Don't let the term "Mom and Pop" give you the impression that these business owners aren’t sophisticated. In the realm of restaurants, it signifies a world of dedication, versatility, and unyielding passion. A restaurant owner can seamlessly transition from chef to host, electrician to human resources manager, all in the span of a single day. This level of multitasking and commitment is emblematic of the extraordinary efforts put forth by those who helm independently owned and family-run eateries.
Consider Louisiana, where the culinary landscape is as diverse and flavorful as the state itself. With over 9,000 eating and drinking establishments, a staggering 80 percent of which are independently owned or family-run, these restaurants are not merely places to dine – they are bustling hubs of creativity and community. National Mom and Pop Business Day, observed on March 29, serves as a timely reminder to appreciate and support these local culinary gems. Behind every savory dish and welcoming ambiance lies a story of perseverance and artisanship. More than 200,000 residents in Louisiana depend on restaurants for their livelihoods, highlighting the critical role these establishments play in supporting local economies and driving tourism. So, the next time you step into a local restaurant, remember the countless roles its owner plays – from chef to caretaker of community traditions. Embrace the richness of Louisiana's culinary heritage and support the unsung heroes who bring it to life, one delicious meal at a time.
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Serving Up Technology: New Data Shows How Tech Integration is Transforming the Restaurant Experience3/27/2024 National Restaurant Association Technology Landscape report showcases industry innovation and where consumer desires are pushing trends
Technology use in restaurants is accelerating, creating new touchpoints between restaurants and the consumers they serve, according to the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Technology Landscape Report 2024. The report, released today, identifies the varying expectations consumers have regarding technology, depending on whether they are dining at a fullservice restaurant or ordering delivery to their homes, as well as generational differences in preferences. "Restaurant operators have tremendous entrepreneurial spirit, and they are constantly innovating – sometimes through new dishes or flavors, and sometimes through new business practices,” said Michelle Korsmo, President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association. "More than 3 in 4 operators say technology gives them a competitive edge, and this research will also help operators find the right technology fit for their restaurant and their customers. In addition to valuable research on restaurant operator outlook, our research on the technology landscape in restaurants provides insights on consumer expectations that operators need to confidently evaluate their tech investments." Key highlights include:
Restaurant operators are getting creative in how they expand technology offerings, paying close attention to consumer preferences, but generational differences persist. When asked how likely they’d be to interact with a tablet at the table, a solid majority of Gen Z adults, millennials and Gen Xers say they’d use these options but fewer than half of baby boomers said they would. Compared with fullservice and limited-service options, the use of technology in the delivery segment is already baked into consumers’ expectation. They expect to be able to access, order, customize and pay for delivery orders through their computers or smartphones and if they can’t, they’ll order from somewhere else. "The data clearly show that restaurant operators and owners are rapidly embracing technology and integrating it into their daily operations," said Hudson Riehle, Senior Vice President of Research and Knowledge for the National Restaurant Association. "Understanding which technologies customers in each segment would like to have, really want, and consider essential, provides operators with substantial opportunities to enhance the customer experience, amplify marketing and operate more efficiently." Click here to download the Restaurant Technology Landscape Report 2024, supported by Dell Technologies and SpotOn. On March 26, a proposed settlement agreement was announced requiring Visa and Mastercard to reduce swipe fees charged to restaurants and other merchants to process credit card transactions starting in April 2025.
While this news is welcome, it merely provides temporary relief while allowing credit card companies to raise rates in the future. The bottom line is that these proposed reductions are within the range that Visa and Mastercard have raised swipe fees over the last few years, which rose from an average of 2.02% in 2010 to 2.26% in 2023. The banks and networks will argue that the settlement obviates the need for the Credit Card Competition Act (S. 1838/H.R. 3881), but the CCCA remains as the best solution to bring about the long-term, systemic reform required to fix the broken credit card processing market. Go deeper: The settlement creates three separate “brakes” on swipe fees through rollbacks or fee caps that are worth an estimated $29.79 billion in unrealized savings for businesses and consumers over the next five years:
Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 What just happened: The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act has momentum coming into the Senate, following sweeping bipartisan votes in both the House tax committee (40 – 3) and on the floor (357 – 70). The Senate has an opportunity to push forward this legislation that supports restaurant and Main Street business growth. What supports restaurant operators: 1) Restoring business interest deductibility based on the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) standard rather than earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT).
2) Allowing 100% bonus depreciation for equipment purchases like kitchen ovens, furnishings, a catering vehicle, and other capital assets that are common in restaurants.
Why support it? While the Senate may want to explore improvements to H.R. 7024, this legislation is the best way to deliver badly needed tax relief to Main Street businesses – including restaurants.
Child tax credit: The bill increases the amount of the child tax credit (CTC) for lower-income families with multiple children, creates an automatic inflation adjustment, expands refundability, and other changes.
Why pass this bill now? If the Senate does not advance this legislation, solving the challenges of expiring tax rates and measures in 2025 will become even more difficult. The 118th Congress has the chance now to set a baseline for pro-growth tax measures that will make the U.S. economy more competitive globally and to support local restaurant owners in small towns and big cities.
CHEERS Act Passes U.S. House, Heads to U.S. Senate: Offers Tax Relief for Hospitality Revival3/21/2024 The CHEERS Act, also known as the "Creating Hospitality Economic Enhancement for Restaurants and Servers Act," has passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is now awaiting consideration in the U.S. Senate.
This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Representatives LaHood and Horsford, seeks to provide tax deductions for bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues with draft beer systems, aiming to revitalize the struggling hospitality sector post-pandemic. The bill has garnered widespread support from various industry stakeholders, including the Beer Institute, National Restaurant Association, Independent Restaurant Coalition, and Brewers Association, who recognize its potential to stimulate job creation, economic growth, and sustainability in the beer and hospitality industries. "The CHEERS Act would give restaurant and bar owners new tools to innovate how they serve beer to customers,” said Sean Kennedy, executive vice president for public affairs of the National Restaurant Association. “The result would be more consumer choice, strengthened sustainability options, and needed support for restaurant owners in every neighborhood." The U.S. Dept. of Labor's (DOL) new overtime rule is poised to affect millions of workers across various restaurant types, not just quick service.
Now’s the time to proactively adjust your pay practices in anticipation of the DOL's proposed increase in the exempt salary threshold. Fisher Phillips (LRA General Counsel) provides this 8-step plan to effectively prepare for these changes. In the realm of fine dining, a shadowy online marketplace has emerged, promising prime reservations at top-tier restaurants for exorbitant prices.
Dubbed Appointment Trader, this platform has sparked outrage among restaurateurs and industry insiders alike, as it capitalizes on the scarcity of coveted dining experiences while leaving eateries in the lurch. Led by entrepreneur Jonas Frey, Appointment Trader has raked in $1.2 million in reservation sales over the past year, much to the dismay of restaurant owners struggling to combat the scourge of no-shows. This black market for dining reservations not only undermines the integrity of the dining experience but also poses significant financial challenges for establishments already grappling with the aftermath of the pandemic. Traditional reservation platforms like Resy, Tock and OpenTable are up in arms over Appointment Trader's brazen exploitation of the dining industry, with legal battles looming on the horizon. From cease and desist letters to legal threats, restaurant owners are fighting tooth and nail to curb the proliferation of this nefarious marketplace, which siphons revenue and distorts the delicate balance of supply and demand in the culinary world. Amidst the controversy, Frey defends Appointment Trader as a boon for diners, conveniently overlooking the detrimental impact on restaurant operations. As the battle rages on, the future of dining reservations hangs in the balance, with the fate of restaurants and the integrity of the dining experience at stake. Protecting Your Restaurant: What to Do If You’re Listed on Appointment Trader If a restaurant discovers that they are listed on Appointment Trader without their consent, it's crucial for them to take immediate action to protect their brand and reputation. Here are steps they can take:
By taking these proactive steps, restaurants can assert control over their reservations and protect their business interests from unauthorized third-party platforms like Appointment Trader. By Fisher Phillips, Authors Steve Bernstein, Josh Nadreau and John Polson
In an 11th-hour decision, a federal court judge in Texas just struck down the Labor Board’s controversial joint employer rule right before it was set to take effect on Monday. The NLRB had aimed to make it far easier for workers to be considered employees of more than one entity for labor relations purposes – a move that would have resulted in increased union organizing and collective bargaining efforts across the country – but Friday’s decision halted it in its tracks. The fight will continue, however, as there is little doubt the agency will appeal the decision in hopes of resurrecting the rule in the near future – and a whole separate court battle over the same issue takes place in D.C. While employers will once again be left to navigate an uncertain future while the court battles wage, we have a blueprint to guide you through the tumultuous times ahead. Read more here. The LRA Education Foundation presented the Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational on March 6-7 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. ProStart is a two-year culinary arts and restaurant management curriculum in nearly 60 Louisiana high schools, with 2,000 juniors and seniors participating. Sixty-three percent of Louisiana’s ProStart program attended the Invitational.
The Invitational consisted of the BRG Hospitality Culinary Competition on Day 1, where 24 ProStart teams showcased their culinary talents Iron Chef-style, creating a three-course gourmet meal in just one hour using two butane burners. The top five winning BRG Hospitality Culinary Teams were:
The Raising Cane’s Management Competition on Day 2 featured 11 ProStart teams presenting their restaurant concepts to a series of industry professionals as if pitching to a group of investors. The teams were judged on their menus, concepts, critical thinking skills, operations, and marketing. The top five Raising Cane’s Management Teams were:
The top five teams in each category were awarded nearly $900,000 in scholarships to top culinary arts and management programs in Louisiana and across the nation. Also, the top team in each competition will represent Louisiana at the National ProStart Invitational on April 26-28 in Baltimore, Maryland. Airfare, lodging, and apparel will be covered at no cost to the teams thanks to the National Travel Team Sponsor – TABASCO Brand. In addition, judges awarded a series of awards to teams based on their exceptional skills and techniques. The following are the categories and the top judges’ selected teams: Raising Cane’s Management Competition Judges’ Picks:
BRG Hospitality Culinary Competition Judges’ Picks:
This event was made possible thanks to our generous sponsors: Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board; BRG Hospitality (August, Luke, Domenica, Pizza Domenica, Shaya, Tavi, Willa Jean, Larder and Eunice Restaurants); Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers; Sysco; Natco Food Service; Republic National Distributing Company, Sodexo Live!; New Orleans Morial Convention Center; and Freeman. A special thank you to the National Travel Team Sponsor: TABASCO Brand. The National Restaurant Association is assessing the implications of President Biden's State of the Union address for the restaurant industry, paying close attention to key points that demand our attention.
First, President Biden underscored his commitment to eliminating so-called “junk fees” throughout the U.S. economy. Why it matters: His administration is proposing a rule targeting “junk fees” that is so expansive it would ban widely accepted restaurant fees, such as delivery and large-party service fees. Learn more here.
Additionally, President Biden mentioned the PRO Act—legislation supported by labor unions, which would make radical changes to settled workplace policies. This bill faces many obstacles in Congress and is unlikely to move forward this year. The President also proposed tax policy changes. As these proposals unfold, we will continue to monitor their impact on our industry and advocate for policies that support the growth and prosperity of restaurant operators. In conclusion, the National Restaurant Association remains dedicated to representing our members' interests and supporting the restaurant industry's success. Through advocacy, collaboration, and proactive engagement, we will navigate the evolving regulatory and legislative landscape to champion policies that advance our industry and support the success of our members. Thank you for your ongoing support and participation. |
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May 2024
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