approve that message!

 

 

Bob Evans Farms Supports Pelotonia 2010

Bob Evans Farms, Inc. is proud to partner with Pelotonia for its second year. A peloton is a tightly packed group of bicycle riders who work as a team to advance on a journey, and Pelotonia is an annual cycling event in Columbus, Ohio, that raises money to fund cancer research. Pelotonia’s single goal is to end cancer and to reach that goal they donate 100% of every dollar raised to essential and innovative cancer research at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-James Cancer Hospital in Columbus. In 2009, Pelotonia raised more than $4.5 million for cancer research.

 

As a proud supporter of the James and the mission to end cancer, Bob Evans partnered again to feed the Pelotonia riders breakfast for the two-day event and recruited a team of riders and volunteers. Our coffee station was a welcome addition to the early-morning starts. New this year, we also served the meal at the celebration/ finish for the Columbus to Groveport (23 mile) leg of the ride.

 

Pelotonia is unique in that it asks riders to not only commit to a challenging physical feat, but it also requires a large fundraising commitment. Last year the Bob Evans team rode 940 miles and raised over $33,000 for this important cause. This year we are raising the stakes and plan to increase our support.

 

How can you help?

 

Although the Pelotonia ride took place August 20-22, we are still raising money for the cause through the month of October.  

 

You can donate to the Bob Evans fundraising effort by clicking here.

 

Thank you to the many volunteers that made this event a success. Your help was greatly appreciated. Congratulations to all the 2010 Pelotonia riders!

 

Scroll below to see pictures and video from Pelotonia 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

Bob Evans 2010 Pelotonia team

 

 

4,000 riders participated in this special event

 

Bob Evans Team with Ohio State's President Gee

 

 

Bob Evans Team Members Brian Wilson and Sarah Morton

Bob Evans Corporate Volunteers

Bob Evans provided coffee for the event

 

Biscuit and Gravy cheered the Pelotonia riders on

 

 

Bob Evans and MFHA's Diversity & Personal Branding Program a Success

On July 20, Bob Evans hosted the Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Association’s (MFHA) “Navigating Through the Corporate Landscape: Personal Brand Marketing in a Multicultural World”. The 150 attendees learned how all individuals regardless of gender or race, can leverage common brand management principles to effectively market themselves.  Bob Evans Chairman & CEO Steve Davis and Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman kicked the program off with some opening comments and welcomed our keynote speaker, Dr. Robert Rodriguez.

Dr. Rodriguez explained how diversity is a strength and how to capitalize on your personal brand. Following his presentation, we hosted a panel discussion with leaders within our organization as well as our foodservice and hospitality peers at Wendy’s, White Castle, and Red Roof Inn. 

Attendees learned what a personal brand is and why it is integral in career success and how to market oneself via proven brand management strategies. Dr. Rodriguez gave tips for creating internal “brand loyalty” within your organization. Attendees took away an action plan on how to use networking to expand your reach and influence. They  also learned how to leverage diversity to enhance one’s distinctiveness and relevance in the workplace.

 

Dr. Rodriguez is a noted expert on diversity. He writes the “Leadership” column in Diversity Executive Magazine and has published over 50 articles on various diversity and human resource topics. Dr. Rodriguez is a highly sought after consultant within corporate America.  He serves on the board of directors for several non-profit diversity organizations and often speaks to diverse employee groups on how they can leverage their ethnicity as a source of strength.

We were happy to host this event in partnership with the MFHA to offer new opportunities for our industry peers to grow and learn from one another. The panelist discussion and audience questions offered further collaboration between industry professionals. We look forward to our continued efforts with the MFHA and further professional development series. For more information on the MFHA please visit www.mfha.net or call 401.461.6347

 

Scroll down to view video and pictures from this event.

 

 

 

 Steve Davis, Chairman & CEO Bob Evans Farms, Inc.,  Dr. Robert Rodriguez, keynote speaker and Gerry Fernandez, president of the MFHA

 

Mayor Michael Coleman, Steve Davis,Chairman & CEO Bob Evans Farms, Inc., Dr. Robert Rodriguez, keynote speaker, Celois Steele, MFHA, Gerry Fernandez, president of MFHA, Joe Eulberg, Executive Vice President of HR

 

Panelist Discussion

 

 

Columbus Zoofari

 Bob Evans is once again partnering with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to reach the thousands of Central Ohio families and residents that visit the zoo each year. As part of this sponsorship, Bob Evans will be passing out coupons at the entrance gate, sampling some of our famous BBQ pulled pork and Italian sausages at special events, setting merchandise in restaurants as well as recognition of our sponsorship at the zoo.

The 40^th Annual Zoofari took place at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on June 19 and Bob Evans was fortunate enough to be a part of all of the fun! Zoofari is the Zoo’s annual, adult-only fundraiser that features more than 100 central Ohio restaurants and bars serving appetizer portions of their signature dishes and specialty drinks. Bob Evans was on sight at the Water’s Edge Pavilion, located along the Scioto River. We sampled mini pulled pork sandwiches and our new mini beef brisket sandwiches along with our Italian sausage and bratwurst. It was a beautiful evening for the event and the zoo was filled with people enjoying incredible food, great drinks and wonderful music and entertainment

Nearly 5,000 people were in attendance which allowed for Bob Evans to receive some great exposure. The food was a hit and received many compliments from our guests. We also had our dedicated staff of employees on hand to be a great representation of our brand and values. All in all, a remarkably successful event and we can’t wait again for next year!  Scroll down to see our Bob Evans team members who made the event such a success.

 

 

 

  

Thank you for writing!

As Chairman & CEO of Bob Evans Farms, I get some great letters from guests about all the good things our employees do to give guests that Bob Evans Special Touch (what we call "BEST"). I would like to take some time to share some of the wonderful letters we have received from our guests- they remind me that the restaurant business is really all about people.

   

Thank you Lyn and Murray Brown from Lake Panasoffkee, Fla. for your letter.

To Whom It May Concern:

During our first visit to your restaurant and we had excellent food and excellent service.

Unfortunately, I inadvertently left my VISA credit card at your restaurant #179 in Leesburg, Fla., and did not realize until 2 days later.  We tracked down where it was last used and phoned you. We were happy to hear it was retained and put in your safe. 

Our server, Angela offered to meet us and return our card.  I think she should be commended for her actions.

Heading back to Alberta, Canada, April 20, we will see you in the fall.

Yours Truly,
Lyn & Murray Brown
Lake Panasoffkee, Fla.

     

Thank you Virginia Watson from Sun City Center, Fla. for your letter and thank you to general manager of restaurant # 488, Pat Frey in Sun City for passing it along.

Dear Manager Pat,

I want to share a story about the kindness of your staff.  Today, Kerry went over and beyond when I couldn’t turn the key in my car and I called for road service.

They said they would have to use dollies to tow it to Bradenton, making for extra charges.I went back into Bob Evans to wait and three gals offered to try.   Kerry started it up immediately, as she knew the ‘secret’.   This saved me hundreds of dollars.  I am so grateful to her.

Thanks again for your well-run, clean restaurant.

Sincerely yours,

Virginia Watson
Sun City Center, Fla.

     

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Richard Song from Bridgeport, Ohio for your letter. The general manager of our Bridgeport Bob Evans, Michael Casto, wanted to recognize the staff and management, especially Food Quality Manager Burke Nickerson, who made their visit wonderful.  Thanks to Burke and the staff for giving it your BEST, we have gained the respect of another loyal customer.  

Dear Sir,
I would like to send a big thank you to Bob Evans for your kindness on Friday, Feb. 5, 2010.

We went to Bob Evans for lunch with a group.  My wife, our daughter & son-in-law from California, our daughter & son-in-law from York, Pa., and our daughter from Pittsburgh.

In our talk with the server, we told him that my wife and I were to have a big party on Feb. 6, at Undo’s in St. Clairesville as it was our 50th wedding anniversary.  He must have told the manager, who came over to our table and picked up the tab for the meal.

It was a great start to our celebration.  We just moved to Martin’s Ferry in August, and have been to Bob Evans a number of times since our move.  Our children were very impressed with your kindness.

Thanks again,
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Song

   

Thank you Jane Ramey from Otway, Ohio for your letter, which was shared with us by Bob Evans' Southwestern Ohio Area Coach Don Adams.

Dear Sir,

I just wanted to tell you about one of your employees.  On Feb. 4, 2010, my family stopped by for breakfast.  We were on our way to Dayton, Ohio, to see my brother, who had just been released from the hospital.  He had suffered several ailments and my mother was obviously worried and upset.  Your lovely server, Kat Mangold, focused her attention on my mom and treated her like royalty.  Kat’s kindness perked her right up and we were delighted! 

Kat had no way of knowing our hearts were breaking.  As we were preparing to leave, I told Kat that I had retired in April 2008, and have taken on a part-time job.  My job is to make anyone that comes to the Goodseed Farm in Peebles, Ohio, glad that they came and to make their visit a memorable one.  I told Kat that she was a perfect example of my job description. 

Our visit to your restaurant #441 in Beavercreek, Ohio, was that and more.  I have a feeling that the care she gave us is how she treats everybody.  She was a very special blessing to us that day.

I was a receptionist for 25 years, and I have been a greeter at my church for 14 years.  Being good to people is what I like to do best.  Meeting Kat has added to my determination to make this world a better place one smile at a time.  Please thank her for us and thank you for your wonderful staff.

Jane Ramey
Otway, Ohio

  

Thank you to Mr. Tod Mullins for taking the time to contact me regarding your experience with our team at Bob Evans Restaurant #261, located at 70 Liberty Square, Hurricance, West Virginia.

We are proud of our employees, but especially proud when someone such as you takes the time to tell us just how great they really are!

Thank you for your business because it is important to us.

 

Thanks to all of the letters we receive from our valued guests. I sincerely enjoy reading all the positive experiences that you have had at our restaurants. Please keep sending them in, and I will keep sharing them with you.

--Steve Davis

Dayton Dragons Get a "Taste of Bob Evans"

 

The Bob Evans team has been quite busy during its summer sponsorship season.  Bob Evans has been taking the “Taste of Bob Evans” to various locations such as the Ohio State University, the Columbus Crew stadium, the Columbus Clippers stadium and most recently, the Dayton Dragons stadium.  The summer has been packed with giving the public a “Taste of Bob Evans.”
 

 

Bob Evans visited our friends at the Dayton Dragons to give them a taste of some of our favorite foods from Bob Evans.  We sampled some of the restaurants’ fresh chicken salad, signature coleslaw, refreshing peach iced tea, delicious peach cobbler and Dayton’s own, “Dragon’s Drink.”  It was a very hot day in Dayton but the peach tea and “Dragon’s Drink” kept everyone cool and refreshed. On the Bob Evans Foods side, we sampled our home-style mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese made with real cheddar cheese.  Children and adults could not get enough of our mac and cheese and mashed potatoes.  The food and drink selections were a hit for everyone! 

 

Along with sampling our great products, the guests of Fifth Third Field signed up for BEmail, received coupons for our Bob Evans food products and signed their children up for the Birthday Bunch.  Five guests were lucky enough to each win a gift card to Bob Evans restaurants! Mimi’s Café joined the Bob Evans bunch to sample some of its favorite desserts.  The cheesecake and brownie samples were delicious and gave Dayton a taste of Mimi’s baked goods.
 

 

This event was made possible by our 50+ volunteers from the Dayton restaurants and the corporate office. Our summer events could not be possible without the helping hands, enthusiastic attitude and dedication the volunteers have for Bob Evans. The volunteers gave the event their BEST and it turned out to be an event to remember!

Biscuit and Gravy made a trip to visit the Dayton Dragons

 

Our Bob Evans volunteers served up our special recipe macaroni and cheese to guests

 

 

 

Thank you Dayton Dragons fans for a wonderful event! 

Steve Davis visits Florida and North Carolina with Bob Evans Food Products Team

The spring season has gotten off to a great start at Bob Evans! We introduced our new Farm-Fresh Wraps and Real Fruit Smoothies and our guests are letting us know how much they enjoy these delicious new menu items. On the Bob Evans Foods side, we debuted our Bob Evans Stuffers and Bob Evans Wrappers with great success.

 

Our Foods division is growing quickly as a national brand. The team and I recently visited a number of grocery stores across the country to gauge how we’ve grown. President of Bob Evans Food Products Mike Townsley, and several members of our Foods team traveled to Charlotte, N.C., Orlando, Fla., Tampa Fla. and Clearwater, Fla. to collaborate with our grocery partners. We know that our guests tell our grocery partners what they think about our products and we always get great feedback from talking with them.

 

Of course after long days of traveling we needed to refuel. What better place than local Bob Evans and Mimis Café restaurants? I was happy to meet some wonderful team members that are giving it their BEST every day. I also met a few loyal patrons of our restaurants. We had the pleasure of meeting a group of ladies who come to their local Mimi’s Cafe in Charlotte for their weekly Mahjong tournament; they even let me play a round with them!   Also while in Charlotte, we stumbled across an Oscar Mayer’s Weinermobile that was parked beside one of our grocery store partners. The restaurants we visited displayed all aspects of our BEST Brand Builders. Thank you for committing to being the BEST at operations and winning together as a team.  Check out the photos from our trip below.

 

At Mimi’s in Orlando , Fla. , with team member Maurice

At the Bob Evans Restaurant #19 in Clearwater, FLA, with team members Annee and Rex

Visiting with the Charlotte, NC Mimi's Cafe Team

The Food Products team with the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile!

 
At Mimi’s Cafe in Charlotte, N.C., playing Mahjong.

Healthy Choices

On Monday, February 22, I was honored to welcome Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman, Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Teresa Long and President of Donatos Pizza Jane Grote Abell to our corporate campus to announce our participation in the mayor’s new Healthy Choices Committee. The committee is a collaboration of restaurant companies and local government to find ways to end obesity and related health risks by offering consumers more balanced options. Mayor Coleman commended us on our new Fit from the Farm menu as an example of incorporating nutritious options to fit any lifestyle.

Chef Brian Murphy and our fantastic staff of corporate chefs prepared the entire Fit from the Farm menu for Mayor Coleman and Dr. Long in our test kitchen. Chef Brian showcased these new dishes while explaining how the menu and flavors were developed. I’m pleased to say the Mayor had a bite of nearly everything!

We are excited to partner with the Mayor, Dr. Long and our fellow restaurant companies to find solutions to these problems. We know that providing nutritious food and balanced options is important to our guests – it’s part of the reason we created the Fit from the Farm menu.

We listened to our guests and found a way to combine nutritious eating options without sacrificing the homestyle goodness and delicious taste that you enjoy.  Our new Fit from the Farm menu provides numerous balanced options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guests who are following a 2,000 calorie daily diet could eat three balanced, affordable meals a day off of the Bob Evans Fit from the Farm menu. All dishes are 650 calories or less, 35 percent or less total calories from fat and 0 grams trans fat.

We have already seen great success with the Fit from the Farm menu. Our guests’ feedback has been extremely positive – and our employees love it too. One of our General Managers – Paul Slowick from Corning, NY –has lost 25 lbs. since January by eating Fit from the Farm meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

To learn more about the Healthy Choices Committee click here

To learn more about the Fit from the Farm menu click here

Let us know what you think about Fit from the Farm on our Facebook page.

 

2008 BEST Bob-B-Q Bulletin Board Contest

Ready, set, vote!

Bob Evans Restaurants celebrated the return of Bob Evans Bob-B-Q, now in stores until the end of summer, by decorating their in-store bulletin boards. Click here to view the entire collection of BEST Bob-B-Q Bulletin Board photos.

We want to hear from you! To vote, view the BEST Bulletin Board slideshow, then choose your favorite bulletin board by selecting its unit number on our poll page.

But hurry, voting concludes on June 27. Results will be displayed on Tuesday, July 1, 2008. Stay tuned...