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On the Radar: Latest Trends & Updates

Here, you'll find timely updates, industry insights, and exciting announcements about our association and the vibrant restaurant community we serve. Stay informed about upcoming events, important initiatives, and key developments that impact our industry. We’re thrilled to keep you connected and engaged with the latest happenings in the world of hospitality.

Think Before You Trust: Cybersecurity Tips for Business Owners

By tnorris95 | August 19, 2025 | Comments Off on Think Before You Trust: Cybersecurity Tips for Business Owners

Latest News In today’s digital world, small businesses are always looking for ways to gain visibility. Media coverage can be a powerful growth tool, but it also creates opportunities for scammers. Recently, Lauren Haydel, owner of Fleurty Girl boutiques in New Orleans, Metairie, and Bay St. Louis, shared her close call with such a scam.…

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Louisiana Restaurants Saved by Social Media Outcry

By tnorris95 | August 13, 2025 | Comments Off on Louisiana Restaurants Saved by Social Media Outcry

Latest News Across the country, restaurants are facing unprecedented challenges: skyrocketing food costs, higher rent, staffing shortages, and shifting customer habits. For some, these pressures have meant permanent closure. For others, the turning point came not from a bank loan or investor-but from a flood of social media posts. One striking national example came from…

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NRA Raises Alarm Over New Tariffs on Food and Beverages

By tnorris95 | August 6, 2025 | Comments Off on NRA Raises Alarm Over New Tariffs on Food and Beverages

Latest News The Trump Administration’s recent announcement of new tariffs on food and beverage imports is drawing serious concern from the restaurant industry. These changes, which go into effect this month, are expected to raise the cost of key ingredients-potentially impacting everything from coffee and wine to burgers and beef. With wholesale food prices already…

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Louisiana ProStart Champs Head to National Invitational

By tnorris95 | May 2, 2025 | Comments Off on Louisiana ProStart Champs Head to National Invitational

Latest News Sponsored by TABASCO Brand & Zea Rotisserie & Grill The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) and its Education Foundation proudly announce that two Louisiana ProStart teams captured state championships and are headed to the 2025 National ProStart Invitational (NPSI) in Baltimore, MD. In thrilling competitions held March 19-20 in New Orleans, ProStart students from…

Maximize Game Day Profits!

By tnorris95 | May 1, 2025 | Comments Off on Maximize Game Day Profits!
Patrons in a bar watching a football game on multiple large TVs above the bar counter.

Latest News Join Us for “The Sports Playbook” Webinar Series with DIRECTV for Business In keeping with our 2025 LRA Membership Engagement Plan, the Louisiana Restaurant Association is excited to partner with DIRECTV for Business to offer you two exclusive webinars designed to help you cash in on live sports programming this year. Whether you’re…

18th Annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off 

By tnorris95 | April 28, 2025 | Comments Off on 18th Annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off 
A group of people at an event with a man in a pink blazer holding an award, flanked by two men in blue shirts and brown aprons.

Latest News Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board officially announced the Northshore as the location for the 18th Annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off (LASCO). This year’s competition moves to The Harbor Center in Slidell, our venue partner, on Friday, June 27, 2025. This will be the first time the competition…

Tariff Pause Offers a Brief Reprieve

By tnorris95 | April 14, 2025 | Comments Off on Tariff Pause Offers a Brief Reprieve
A person in a blue suit and red tie sits at a table with papers, gesturing with hands outstretched. An American flag and a flag with an eagle emblem are in the background.

Latest News President Trump has announced a 90-day pause on broad-based tariffs, while simultaneously increasing tariffs on Chinese imports. For the restaurant and hospitality industry, this temporary delay does not mean we’re in the clear. If anything, it introduces more uncertainty into an already volatile economic environment. Uncertainty Is the Real Threat The biggest challenge…

Crawfish of Connectivity: Strength in Numbers, Power in Advocacy

By tnorris95 | April 9, 2025 | Comments Off on Crawfish of Connectivity: Strength in Numbers, Power in Advocacy

Latest News Just like a crawfish boil brings people together, the Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) and the National Restaurant Association (NRA) create a network of support, advocacy, and resources that strengthen Louisiana’s restaurant industry at every level-local, state, and national. A recent survey of restaurateurs nationwide by the NRA revealed that LRA members are more…

Think Non-Profits Don’t Pay Sales Tax? Think Again!

By tnorris95 | April 4, 2025 | Comments Off on Think Non-Profits Don’t Pay Sales Tax? Think Again!
Wooden gavel and calculator on a tax form.

Latest News At the Louisiana Restaurant Association, we frequently receive questions from our members regarding sales tax exemptions for non-profit organizations. Many assume that being a “tax-exempt” organization automatically means exemption from all taxes, but that is not the case. This clarification comes from the Louisiana Department of Revenue Attorney, Tax Policy and Planning, and…

Leadership, Management, and Clear Communication: The Winning Formula

By tnorris95 | April 4, 2025 | Comments Off on Leadership, Management, and Clear Communication: The Winning Formula
Person in a white shirt with webinar details on a blue background.

Latest News Presented by RestaurantOwner.com & the Louisiana Restaurant Association Managing people is always a challenge, and in today’s competitive labor market, strong leadership and communication skills are more important than ever. That’s why RestaurantOwner.com and the Louisiana Restaurant Association are proud to present Leadership, Management, and Clear Communication: The Winning Formula-an exclusive session designed…

What Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs Mean for Food Costs

By tnorris95 | April 4, 2025 | Comments Off on What Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs Mean for Food Costs
Shipping containers obscured by yellow tape with the word "TARIFFS."

Latest News President Trump has issued an executive order under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose a baseline 10% tariff on all foreign-origin goods, excluding Canada and Mexico. Additional, higher reciprocal tariffs will target countries with significant trade imbalances with the U.S., including China, Japan, the European Union, and Vietnam. These tariffs…

Think Non-Profits Don’t Pay Sales Tax? Think Again!

By tnorris95 | April 3, 2025 | Comments Off on Think Non-Profits Don’t Pay Sales Tax? Think Again!
A round dining table with elegant place settings in a restaurant, overlaid with the text

Latest News At the Louisiana Restaurant Association, we frequently receive questions from our members regarding sales tax exemptions for non-profit organizations. Many assume that being a “tax-exempt” organization automatically means exemption from all taxes, but that is not the case. This clarification comes from the Louisiana Department of Revenue Attorney, Tax Policy and Planning, and…

Practical Workforce Technology Strategies for Independent Restaurants

By tnorris95 | March 25, 2025 | Comments Off on Practical Workforce Technology Strategies for Independent Restaurants
Three people at a cafe counter with a digital tablet on a stand

Latest News The latest workforce technology report from the National Restaurant Association highlights trends shaping the industry. While many insights come from large national chains, independent restaurants, multi-unit operators, and franchisees often have different needs and financial constraints. Here’s how LRA members can leverage workforce technology in a practical and cost-effective way. 1. Streamlining Employee…

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