Technomic: 2022 Global Restaurant Trends Forecast

The world has faced nearly two years of disruption and uncertainty, cautious optimism and unexpected challenges. As we enter another year, the pandemic continues to loom large, informing operations, planning, decision-making and forecasting for operators and suppliers alike. And yet, with so much uncertainty still in the air, it finally seems as though the steady recovery many had expected to make 2021 the bounce-back year may actually have a good chance at materializing in 2022. Vaccinations are rolling out; people are continuing to return to offices, schools and global travel...

Landry’s Partners With NYDIG to Launch Bitcoin Loyalty Rewards Program

It pays to eat at Landry’s restaurants. No, literally.

Landry’s announced on Tuesday that they have partnered with bitcoin company NYDIG to launch a bitcoin loyalty rewards program for customers who are a part of their Landry’s Select Club loyalty program. So, how does it work? Landry’s Select Club members are able to earn bitcoins when they eat at any Landry’s restaurant, which includes Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Landry’s Seafood House, McCormick and Schmick’s, Joe’s Crab House, Morton’s, and more...

Restaurant Jobs Still Below Pre-Pandemic Levels as Challenges Remain for Foodservice Industry

After notable job growth for a string of months, restaurant employment has leveled off in recent months, according to the National Restaurant Association.

Currently, eating and drinking places remained over 900,000 jobs below pre-pandemic staffing levels across the country. The Association took a look at the state level and found 44 states lost jobs between August and September, with six seeing a rise.

Although the Association noted that a dip in September is normal due to the seasonal workforce nature, with 78% of operators looking for...

Proof of Vaccination to Dine? Some Restaurants Introduce New Requirements To Stop Spread of COVID-19

On your way out to dinner you check your pockets for your keys, phone and wallet. Now add your vaccination card or negative COVID test into the mix. 

While that may not be a reality across the United States just yet, a growing number of restaurants are requiring proof of vaccination before allowing a customer to dine indoors. 

Like the mask mandates, requiring proof of vaccination is up to each business. And a growing number of restaurants in big cities are attempting to...

Canada’s Restaurant Count Declined by 5,000 Units in 2020

Before the pandemic, Canada’s restaurant count held steady at 66,000 units since 2016, but then 2020 happened, and the industry lost 5,000 units, a decline of -8%, reports The NPD Group. Independent restaurants lost 3,000 units, representing the bulk of the slide, according to NPD’s ReCount®2020 restaurant census, which tracked Canadian restaurants opened as of December 2020.

The restaurant categories hardest hit by closures are those that relied heavily on customers’ regular day-to-day routines, such as shopping, working, or schooling... 

Restaurant Sales Grew in June as Industry Recovery Continues

Restaurant sales continued to grow in June as consumers looked for a much-needed night out, according to the National Restaurant Association.

For the month, eating and drinking places netted $70.6 billion in total sales on a seasonally adjusted basis, per preliminary data from the U.S. Census Bureau. That total was a 2.3% rise from May’s volume and is the fifth increase in the first half of the year.

The Association said that sales in June were $4.4 billion (6.6%) above pre-pandemic levels in 2020...

White Castle Expands Retail Food Manufacturing Plant in Vandalia, Ohio

White Castle broke ground today on the expansion of its retail food manufacturing plant in Vandalia, Ohio. The plant, now named "The House That Bill Built" in honor of former president and CEO Bill Ingram, supplies packaged Sliders to retailers, large and small, in all 50 states.

"Our retail division has been growing steadily over the past 10 years, and we saw huge growth last year as people cooked and ate at home more during the pandemic," said Lisa Ingram, president and CEO of White Castle and daughter of Bill...

Foodservice, Drinking Places Help Propel US Employment Boost in June

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics said notable job gains were seen in the foodservice and drinking places sector for the month of June.

Overall, nonfarm payroll employment jumped 850,000 in June. In June, nonfarm payroll employment is up by 15.6 million since April 2020 but is down by 6.8 million, or 4.4%, from its pre-pandemic level in February 2020.

For the month, nearly half the job gain was seen in the leisure and hospitality sector (343,000) which has opened at a rapid pace as...

NPD Group: Flexible Routines Help to Boost Visits to Restaurants During Late Afternoon

Although total U.S. restaurant traffic has been down across dayparts for most of last year and through February 2021, late afternoon and after dinner snack visits — what the restaurant industry calls the p.m. snack daypart — have increased, reports The NPD Group. Consumer visits to restaurants during the p.m. snack period, which ranges from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., increased by +1% compared to year ago in February, which was a rough month for the industry with the continuing pandemic...

National Restaurant Association Survey Breaks Down How Consumers Used Restaurants During Pandemic

In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, the National Restaurant Association began a weekly survey of 1,000 adults to see how they were utilizing restaurants.

Starting in February 2020, the survey “tracks the extent to which U.S. adults participated in restaurant and foodservice on a week-to-week basis.”

The survey is broken down into six periods over the past 12 months and focuses on patronage during breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack/beverage and dinner and both on-premise and off-premise dining...

Quicklly Expands Industry-Leading Digital Marketplace to New York-New Jersey Metro Area

On the heels of a remarkable $1.27 million pre-seed funding round, Quicklly, the nation's largest and most comprehensive Indian and South Asian food marketplace, today announced the expansion of their footprint to now serve customers in the New York-New Jersey Metropolitan Area. 

Burger King and Impossible Foods Announce the Canadian Launch of the Impossible Whopper

Burger King and Impossible Foods announced that, after a successful U.S. launch, the Impossible Whopper is landing in Canada. Participating Burger King restaurants across Ontario will begin serving the Impossible Whopper March 22, with a cross-Canada rollout coming on April 12.

Burger King is the first quick-service restaurant in Canada to put the award-winning, plant-based Impossible Foods patty on its menu nationwide...

States Begin to Ease Restaurant Restrictions Almost a Year After Start of Pandemic

It was almost a year ago that states began to shut down in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. While essential stores, like grocery and hardware retailers, were allowed to remain open, other non-essential businesses were forced to shutter. The restaurant industry was among the most heavily hit, as they were forced to close their dining rooms and rely on takeout and delivery. 

In the months following the initial lockdown, states began to ease “stay at home” requirements and allowed restaurants and...

National Restaurant Association Says Now is Not the Time for the Raise the Wage Act

The National Restaurant Association released the results of its survey of restaurants large and small, which asked what impact the proposed Raise the Wage Act would have on their ability to recover in 2021.

After hearing the response, the Association sent a letter to congressional leaders citing the survey results to urge that the measure be removed from the $1.9 trillion stimulus plan.   

“Passage of this bill this year would lead to job losses and higher use of labor-reducing equipment and technology,” said Sean Kennedy, executive vice president for Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association...

Insight Into Key Markets Ahead of the ‘Big Game’ as Foodservice Takes Unique Approach to Gameday

Heading into the big game last February, the coronavirus was just a blip on everyone’s radar, the focus was on ordering wings and appetizers for the pre-game party or planning a trip to a local sports bar.

This year, many Americans will be enjoying the big game in smaller groups and while meat lover’s pizzas and chicken wings will be devoured all night, trips to restaurants are out of the cards for some and businesses are shifting their takeout specials to cater...

What California’s Lifted Stay-At-Home Order Means for Restaurants

On Monday California lifted its stay-at-home order, allowing restaurants and other establishments to reopen. But don’t start celebrating just yet.

Restaurant restrictions and closures due to the coronavirus have varied based on state and county. In early December, as a result of increasing COVID-19 hospitalizations, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the Golden State would be split into five regions - the Bay Area, Greater Sacramento, Northern California, San Joaquin Valley, and Southern California. If ICU capacity in a region fell below 15%...

Over 40 U.S. States Lost Restaurant Jobs in December as Pandemic Continues to Hit Industry

The National Restaurant Association said the downward slide in restaurant business conditions continued in December 2020 with the bottom dropping out on restaurant employment in the month, with 400,000 jobs lost across the country.

State-by-state, 42 states and Washington, D.C. had job losses in the month with only 8 states seeing employment increases. The biggest loss came in California, losing 85,800 eating and drinking place jobs.

Michigan (-46,600), New York (-33,000) and Minnesota (-32,800) also shed a significant number of restaurant jobs in December, the Association shared...

Current Restaurant Restrictions and Capacity By State

Coronavirus cases in the United States are growing. On Friday the U.S. recorded over 99,000 new cases – the highest single day total recorded by any country. With concerns rising over the upward trend in cases, restaurants across the country are beginning to see a new wave of restrictions. We're breaking down the latest restaurant news by state...

A Look at the Pandemic’s Impact on Restaurant Jobs in 2020

The National Restaurant Association provided a look at how the coronavirus pandemic impacted employment at eating and drinking places throughout 2020.

Overall, the restaurant and foodservice sector was expected to provide 15.6 million jobs in 2020, accounting for 10% of payroll jobs in the economy. Those numbers would take a turn for the worst as the pandemic began in March.

Starting in March, millions of people were left without work as lockdowns and stay-at-home orders were implemented, leading to mass layoffs and furloughs...

REPORTER: Chicago Gets Creative to Help Restaurant Industry

This article was originally featured in the Winter 2021 Edition of Urner Barry's Reporter magazine.

The restaurant industry has encountered its share of adversity during the COVID-19 pandemic. From lockdowns to dine-in restrictions, the industry has had to roll with the ever-changing landscape. Many restaurants have survived thus far by pivoting away from their standard way of business in favor of al fresco dining. Conventional patios, sidewalks, parking lots and even streets have been re-imagined for today’s dining customer. Outdoor dining has been an attractive way for...

Darden Restaurants Reports Fiscal 2021 Second Quarter Results

Darden Restaurants, Inc., (NYSE:DRI) today reported its financial results for the second quarter ended November 29, 2020.

Second Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights, Comparisons to Second Quarter Last Year

• Total sales of $1.66 billion, a decrease of 19.4% driven by negative blended same-restaurant sales of 20.6% and partially offset by the addition of 19 net new restaurants
• Same-restaurant sales by segment (Thanksgiving Day shifted to the last week of our second fiscal quarter this year from the first week of our third fiscal quarter last year)...

Despite COVID Surges, US Restaurant Transaction Declines in November Improved Slightly from October

Even with COVID cases surging throughout the U.S. and some states reducing restaurant capacity, customer transaction declines at major restaurant chains improved in November from October to -8% compared to a year ago, a 1-point gain from October’s -9% decline, reports  The NPD Group.   This improvement was aided by major quick service restaurant chains’ proficiency in offering off-premises services, like carry-out, drive-thru, and delivery. Transaction declines at quick service restaurant chains, which represent the bulk of industry transactions, were down -7%...

US Foods Introduces New COVID-19 Resources to Help Restaurant Operators Address Winter Challenges

US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE: USFD) announced today the introduction of its “Make It This Winter” platform. The platform offers a collection of valuable resources, including one-on-one consultations with US Foods experts, informational webinars, new outdoor dining products, and updated online materials and tools for restaurant operators to tackle the ongoing challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With colder weather setting in and new restrictions going into effect across the country, our ongoing commitment to helping restaurant operators adapt during the pandemic has never been more important,” said Jim Osborne, senior vice president of customer strategy and innovation at US Foods...