Foodies moving into the social networking neighborhood

NEW YORK Eats.com has recently launched as a way for food lovers to share their passion online, and while it is primarily a foodservice resource, the site welcomes contribution from food retailers who participate in the take-out or eat-in trade. —Facebook isn’t the only social network where retailers can get some attention.

Eats Media Group, the organization behind Eats.com , has set out to replace search engines such as Yahoo and portals such as Citisearch as the premier local restaurant informational resource for food lovers across the United States. Eats.com is designed as an information portal to an interactive online community with a special emphasis on the younger generation of “foodies.” Both businesses and consumers are welcome to participate.

Indeed, the Web site is designed to encourage participation, said Jonathan Marks, vp of marketing. Eats.com is designed to develop as a comprehensive listing of restaurants in neighborhoods nationwide, but it will also feature editorials, photos, menus, maps and directions. “It’s a necessity to have basic information,” Marks said, “but we’re backing in the interactiveness, developing it on a daily basis and in every single facet of the site.”

A ‘member profiles’ feature permits users to network through posting walls and e-mails, as well as by listing favorite restaurants and dishes, writing reviews and inviting friends to events. And anyone can add a listing.

Food retailers welcome.