 Since I’m not really a big fan of reality shows, I don’t know a lot about them…but one thing I know is that my boss, Phil Wenger, would have a hard time getting on the show, “Undercover Boss”, especially after his latest adventure. Since March, Phil has visited with employees at all 20 Isaac’s for special roundtable-like meetings. So he’s easily one of the most recognized people in our company!
 And, while it isn’t the first time that he’s gone out to hold meetings with all of his teams, this last “tour” (I’m a music-holic and love to use terms like this), was a little different from previous ones because of its purpose…to introduce our newly-updated Strategic Plan to guide Isaac’s growth that his management team created with help from several store managers. A pivotal role, in the success of this Strategic Plan, is our Brand Promise which is all about the three key ingredients: creating fanatical customers, engaged employees and connections to the communities we’re in.
 Since Phil has always considered our employees the keepers of this Brand Promise, he decided to meet personally with all of our employees to explain the Plan and what we are promising our customers. Like any meeting Phil has with people who work for him, it’s a time for him to get feedback…as well as socialize…which made each of the visits slightly different from the other. So, while you may not see any t-shirts or posters promoting this last Phil Wenger Tour, it definitely was quite a success!
 Greenfield Isaac’s in Lancaster has been around since the early days of Isaac’s (it opened on May 1, 1987) but didjaknow that originally it was at a different location in the Greenfield Corporate Center? It used to be on Charter Lane in the building where Life Management is now. Here’s a photo I managed to dig up of how it used to look…check out the old wooden booths, Audubon print, black and white checkered border on the wall and red tablecloths!
 In 1992, Phil Wenger, my boss (and the Big Bird at Isaac’s, i.e. the president), decided it was time to move the restaurant to it’s current location in the Shoppes of Greenfield. Besides some minor renovations, not much changed at Greenfield Isaac’s since then…same booths, same black and white checkered border, same takeout area manned by an awesome team (and I’m not just saying that because they give me all sorts of treats when I visit them!)…well that is until this past month when Greenfield Isaac’s closed for 17 days and underwent a huge renovation!
 Just wait until you see the new look!!! So many awesome changes have happened but probably my most favorite would have to be the new Takeout area. You can land a jet there now…it used to get so crowded and crammed…not anymore! It’s easy to swoop in and swoop out (like the bird analogy there?) and if you have some time to spare, there’s seating along the wall where you can take advantage of our WiFi and wolf your Takeout down at the same time. I’m very familiar with this since I’ve done it twice since Greenfield Isaac’s reopened!
 Then there’s the artwork, the new dining room addition, the neat fish tank area…I could go on and on…no, really I could…but how about I show you some pictures instead? Click HERE and check out some pictures I shot earlier this week. Even better…why not take your whole flock out for lunch or dinner (sorry, the Marketer in me had to come out sooner or later)! And be sure to let us know what your favorite change is…post it on Isaac’s Facebook page!
 Dear Facebook Friends and Isaac’s Fans!
A new menu, with some minor price increases, will hit the rack at Isaac’s on Thursday, March 29. Because you are our loyal friends, I decided to reach out and give you a heads up and explanation about why an average 2.9% price increase was necessary–the first price increase in over 18 months.
The decision to adjust some prices was a very challenging one. Items like the cost of roast beef and cheddar cheese, the main ingredients of our most popular Mallard sandwich, have soared. Employee wages and benefits have been strengthened, as we have focused on improving service with stronger, better trained employees. Our community partnerships, while easy to eliminate, are still a critical part of our promise to the communities where we operate our restaurants.
In addition, we have upgraded many of our food items, including soup, with new and improved recipes, garnishes, and higher quality ingredients. These upgrades are a taste you can see and feel when you visit Isaac’s.
Because of our commitment to you, we have continued to make exceptional deals and discounts to our Facebook friends and members of our Flamingo Fan Club, so those on a budget can still enjoy Isaac’s great food by using our coupon offers.
The big debate among my Leadership Team was whether we should be proactive and share this decision to tweak our pricing structure with you in advance and call attention to it in this blog. The old school of thought would say, “Why would you point out to customers you’ve adjusted prices?” But in 2012, with social media and with our loyal customers, I feel it is much wiser to communicate with our customers why we’ve needed to make this difficult decision.
I hope you appreciate the transparency and this communication, and I thank you, sincerely, for your understanding and for being some of our most loyal Isaac’s fans.
Phil Wenger, President
 It’s been 14 days since the Greenfield Isaac’s in Lancaster closed for renovations …extensive, I should add…and I can’t wait until it reopens on Thursday, March 29th! I know a lot of Greenfield Isaac’s customers feel the same way, too, because of emails I’ve received, posts on Facebook and through my conversations with several whom I’ve seen at other Isaac’s locations! But we’re finally on the home stretch…soon this banner will say “NOW OPEN!”
I thought it would be fun to give an update on how the work is progressing, so I stopped by this past Friday for a quick photo shoot. Before I even got to the front door, I was greeted by Jesse, one of our assistant managers, out in the parking lot, handing out flyers and menus to anyone stopping by.  Then on into the foyer…nice color change! Just wait until you see the graphics that will be going up on the window panels…you’ll quack up (yep, that’s a hint)!
 Of course the inside of the restaurant is still in the throes of major renovations but if you’re a regular Greenfield customer, you’ll probably get a good idea from the pictures as to some of the major changes taking place:
• A new an improved Takeout area with limited seating for customers picking up their food.
 • An additional dining room that will have an open-air feel to it.
• A better kitchen layout to improve our service to customers.
Plus the artwork throughout the restaurant will be incredible. We’re continuing with the same style we used when we renovated our locations in Lemoyne and Hershey and at our new location in Mount Joy. So make plans to check out Greenfield Isaac’s new look after we reopen on Thursday, March 29th!
 We presented our final “Buy Soup, Feed Hungry Kids!” check last week! On Thursday, March 1st, Isaac’s Famous Grilled Sandwiches presented a check for $1,753 to Chester County Food Bank…money that was raised by our Isaac’s in Exton during January’s “Buy Soup, Feed Hungry Kids!” campaign. The check presentation took place at the food bank’s facilities in Downingtown. Accepting the check from Phil Wenger, President of Isaac’s, was Robert McNeil, Board Chairman, and Larry Welsch, Executive Director.
 This money will be used for the food bank’s “Weekend Food Backpack” program that provides nutritious food to at-risk children and their families over the weekend. Healthy, nutritious items like peanut butter, tuna fish, cereal and dried fruit are packed into backpacks and distributed each Friday to children in several elementary schools in the county. Volunteers and teachers help distribute the packs. Find out how you can volunteer or make a donation by calling Chester County Food Bank at 610-873-6000 or visit chestercountyfoodbank.org to learn more!
 A big THANK YOU to everyone who helped us with our “Buy Soup, Feed Hungry Kids!” campaign. We raised $39,181, company-wide, for organizations in South Central Pennsylvania with programs helping feed hungry kids. Other organizations benefiting from the campaign are Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Greater Berks Food Bank and Power Packs Program in Lancaster.
 Another check presentation for “Buy Soup, Feed Hungry Kids!” to report! On Thursday, February 23rd, Isaac’s Famous Grilled Sandwiches preseneted a check for $17,699.40 to Power Packs Project…money that was raised by the 8 Isaac’s locations in Lancaster County during January’s “Buy Soup, Feed Hungry Kids!” campaign. The check presentation took place at Power Packs Projects’ warehouse in Lancaster. Accepting the check from Phil Wenger, President of Isaac’s, was Joan Espendshade, Board Chair, and Mara Creswell McGrann, Executive Director.
 Power Packs Project will use this money to further their mission of partnering with eligible Lancaster County students and their families in providing food and nutritional education that will empower them to thrive. The organization does this by providing nutritious meals during the weekend to at-risk children and their families in 5 school districts – Warwick, Penn Manor, Manheim Township, School District of Lancaster, and Lampeter-Strasburg. To find out how you can volunteer or make a donation, email Power Packs at mara@powerpacksproject.org or visit www.powerpacksproject.org to learn more!
Isaac’s “Buy Soup, Feed Hungry Kids!” campaign raised $39,181, company-wide, for organizations in South Central Pennsylvania with programs helping to feed hungry kids. Other organizations benefiting from the campaign are Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Greater Berks Food Bank and Chester County Food Bank. Look for more presentations to be posted in our blog and visit www.isaacsdeli.com/BuySoupFeedKids.asp for more info.
 We’re still out and about delivering checks for “Buy Soup, Feed Hungry Kids!” This past Tuesday, February 21st, Isaac’s Famous Grilled Sandwiches presented a check for $17,113.47 to Central Pennsylvania Food Bank…money that was raised by the Isaac’s locations in Cumberland, Dauphin and York Counties during January’s “Buy Soup, Feed Hungry Kids!” campaign. The check presentation took place at Hershey Isaac’s, where Kendall Hanna, Executive Director of Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, received the check presented by Phil Wenger, President of Isaac’s, Debbie Eckroth, General Manager of Hershey Isaac’s, and Allison White and Josh Seibert, two Hershey Isaac’s employees.
 This money will be used for the food bank’s “Power Pack” program that provides nutritious food to at-risk children and their families over the weekend. Each week, the food bank selects and delivers food to program sites throughout Central Pennsylvania including Cumberland, Dauphin and York Counties. Volunteers at these sites fill backpacks with the items for the week and help with distribution at local schools. The children get to keep the backpacks for school use during the week and are given instructions on how to return the backpack, each week, to receive more food. Find out how you can volunteer or make a donation by calling Central Pennsylvania Food Bank at 717-564-1700 or visit centralpafoodbank.org to learn more!
 Isaac’s “Buy Soup, Feed Hungry Kids!” campaign raised $39,181 company-wide for organizations in South Central Pennsylvania with programs helping to feed hungry kids. Other organizations benefiting from the campaign are Greater Berks Food Bank, Chester County Food Bank and Power Packs Project in Lancaster. Look for more presentations to be posted in our blog and visit www.isaacsdeli.com/BuySoupFeedKids.asp for more info.
 On Thursday, February 16th, Isaac’s Famous Grilled Sandwiches presented a check for $2,616 to Greater Berks Food Bank. This money that was raised by the Wyomissing Isaac’s location during January’s “Buy Soup, Feed Hungry Kids!” campaign. Peg Bianca, Executive Director of Greater Berks Food Bank, and Bob Barto, Board President, accepted the check from Phil Wenger, President of Isaac’s, and Ray Metzger II, General Manager of Wyomissing Isaac’s.
This money has been earmarked for the food bank’s “Weekender Backpack” program cr eated to meet the needs of hungry children and their families, in Berks County, when other resources are not available, such as weekends and school vacations. Backpacks are filled with enough food for 6 meals and 2 snacks and include a non-food item (toilet paper, shampoo, toothbrush, etc.) and are distributed to low-income elementary school children at 13 sites throughout Berks and Schuylkill Counties. Approximately 1,400 backpacks are distributed each week. Find out how you can volunteer or make a donation by calling Greater Berks Food Bank at 610-926-5802 or visit www.berksfoodbank.org to learn more!
Isaac’s “Buy Soup, Feed Hungry Kids!” campaign raised $39,181, company-wide, for organizations in South Central Pennsylvania with programs feeding hungry kids. In addition to Greater Berks Food Bank, checks will be presented to Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Chester County Food Bank and Power Packs Project in Lancaster. Look for more presentations to be posted in our blog and visit our website www.isaacsdeli.com/BuySoupFeedKids for more info.
 This past Wednesday, January 18th, Isaac’s received the “Spirit of Lancaster” award at the 2011 United Way of Lancaster County’s Thank You Celebration. The highest tribute for corporate involvement, this award honors a business or organization, and its employees, for making a powerful difference in the community through dedication to advancing the common good and by delivering outstanding Campaign results.
 During the 2011 Campaign for the 2012 calendar year, 97% of Isaac’s employees pledged to donate in 2012 to United Way. With an employee base that is very young and in a time that is still financially shaky, these results are nothing short of amazing…but than again, our employees are amazing! Especially when you consider how many of them volunteer their time and energy throughout the year and how hard they work at making all of Isaac’s fundraising projects a success.
Debra Miller accepted this award on behalf of Isaac’s and it was only fitting. As Isaac’s Community Care Coordinator, Debra not only spearheads our yearly United Way Drive but she also coordinates all the Community Night Fundraisers throughout the company… this program alone raises over $100,000 each year in donations for non-profit organizations all over South Central Pennsylvania! In addition, Debra heads up Isaac’s CRAVE Team which is in charge of creating numerous volunteer opportunities for employees in the communities where they live and work.
So congratulations and thanks to Debra and all the Isaac’s employees who helped our company get this award!
 As part of our January “Buy Soup, Feed Hungry Kids!” campaign, on January 6, 2012, four employees from our Spring Ridge and Ephrata Isaac’s volunteered at Greater Berks Food Bank to pack up items for their Weekender Backpack Program. They packed over 750 grocery bags with apples, carrots, juice boxes and string cheese for children at a local inner city elementary school in Reading.
Children took home the food on Friday so they had food to eat over the weekend and could come back to school, Monday morning, with a full stomach…ready to learn!
 Fun Fact: The juice boxes were Flamingo Juice boxes!!
Be sure to stop in at your favorite Isaac’s during January and buy a cup or bowl of soup with your favorite grilled sandwich or large green salad and we’ll donate $1 to programs, like Greater Berks Food Bank’s Weekender Back Pack Program, that feed hungry kids all over South Central Pennsylvania.
Visit www.isaacsdeli.com to learn more and see all the organizations Isaac’s 20 locations are helping!
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Since I’m not really a big fan of reality shows, I don’t know a lot about them…but one thing I know is that my boss, Phil Wenger, would have a hard time getting on the show, “Undercover Boss”, especially after his latest adventure. Since March, Phil has visited with employees at all 20 Isaac’s for special roundtable-like meetings. So he’s easily one of the most recognized people in our company!
And, while it isn’t the first time that he’s gone out to hold meetings with all of his teams, this last “tour” (I’m a music-holic and love to use terms like this), was a little different from previous ones because of its purpose…to introduce our newly-updated Strategic Plan to guide Isaac’s growth that his management team created with help from several store managers. A pivotal role, in the success of this Strategic Plan, is our Brand Promise which is all about the three key ingredients: creating fanatical customers, engaged employees and connections to the communities we’re in.
Since Phil has always considered our employees the keepers of this Brand Promise, he decided to meet personally with all of our employees to explain the Plan and what we are promising our customers. Like any meeting Phil has with people who work for him, it’s a time for him to get feedback…as well as socialize…which made each of the visits slightly different from the other. So, while you may not see any t-shirts or posters promoting this last Phil Wenger Tour, it definitely was quite a success!
