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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 The historic P&J Oyster Company is celebrating 150 years as one of the most influential oyster businesses in Louisiana. Founded in 1876, the company is recognized as the oldest continuously operating oyster dealer in the United States and has played a major role in supplying oysters to restaurants across the region and the…
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Latest News On February 20, Tujague’s officially marked its 170th anniversary, honoring nearly two centuries of continuous operation in the heart of the French Quarter. Founded in 1856, the iconic restaurant now enters its 170th year as one of the longest-running dining institutions in the United States, a distinction earned not through reinvention, but through…
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Latest News Charlie Goodson never set out to become a restaurant legend-but hospitality found him anyway. What started in 1967 as a bartending job while struggling through engineering courses turned into a lifetime devoted to restaurants, people, and community. As Charlie once put it, “I started going to school less and working more.” That honesty,…
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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…
Latest News Effective August 1, 2025, updates in Louisiana’s unemployment compensation system will be implemented to align with the outcome of recent legislation. Governor Landry has signed into law amendments to R.S. 23:1541(A) and 1576, aimed at enhancing employer contributions, managing the social charge account, and refining the unemployment benefit charges. Key Changes Include: Employer…
Latest News At the Louisiana Restaurant Association, we work year-round to advocate for the restaurant and hospitality industry at the state Capitol, in local councils, and within agencies across Louisiana. And today, we’re proud to share that your voice has been heard on the federal level as well-thanks to our powerful partnership with the National…
Latest News What is Restaurant Resiliency? Restaurant resiliency is the capacity of a restaurant to withstand shocks, adapt to evolving conditions, and recover swiftly from disruption-whether due to natural disasters, economic downturns, or global crises like pandemics. It’s more than survival; it’s the ability to regroup, rethink, and reemerge stronger. In Louisiana, we’ve learned firsthand-through…