GRA Weekly | August 29, 2021

GRA Weekly

August 29, 2021

This week's newsletter is brought to you by Society Insurance.

RRF UPDATE

Consumer Survey Results Show Need for Additional Funding

The GRA and National Restaurant Association, along with other state restaurant association partners sent a letter to Congressional leadership, sharing new, concerning consumer confidence survey findings and urging swift replenishment of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The survey found that a majority of consumers have already changed their dining behavior, which is beginning to put acute pressure back on the restaurant industry. Faltering confidence comes on top of food and labor costs that are increasing at their fastest pace in several years, continued indoor capacity limits in 11 states, and crushing long-term debt loads for countless restaurant owners. The survey finds that 6 in 10 adults changed their restaurant use due to the rise in the delta variant, 19% of adults have stopped going out to restaurants and 9% have cancelled existing plans to go out to a restaurant in recent weeks.

NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY MONTH

This September, National Food Safety Month is highlighting cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting standards with five weeks of education around the theme of Know Safe & Show Safe. The way restaurants are cleaned and kept safe hasn't changed, but it's become more important to show your guests you are keeping their safety to the highest standard.

Starting August 30th, check-in at FoodSafetyFocus.com where the National Restaurant Association and ServSafe will provide educational materials like posters, activity sheets, blog posts, and webinars.

SAVE THE DATE

Restaurant Legal Summit is in Person in Raleigh, Nov. 3-5. The Restaurant Law Center is set to host its Fifth Annual Restaurant Legal Summit in downtown Raleigh, N.C., in early November. Take this opportunity to connect in-person with legal experts from some of our nation's top law firms and senior representatives from some of the restaurant industry's most successful brands as we discuss the most critical legal and compliance issues facing our industry today. Learn More.

USE SCIENCE TO MAKE YOUR CASE

Vaccine and Mask Mandates: Use Science to Make Your Case

As the delta variant puts COVID-19 cases on the rise again—mostly among unvaccinated populations—state and local mandates that require proof of vaccination and/or face coverings to dine indoors are increasing, as well. Dr. Vishnu Chundi and Dr. Stephen Ondra from the Chicago Medical Society joined Larry Lynch, the Association’s SVP, Science & Industry, to provide the science behind the effectiveness of these precautions. Listen to learn how you can use this information to develop consistent and effective messaging to explain your restaurants’ mandated policy and efforts to keep employees and guests safe.

Listen and read our tips on how to prepare for the legal and logistical ramifications before you enforce the policy.

RESTAURANT LABOR SHORTAGE

Restaurant Industry Labor Shortage Study

In an effort to gain a deeper understanding of the labor crisis affecting the restaurant industry, Black Box Intelligence and Snagajob surveyed former and current hourly restaurant employees. Their findings? There are issues besides pandemic unemployment benefits keeping workers from returning to restaurant jobs. The main factors they found are wages and benefits, opportunities in other industries, childcare, and physical and mental health.

Click here to download the full survey results, and here to read the article from National Restaurant News, including ways restaurant owners can help overcome these obstacles.

RIGHTING YOUR SHIP IN A POST-COVID WORLD

Restaurateurs and retailers, managing your debt can seem like a daunting task, but one of the great truths in business is that everything is negotiable. Even when the price or terms of something seem set in stone, negotiation is often as easy as knowing who to ask and how to ask for it.

Join Burr & Forman LLP, Aprio, and the Georgia Restaurant Association on Thursday, September 9 at 10:00AM, for a webinar on strategies to provide you with financial relief. You’ll get actionable advice on debt restructuring, lease and vendor negotiations, and bankruptcy.

Thursday, September 9, 2021 | 10:00AM

SUPPLY CHAIN EXPERT EXCHANGE

The National Restaurant Association Supply Chain Expert Exchange Fall Conference is back in person October 19-20 at the Orlando World Center Marriott. We are so excited to bring the community together we are offering free registration for operators AND one free hotel night. Secure your spot Today!

October 19-20, 2021 | Orlando World Center Marriott