GRA Weekly

December 7, 2023

This week's newsletter is brought to you by GRA Corporate Partner, TSC Associates

2023 GRACE AWARDS

2023 GRACE Awards: In Review

At the 15th Annual Grace Awards Gala on November 30 at the Georgia Aquarium, we were delighted to honor the 2023 award winners and honorees. Thank you to all who submitted nominations and attended the Gala– the caliber of talent and excellence in our restaurant industry is consistently reaching new heights and many deserving hospitality professionals and businesses were submitted for consideration. Every award winner represents a story of perseverance, creativity, and culinary excellence. Meet them here. Photos from the event can be found here.

2023 WINNERS + HONOREES

2024 GEORGIA GROWN EXECUTIVE CHEF PROGRAM

2024 Georgia Grown Executive Chef Program

The Georgia Department of Agriculture's Georgia Grown campaign has partnered with the Georgia Restaurant Association for a statewide Georgia Grown Executive Chef program. The following terms outline the commitment to the Georgia Grown Executive Chef program.

Participant Requirements:

Incorporates locally grown product into your menu, educating patrons about foods that came from local farms and generating awareness about the product and their producers.
Promotes and fosters a relationship between chefs and farmers, while creating a greater awareness among both restaurateurs and consumers about the availability of quality, local products in Georgia.
Demonstrates knowledge about which local Georgia products are available for the cooking season.
Assists local chefs on a strategy to incorporate locally grown produce into their menu.
Aims to provide public school culinary education and school food nutrition by educating, training, or developing recipes.
Provide a list of products you source locally and farms you work with and/or the approximate percentage of your menu that is sourced locally.
Available these dates:
Taste of Georgia Legislative Reception on February 21, 2024 from 5:00PM - 8:00PM.
Georgia ProStart Invitational on February 29, 2024 from 8:00AM - 4:00PM to judge.
One full day on March 23 or 24, 2024 to do 1-2 live demos at the Georgia Food and Wine Festival (date TBD).
Available for at least one other Georgia Grown event or outreach during the year.

The Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Restaurant Association appreciate your support and participation in the Georgia Grown program. Your involvement in this program contributes to our mission to create a greater awareness both among restaurateurs and consumers about the importance of buying and eating local. Apply by January 31, 2024. For information on how to apply, click here.

GRA FOUNDATION UPDATE

Berkmar Culinary Team Celebrates NPSI

This week, the Berkmar High School Culinary Team joined their educator, James Bryant, and GRAF Programs Manager, Katie Ashley, for a celebratory dinner at Miller’s Ale House to commemorate placing 8th in the nation at the 2023 National ProStart Invitational (NPSI) in Washington, D.C. earlier this year. Prior to this wonderful achievement, the Berkmar Culinary Team won first place at the 2023 Georgia ProStart Invitational (GPSI). James Bryant was also honored as the 2023 ProStart Educator of the year at the 15th annual GRACE Awards on November 30. Special thanks to Miller's Ale House for hosting the celebration. To learn more about ProStart and how to get involved, contact Katie Ashley.

Volunteers Needed: Help Our Industry Grow

The Georgia Restaurant Association Foundation (GRAF) is currently recruiting industry leaders to mentor ProStart Students and serve as judges at the 2024 Georgia ProStart Invitational - which will be held on Thursday, February 29, 2024 from 8:00AM - 4:00PM at Gas South Arena. The GRAF is seeking volunteers with experience in the Hospitality industry and a passion for service. Read the full flyer here.

To register as a mentor or judge, contact Katie Ashley, GRAF Programs Manager, for more information.

GRA PRESIDENT + CEO HONORED BY GSAE

GRA President + CEO Honored by GSAE

This week, GRA President + CEO, Karen Bremer, received the 2023 Skelton-Massey Award from the Georgia Society of Association Executives (GSAE) for recruiting the most new individual members into GSAE during the year. Congratulations on this wonderful achievement!

GRA ADVOCACY UPDATE

Georgia DOR | Quarterly Sales & Use Tax Rate Updates

Effective January 1, 2024, Georgia Department of Revenue has published the new quarterly sales and use tax rates. Historical, current and upcoming sales and use tax rates changes may be viewed here.

Savannah Alcohol Update

The Savannah Department of Revenue has provided updates on the license renewal process, dates for Sunday sales, and the Server Training Program. Alcoholic Beverage License (ABL) renewal packages have a submission deadline of December 31, 2023, with a grace period extending the final application date to January 28, 2024. Additionally, two dates were announced on which ABL holders may sell alcoholic beverages, regardless of a Sunday Sales license – 2023 New Year’s Eve and 2024 St. Patrick’s Day. Finally, the new Server Training program is up and running, with the deadline for Server Cards on January 1, 2024. The program provides a simple training program at no charge and is good for 5 years. For more information regarding the Server Training Permit Card click here.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced that federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are available in Georgia for small businesses with economic losses due to the hurricane that occurred on August 30, 2023. If your business suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster, you may be eligible for loans in the amount of up to $2 million with interest rates of 4% for small businesses and 2.375% for private nonprofit organizations, with terms up to 30 years. For more information about loans and eligibility click here.

FEDERAL UPDATE

NEW DATE: NRA Webinar on Troubling FTC Proposal The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently issued a proposed rule on “Unfair or Deceptive Fees” that would force U.S. businesses to eliminate the use of “hidden” and “misleading” fees. The proposed rule would instead require businesses to post total prices for a service or good, which reflects all costs except shipping and government charges.

Why it matters: If this proposed rule is adopted as written, restaurant operators will have to rewrite their compensation models, increase their menu prices, and overhaul established business practices. Projected compliance costs top $3.5B.

What we're saying: The rule is unworkable as written. The Association strongly opposes this proposed rule and will submit comments.

Learn more: Register for the National Restaurant Association's (NRA) webinar on the FTC's proposal, happening Tuesday, December 19 at 2:00PM.

NLRB Delays Implementation of Final Joint Employer Rule

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently announced it would delay the adoption and enforcement of its new joint employer definition until February 26, 2024.

Dive deeper: NLRB cited pending legal challenges, including the Restaurant Law Center’s lawsuit, as the cause of this delay.

Learn more: Check out the NRA’s new joint employer policy brief.

HIRING BEST PRACTICES FOR 2024

A Chick-fil-A HR executive shares hiring red flags and best practices

The fast-food chain Chick-fil-A has a reputation for friendly service. It's routinely praised for the kindness its customer-facing employees show and usually ranks high in customer-service experiences. In fact, Chick-fil-A is ranked as the No. 1 fast-food restaurant on the American Customer Satisfaction Index.

Its chicken sandwiches are an obvious hit, but the real shining stars appear to be its employees whose "my pleasure" attitude seems to have had a strong impact on the success of the private, family-owned corporation.

Business Insider spoke with Tyler Hendon, an eight-year human-resources executive and a Chick-fil-A recruiter at three Atlanta locations, to learn more about how the company attracted these friendly employees - to find out what Tyler looks for in job candidates, keep reading.

PREPARING FOR WINTER CONDITIONS

Preparing For Winter Conditions

As temperatures continue to drop, now is the time for restaurants to prepare! Emergencies can happen with extreme weather conditions like sudden temperature drops, snow, and ice - all of which can cause power outages. Some tips to get winter ready:

Letting cold water drip from a faucet served by exposed pipes, even at a trickle, can help prevent pipes from freezing and potentially flooding.
Make sure you have appliance thermometers in your refrigerator and freezer.
Check to ensure that the freezer temperature is at or below 0° F, and the refrigerator is at or below 41° F.
In case of a power outage, the appliance thermometers will indicate the temperatures in the refrigerator and freezer to help you determine if the food is safe.
Freeze containers of water for ice to help keep food cold in the freezer, refrigerator, or coolers in case the power goes out. If your normal water supply is contaminated or unavailable, the melting ice will also supply drinking water.
Freeze refrigerated items such as leftovers, milk, and fresh meat and poultry that you may not need immediately. This helps keep them at a safe temperature longer.
Group food together in the freezer. This helps the food stay cold longer.
Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerated food cold if the power will be out for more than 4 hours.
Purchase or make ice cubes in advance, and freeze gel packs ahead of time. Store all of these in the freezer for future use in the refrigerator or in coolers.
Check out local sources to know where dry ice and block ice can be purchased, in case it should be needed.
Store food on shelves that will be safely out of the way of contaminated water in case of flooding.
Make sure to have a supply of bottled water stored where it will be as safe as possible from flooding. If your bottled water has an odor, do not drink or use it. Instead, dispose of it, or if applicable, call your bottled water provider to make arrangements to get a replacement.
How to Prevent Pipes From Freezing
Food and Water Safety During Power Outages (FDA)
Winter Weather Preparedness (GEMA)

Be sure to follow your local National Weather Service Forecast and follow any emergency messaging from our partners on social media: Georgia EMA on X and Georgia EMA on Facebook.

AFFORDABLE MENTAL HEALTH SOLUTIONS

Prioritizing Industry Wellbeing with GRA's Affordable Mental Health Solution

After enduring years of unprecedented challenges, the hospitality industry faces significant concerns about the wellbeing of its workforce. With over 70% of restaurant workers reporting high stress levels, and nearly one-third experiencing symptoms of depression, the need for comprehensive support is undeniable. In response, the GRA is proud to highlight HealthiestYou by Teladoc, a revolutionary solution designed to address these issues.

This partnership provides members with unlimited virtual medical and mental healthcare visits for employees and their households at an astonishingly low rate of $9 per month, with no additional costs like copays, deductibles, or coinsurance—far below the normal $49 monthly rate. Importantly, this offering is accessible to all foodservice businesses with two or more enrollees, extending to both full- and part-time employees.

By enrolling in this industry-specific initiative, you take an active step to ensure affordable mental and physical healthcare for your entire team. With a staggering 27 million untreated adults experiencing mental illness and an average wait time of 6 weeks for traditional appointments, HealthiestYou offers timely and convenient access to board-certified mental health professionals via phone or video, enabling members to seek help from the comfort of their chosen environment. Together, GRA and Teladoc aim to safeguard the wellbeing of every individual within the industry. To learn more, determine eligibility, and enroll, click here.