You are here
Operations and all
June 5, 2019
National Restaurant Association
The Restaurant Industry Added More Than 10,000 Locations for the Third Consecutive Year.
Driven by population growth and an expanding economy, the restaurant industry continued to add locations at a steady pace in 2018. According to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the restaurant industry added a net 13,817 establishments* in 2018, an increase of 2.2 percent.
The 2018 expansion followed a strong net increase of 15,169 locations (+2.5 percent) in 2017, and represented the third consecutive year in which the restaurant industry grew by at...
May 13, 2019
After years of looking for affordable insurance coverage for employees, smaller operators say it is starting to get a little easier.
National Restaurant Association
After years of searching for affordable ways to provide health insurance coverage to their employees, smaller restaurant operators say it is starting to get a little easier, thanks to their access to the National Restaurant Association’s ‘Benefit Trust’ insurance initiative.
At a May 8 White House policy workshop, Roberta Montelione, chef of Milan Catering in Sarasota and Tampa, Fla., told members of the...
May 1, 2019
The Social Security Administration (SSA) resumed issuance of Employer Correction Request Notices, commonly referred to as “Social Security No-Match Letters.” The SSA requests responses within a 60 day period from the date on the notices.
We have heard from our local members and industry counterparts in other states that many restaurants have received “Social Security No-Match Letters.” These letters should be taken seriously, and you should act accordingly.
What Does This Mean For You
The Social Security Administration (SSA) will send...
April 22, 2019
Aronson LLC // by Aaron Boker
Restaurants that donate food inventory to charitable organizations could have the opportunity to claim tax deductions for charitable contributions, which are given special and advantageous treatment by the Internal Revenue Service (IRC).
According to IRC Section 170(e)(3), a taxpayer is eligible for a charitable deduction for donated “apparently wholesome food,” if the food given to the charitable organization is for the care of the ill, needy, or infants. “Apparently wholesome food” is defined as food that meets all the quality...
April 16, 2019
SmartBrief // by Tricia Contreras
A tight labor market, high employee turnover and millennials’ desire for flexible work schedules are driving some restaurant operators to change the way they hire and manage staffers. A growing wave of tech companies are building hiring platforms designed to make it easier for operators and workers to fill open shifts.
“We’re playing with some of the app hiring, but in very linear sense,” Dine Brands Global Chief Information Officer Adrian Butler said during a panel discussion at the 2018 Restaurant...
April 15, 2019
SmartBrief // by Emily Crowe
Romaine lettuce has proven to be a divisive product within the food industry in recent years. Following two major recalls in 2018 due to E. coli contamination, retailers and restaurants were left scrambling to get romaine off their shelves and tables while also finding replacement solutions. Growers were left in an even hairier predicament as consumers began to question the safety of not only romaine, but also other leafy greens.
Three months after being given the all-clear by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the...
April 8, 2019
National Restaurant Association // News
The report identifies and analyzes the positive impacts and potential challenges coming in both tableservice and limited-service restaurants
Find out what significant forces are impacting and shaping the restaurant industry, including the general US economy, workforce demographics, emerging technologies, and food and menu trends.
The report analyzes the industry by service segment, customer preferences, and much more to identify the positive impacts and potential challenges coming in both tableservice and limited-service restaurants...
April 3, 2019
The two-day event featured policy updates from US Representatives and Senators, and conversations with political pundits.
National Restaurant Association
Nearly 600 industry leaders from 43 state restaurant associations converged on Capitol Hill for the National Restaurant Association’s 33rd Annual Public Affairs Conference in Washington, DC.
The two-day event, titled “Serving America’s Future, recognized our Association’s 100th anniversary. It also featured updates from Representatives and Senators on key industry policies, conversations with political...
March 28, 2019
DC Brewery Reshapes Sales Team with New Members and Shift in Responsibilities
Washington, DC — March 2019 — DC Brau is pleased to introduce its new sales team including Stephen Carnes as Head of Sales and Stephen Taylor, Sales Manager for the Maryland and Virginia region. Kayleigh Tanthorey remains as the brewery’s Business Development Manager.
“We are thrilled to welcome both Stephens to the DC Brau family,” says CEO & Co-Founder Brandon Skall. “With Steve Carnes’ extensive experience on both the distributor and sales side of the beer business...
March 21, 2019
By Rebecca Cooper – Senior Staff Reporter, Washington Business Journal
Mar 21, 2019, 1:24pm EDT
Arlington restaurant software platform MarginEdge Inc. has raised $2.5 million for its next round of growth, including from a venture firm and some familiar names in the D.C. restaurant industry.
The second seed round includes investments from Greg Casten of Nick’s, Tony & Joe’s and Ivy City Smokehouse; Geoff Tracy of the Chef Geoff’s Deluxe Hospitality Group; and Tim McLaughlin, founder of Caboose Brewery and GoTab...
March 4, 2019
The annual Sustainability Awards recognize outstanding businesses and organizations for their environmental stewardship, innovative best practices, pollution prevention, and resource conservation. If you are considering applying for an award, we recommend that you track the energy consumption, water usage, recycling, and "green projects" for your facility.
If you live or work in the District of Columbia, you may nominate your favorite environmental champion, green business, or non-profit partner for a District Sustainability Award. You may choose to nominate an individual, business...
January 16, 2019
Economic shocks are felt throughout the region as the government holds back pay for contractors and nearly 150,000 federal workers.
WASHINGTON, DC — The federal government shutdown, now the longest in our nation’s history, is putting unsustainable financial strain on contractors and the households of nearly 150,000 federal workers in the region, as well as the local businesses that serve them. In response, the following 22 business organizations strongly urge the President and congressional leaders to reopen the federal government as soon as possible:
Apartment and...
January 16, 2019
As filing season for 2018’s taxes nears, one area of the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that remains unsolved is how depreciation on qualified improvement property will be treated. When conducting a major buildout or refurbishment project, business owners are generally offered major tax depreciation incentives. However, these incentives could be at risk for tax year 2018, unless a technical correction to the new law is issued.
Under the TCJA, fixed assets placed into service after September 27, 2017 are now eligible for 100 percent bonus depreciation, as compared to 50 percent bonus...
January 2, 2019
Restaurant Business Online // by Peter Romeo
The bargains are aimed at patrons whose incomes have been disrupted by the federal closure.
Elected officials can’t agree on a plan to reopen the federal government, but rank-and-file employees of Uncle Sam are finding deals aplenty in the restaurants of Washington, D.C.
Establishments ranging from fast-food joints to the fine-dining outlets of chef Jose Andres are extending freebies and deep discounts to government employees whose incomes have been disrupted by the federal shutdown. In most instances, the deals are...
December 31, 2018
SmartBrief // Food & Travel - Restaurant & Foodservice // by Janet Forgrieve
Many Americans will toast the arrival of 2019 with champagne or sparkling wine, but before midnight the glasses of partiers and restaurant patrons are more likely to be filled with hops- and barley-based brews.
Craft beer sales were on track to rise 5% this year, hitting a new record, and the number of craft breweries was set to grow 20% to more than 7,000, according to the Boulder, Colo.-based Brewers Association.
Craft brewers are defined as small and independent, producing...
December 14, 2018
National Restaurant Association // News & Research
Nutrition legislation and packaging mandates appear to be the entrees du jour for 2019.
As restaurateurs find themselves wondering what to do next to navigate these issues and their related challenges, the National Restaurant Association will offer education and advice during a Dec. 19 webinar, “What’s new in environmental and nutrition policy”.
Laura Abshire, our food and sustainability policy director, will provide an update on the issues. They include:
The latest information on the...
December 4, 2018
If done properly, delivery can pay off big for a restaurant.
In order to capitalize on this new revenue stream, restaurants should have a well thought out delivery strategy.
In a world where consumers are increasingly turning to an on-demand lifestyle, restaurants are seeing a rise in demand for food delivery. Strategy firm Pentallect published a 2018 study that found the third-party delivery industry is slated to grow 13.5 percent annually, compared to the predicted 3 percent growth rate for the restaurant industry overall.
The growth in demand...
October 31, 2018
In the restaurant industry, filling shifts⎼and keeping them filled⎼is vital to the success of your business. When you don’t have ample staff to help prep and cook food, bus and wait tables and clean dishes, your customer experience can suffer. So what can businesses do when they have a last-minute callout and the dinner rush starts in less than an hour? Businesses in the D.C. metro area are leaning on Snag Work, an on-demand mobile platform providing front-and-back of house staff to employers in need.
Founded in Richmond, Va., in 2016 and introduced to the D.C. metro area...
October 22, 2018
SmartBrief // by Emily Crowe
Blockchain has been a huge buzzword in and out of the food industry in recent years. While it’s easy to simply equate the technology with Bitcoin and cryptocurrency, it actually holds huge promise for several other applications. In fact, grocers and restaurants alike are dipping their toes into blockchain technology to find ways to improve transparency, quality and food safety.
What is blockchain?
At its core, blockchain is “a public register in which transactions between two users belonging to the same network are stored in a secure,...
September 26, 2018
SmartBrief // by Tricia Contreras
Offering training materials in multiple languages can help break down language barriers in foodservice, and language learning opportunities can assist with employee retention and promote cultural awareness that can strengthen a restaurant’s entire team.
To bridge the gap between languages, a glossary of 50 or so common words and their translations can offer a strong foundation, according to Rosario Gonzalez, who manages translations for the National Restaurant Association, overseeing the translation of the association’s content...
September 11, 2018
(WASHINGTON, DC) – As the District prepares for Hurricane Florence, Mayor Muriel Bowser has declared a state of emergency, effective immediately.
“While we are monitoring potential impacts of Hurricane Florence on the District, we remain committed to keeping our residents safe, prepared, and informed,” said Mayor Bowser. “I encourage all District residents and visitors to take this storm seriously and stay up to date on the latest emergency information, including signing up for our AlertDC messaging service.”
The declaration of public emergency is effective...
August 31, 2018
National Restaurant Association // News & Research
Restaurant operations are always changing. As a result, managers and their employees must constantly update their compliance with new food safety rules and regulations. As we launch National Food Safety Month, our ServSafe team offers some key areas to focus on when updating your protocols:
If you are in charge of food preparation, you must be trained and designated as a Certified Food Protection Manager, according to the 2017 FDA Food Code. You must always be on site whenever the facility is in operation...
August 1, 2018
Most payment processing systems, including point-of-sale terminals, operate through an internet connection. Unfortunately, technology isn’t always the most reliable. It can freeze, glitch or shut down altogether, bringing everything – including processing payments – to a screeching halt. That’s why it’s imperative that your business has equipment in place to keep business transactions up and running in the event of an internet outage.
Many offline terminals use a similar queue system (at Heartland it’s called Store and Forward) that allows you to...
July 5, 2018
National Restaurant Association / July 5, 2018
An E. coli outbreak is a nightmare for everyone: the customers, the community and the restaurant where it happened. For restaurant operators, corrective next steps are crucial to success; they can’t afford to make one mistake.
What should you do in the event of an outbreak? First, pay attention to all information, updates and product recall announcements. Because the food supply chain is complex, sometimes suppliers or manufacturers don’t deliver timely notices of the recall.
Below, Ashley Miller, one of our food safety...
May 7, 2018
DC RESTAURANT OWNERS & TIPPED EMPLOYEES - DO YOU KNOW ABOUT INITIATIVE 77?
Initiative 77 aims to create one minimum wage by eliminating the tip credit. This will likely eliminate tipping in DC restaurants which would move tipped employees to a flat hourly rate.
Support Tipped Employees Vote NO on June 19th
Under the current system, tipped employees have incredible earning potential in the District of Columbia. Ballot Initiative #77 is threatening to change a system that works and could reduce pay for servers and bartenders in D.C. if it passes in June.
DO YOU...
