​With the 2023 Louisiana Legislative Session beginning Monday, April 10, the LRA, the Louisiana Retailers Association and NFIB held a gubernatorial forum at Juban’s Restaurant in Baton Rouge. It was the first event during this campaign season where all seven candidates shared their vision for what Louisiana’s priorities might be during their administration. Taxes were front and center of discussion for the audience of restaurant industry and small business professionals. Key topics included inventory, franchise, sales and income taxes. Several candidates focused on addressing our education system deficits so we can prepare our workforce for the jobs that will be available today, and in the future. 
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The forum began with Senator Sharon Hewitt (R), who was elected in 2016 to represent the 1st district, which encompasses portions of St. Tammany, Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes. Hewitt expressed her commitment to propelling the state forward by improving schools, reducing wasteful government spending and improving the overall quality of life for residents. In her role as Senator, she’s authored and passed one of the most significant literacy bills in the history of the state. As a career engineering executive with Shell, she has led the state’s efforts to invest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education programs, which are designed to attract high paying jobs to our state and retain graduates beyond college.
 
State Attorney General Jeff Landry (R) touted his experience as a small businessman before he was elected to serve in Congress. He noted he was the only advocate for small business and restaurants opposing the operating restrictions placed on the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Landry shared his vision for a Louisiana that needs to improve education, and restructure its untenable tax code. He also discussed the necessity to address crime, noting three cities in Louisiana are rated in the top ten for crime in the US.
 
Hunter Lundy (Ind.) from Lake Charles has never run for state office. He built a multi-state law practice and sold his business to focus on the Governor’s race. He’s also owned restaurants and other businesses. He says, as an independent, he isn’t beholden to any party. He wants to see us address our infrastructure and education outcomes, while creating more training for future jobs that will encourage business to locate here.
 
Richard Nelson (R), a first term House member from Mandeville District 89, noted that after living outside the state, he and his wife chose to raise their three sons back home. He spoke about our lack of a competitive measure for income tax when we look at our neighboring states. He discussed legislation he passed out of the House last year that would require 3rd graders to read at grade level by the end of the school year or be held back for remediation and further testing. He implored us to use the education system for outcomes that make our graduates desirable to employers.
 
State Treasurer John Schroder (R) threw his hat in the race early this year drawing on his nine year experience in the House of Representatives and his almost six years serving as state treasurer. During the forum, he remarked that service in his current role, which focuses squarely on the state’s fiscal responsibility, makes him the best choice to lead Louisiana as its next governor. Ahead of the 2023 Legislative Session, he’s shared his position on how to best use the state’s revenue, and how to be more proactive against natural disasters. Schroder would specifically like to see the legislature create a disaster fund so that the state has more cash on hand to quickly respond to disasters. Additionally, he noted that we shouldn’t crack open the state’s reserves if fully funded unless it was for one time spending.
 
Stephen Waguespack (R), is the former LABI CEO. He spoke on his success as chief lobbyist for the business community passing tort reform and pushing to consolidate Louisiana’s archaic sales tax collection system. Waguespack shared his memory of leaving Louisiana in the early 1980’s with his family as his father had to seek employment outside the state. He wants to create a vibrant economy that makes people want to be here, while providing the jobs needed to sustain them. For the past 10 years, he’s led LABI and been a leader in improving the tax and fiscal accountability in Louisiana.
 
Lastly, attendees heard from Shawn Wilson (D), a Lafayette resident who has spent the last 25 years in government under democratic and republican governors. For the last seven years, he served as Edwards’ Secretary of Department of Transportation and Development, but stepped down from that position to run for governor. He spoke of the nearly 7,000 miles of roadways rebuilt or added, and funds secured to replace the 1-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River and gained the first tranche of dedicated funds to construct a new bridge over the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge. And while he has not held elective office, his vision for the future touched on education, job creation, tax reform and building a budget process that avoids wild dips like we’ve seen in previous terms. He also discussed seeking and deploying the remaining federal grant dollars from multiple programs that arose during Covid. He noted his historical approach to build bridges—both literally and figuratively.  
 
The primary election will take place on October 14, 2023. Should no candidate exceed 50.1% of the vote, the top two candidates in votes will face off in the runoff election on November 18, 2023. 
 

​Top Row (pictured left to right) : Senator Sharon Hewitt (R), Shawn Wilson (D), Hunter Lundy (IND), State Attorney General Jeff Landry (R)
Bottom Row (pictured left to right) : Richard Nelson (R), State Treasurer John Schroder (R) and Stephen Waguespack (R) 

​Metairie, LA-- The Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF) hosted the Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers Louisiana ProStart® Invitational, March 29-30 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. Atmos Energy sponsored the Culinary Competition which showcased the culinary and creative abilities of ProStart students from 19 high schools, while BRG Hospitality sponsored the Management Competition, which featured the conceptual restaurant development and marketing ingenuity of ProStart students from 14 high schools.
 
During the Atmos Energy Culinary Competition, teams demonstrated their teamwork, communication, sanitation, knife skills and culinary techniques throughout the 60 minutes timeframe to prepare a three-course, gourmet meal. This was achieved with no electricity or water, and just two table top butane burners.
 
The winner of the Atmos Energy Culinary Competition:
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Chalmette High School
Instructor: Elena Hodges
Students: Sharon Johnson, Nga Phan, Jhana Fisher, Marissa Gerrick, Henry Scheeler IV
Chef Mentors: Anastasia Joyner
 
Winning menu: Appetizer- Shrimp Remoulade with Fried Okra; Entrée- Cajun Surf and Turf; and Dessert- Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée.
 
Second Place – Culinary Competition:
Lakeshore High School
Instructor: Nicole Benefiel
Students: Leah Slaton, Jaden Scott, Leah Underwood, Caroline St. Romain
 
Third Place – Culinary Competition:
Live Oak High School
Instructor: Angell Beswetherick
Students: Brittany Bennett, Braylee Boze, Luke Bozeman, Gavin Cadarette, Grant Starns
 
Fourth Place – Culinary Competition:
Sulphur High School
Instructor: Jacob Gillett
Students: Carson Brackeen, Avery Gorum, Kip White, Marie Racaa, River Lemley
 
Fifth Place – Culinary Competition:
Abbeville High School
Instructor: Devin Romero
Students: David Avila, Chloe Klein, Grace Landry, Ethan Matthews
 
Teams participating in the BRG Hospitality Management Competition demonstrated their knowledge of the restaurant and foodservice industry by developing a restaurant concept, including the menu, design, budget and marketing strategies, which they presented to a panel of judges as an entrepreneur would pitch to a group of investors.
 
The winner of the BRG Hospitality Management Competition:

Chalmette High School
Instructor: Elena Hodges
Students: Vernon Patrick, Kim Nguyen, Frankie Padilla, Joshua Farrell, Ronnie Truong
Winning restaurant concept: Seaux, a Southern Louisiana and Southeast Asia fusion restaurant
 
Second Place – Management Competition:
West Feliciana High School
Instructor: Delanea Buffalo
Students: Emma Cutrer, Cayden Summers
 
Third Place – Management Competition:
W.D. & Mary Baker Smith Career Center
Instructor: Theresa Edwards
Students: Wacovia Isaac, Serenity Portalis, Marilee Presley
 
Fourth Place – Management Competition:
Hammond High Magnet School
Instructor: Angelina Drago
Students: Dallas Griffitt, Kaylee Stewart
 
Fifth Place – Management Competition:
Plaquemine High School
Instructor: Stephanie White
Students: McKenzie Justillian, Mackenzie Anderson, Natalie Carline, Keaira Hamilton
 
Chalmette High School will represent Louisiana at the National ProStart Invitational in Washington, D.C. May 2-4, 2023 where they will compete for more than $1 million in additional scholarship dollars.
 
 
The 2022 LRAEF ProStart Student Invitational Sponsors are: Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Atmos Energy, BRG Hospitality, Republic National Distributing Company, Sodexo Live!, QED Hospitality, NATCO, Coca-Cola Bottling Company-United, Auto-Chlor System, PJ’s Coffee, Ecolab, Freeman Decorating, Community Coffee, and the New Orleans Morial Convention Center.
 
The 2022 LRAEF Annual Partners are: Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers; the Baton Rouge Epicurean Society; Auto-Chlor System; Acme Oyster House; The Emeril Lagasse Foundation; Ecolab; BRG Hospitality; The Louisiana Restaurant Association; Tabasco; The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation; Atmos Energy; BlueRunner; The ForeKids! Foundation; B&G Food Enterprises; JP Morgan Chase & Co.; Sysco; The Lester E. Kabacoff School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration at the University of New Orleans; NATCO Food Service; Republic National Distributing Company; QED Hospitality; The Octavio Mantilla Family Trust; and Entergy Louisiana. In addition, the LRAEF would also like to thank the nine chapters of the LRA for their support throughout the year.
 
ProStart is a nationwide, two-year culinary arts and restaurant management program for high school students that develops the best and brightest talent into tomorrow’s restaurant industry leaders. By uniting the classroom and the industry, ProStart gives students a platform to discover new interests and talents and opens doors for fulfilling careers. Students are required to complete a 400-hour work internship, thus providing hands-on training. ProStart is important because it provides a pathway to a student’s future success, providing a foundation for a variety of career choices—from management and culinary operations, to supply chain positions and marketing support. The possibilities are endless in an industry with many facets. Many LRA members serve as mentors to ProStart students and also hire them. 

​3rd party delivery apps must have an executed contract to use your logo or likeness
 
Restaurateurs, we’ve been advised by an LRA member that a third-party delivery provider has listed their restaurant on the app without permission. This business has no affiliation or contract with this delivery service. They’ve been contacted by several people using the app seeking a refund because the food was never delivered.  
 
During the 2020 Louisiana Legislative Session, the LRA passed Act 192 which prohibits a third-party delivery service from representing a restaurant on their platform, unless there is an executed contract between the parties. This means they can’t use your logo on their website, or in an internet search. 
 
The law also stripped the “indemnification” provisions from any agreement with a third-party delivery contract effectively making it unenforceable in Louisiana (regardless of the contract language.) Your protection allows for a private right of action against the third-party delivery provider that may be mis-representing they have a contract with you, or are simply trying to re-direct an unsuspecting guest of your restaurant to their platform or app. This private right of action allows you to sue the third-party delivery company to seek civil damages of up to $5,000 plus attorney fees.