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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.
Latest News LRA Workers’ Comp renewal information has been sent by email and mail to participating members. Designed specifically for Louisiana’s hospitality industry, the program provides dependable coverage, local and responsive claims support, loss prevention services to help reduce workplace incidents, and potential dividend opportunities for eligible members. Members who are not currently enrolled are…
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Latest News On December 23, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released public guidance addressing how businesses should handle cash transactions as pennies become increasingly scarce. This long-awaited guidance follows months of advocacy by national business groups, including direct engagement with Treasury officials and a formal letter from industry leadership urging action. The guidance explains…
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Latest News For more than 31 years, Taste of Mardi Gras has been a beloved tradition in Central Louisiana. Year after year, this event has brought our community together to celebrate incredible food, drinks, and entertainment. None of this would be possible without the continued support of our restaurant and beverage partners, and we are…
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Latest News New Orleans & Company, Sirha Food, and the Louisiana Restaurant Association are bringing the Americas selections of the Pastry World Cup and Bocuse d’Or back to New Orleans in July 2026. For the first time, these prestigious international competitions will take place alongside the 2026 LRA Showcase at the New Orleans Ernest N.…
Latest News On September 5, Zea Rotisserie & Bar celebrated a milestone moment-recognizing more than 300 combined years of service from 15 dedicated team members. The occasion was marked with a special breakfast honoring employees who have made Zea their career home for decades. This recognition is part of the Restaurant Legends Award, established in…
Latest News Each year on the third Friday of September, Americans pause to honor the courage, sacrifice, and enduring hope surrounding our nation’s Prisoners of War (POWs) and those still Missing in Action (MIA). In 2025, National POW/MIA Recognition Day falls on Friday, September 19, and the Louisiana Restaurant Association joins the Lt. Governor in…
Latest News Prices continued to rise in July, though not quite as quickly as the previous month. The government’s Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report, the inflation measure the Federal Reserve watches most closely, showed overall prices up 0.2% from June, slightly lower than June’s 0.3% increase. Compared with a year ago, prices remain 2.6% higher,…
Latest News Seafood is a cornerstone of Louisiana’s culinary identity and our state’s restaurant industry. From shrimp and oysters to redfish and crab, the vitality of our fisheries directly impacts the menus we proudly serve and the communities we sustain. That’s why we urge our members to take part in an important opportunity to shape…
Latest News A Personal Recollection from LRA SVP and Head of Communications, Wendy Waren This year marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and like so many New Orleanians, I can still remember the days leading up to it with painful clarity. On Saturday, August 27, 2005, I wanted to evacuate early. Katrina was already…
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.…
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…
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…
Latest News Metairie, La. – The shaker tins have settled, the ice has melted, and the judges have spoken. The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) is thrilled to announce the winners of the Four Roses Bourbon “Twist on a Classic” Cocktail Competition, held August 3 at the 2025 LRA Showcase in New Orleans. Presented by Four…